April 13, 1882 Tsunami: Glenburn, Wairarapa, New Zealand

Reference #5324:

1882, April 13th.

According to a correspondent from Glenburn, Wairarapa, "two smart earthquakes were felt here on Thursday last the 13th inst. [April] about 4 pm. The first accompanied by an unusual rise in the tide, it being about low water at the time, the sea came in beyond the usual high water mark" (Wairarapa Daily 17 April 1882)

The Wairarapa Daily was searched without success for any further information until 19 Apr 1882. No other location reported feeling an earthquake nor experiencing a tsunami on this date. However, there was a strong earthquake causing some chimney damage in Taranaki seven days previous, on 6 April, at the same time (note that this event is not yet in NZ National Earthquake Information Catalogue), and there may be some confusion. Being on the west coast of the North Island, it would not have caused a tsunami at Glenburn on the East Coast. Further, the earthquake does not appear to have been large enough to initiate seiching, nor strong enough locally to trigger a submarine landslide.

According to NIWA tide forecaster, high tide would have been about 1830 on 13 Apr 1882, ie it was mid-tide, or mean sea-level, at 4 pm rather than low water as indicated in the account. However, it is possible that the water had receded prior to the observer's noticing it. From mean sea level to over high tide is about 1-1.2 m. Spring tides occurred 5-8 days later, ie this is unlikely to cause confusion re the proper level of the tides.

An 6 April, when the Taranaki earthquake occurred, the time of low tide at Glenburn does not coincide with the observation either.

This event may be a tsunami, locally induced by a submarine or coastal landslide, which in turn may have been by a mild local earthquake. However, it is very doubtful.