New Zealand is also nicknamed "the Shaky Isles". About 20,000 earthquakes are recorded each year, about 200 of these are strong enough to be felt.
Strongest earthquake in known history was the 8.2 magnitude (Wairarapa) earthquake of 1855, which lifted the land 2 – 3 meters.
Deadliest eartquake was the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake (magnitude 7.8), killing 256 people. The recent February 2011 Christchurch earthquake (magnitude 6.3) was the second-deadliest natural disaster recorded in New Zealand (181 people were killed).