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New Zealand town returning to normality after massive earthquake in November

The picturesque town of Kaikoura on New Zealand's south island has begun returning to normality a...
Newstalk
Newstalk

13.47 21 Dec 2016


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New Zealand town returning to...

New Zealand town returning to normality after massive earthquake in November

Newstalk
Newstalk

13.47 21 Dec 2016


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The picturesque town of Kaikoura on New Zealand's south island has begun returning to normality after the massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake which devastated the town in November.

Kaikoura is popular with tourists due to its stunning scenery where snow-capped peaks plummet into sea providing an awe-inspiring backdrop to a beautiful location. 

It is also home to a prosperous seal colony as well as receiving large numbers of whales and dolphins year round.

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In November though, the area was almost cut off completely from the rest of the country after an earthquake damaged the main transport routes into the community.

Earthquake damage on State Highway One and the main railway line north of Kaikoura.

Image: Ross Setford AP/Press Association Images

However, just over a month after the incident, one of the roads into the town has been rebuilt and the area is beginning to return to normality.

New Zealand's Transport Minister Simon Bridges announced the opening of the southern road into Kaikoura in time for Christmas praising local workers: "They've put in more than 10,000 hours of work over the last month to get to this point, removing more than 50,000 cubic metres of rock and material in more than 7,000 truckloads from 26 slips along the route." 


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