User:Marshelec/sandbox2
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The Kaikōura earthquake on 14 November 2016 lifted the seabed around the coastline. At the marina at South Bay, the seabed lifted by more than one metre, leading to vessels resting on rock at low tide.[1] Whale Watch Kaikōura suspended its operations because their vessels could only safely use the marina at high tide.[2] By 31 December 2016, Whale Watch had trialled a modified trailer that could launch its vessel Tohora in the marina, and began whale watching trips again, operating one tour each day with only one boat, and limited to periods around high tide.[3] Whale Watch reported that they were operating at only 20 per cent of their capability, and that there had been a 60 per cent fall in visitor numbers.[4] The Hurunui/Kaikōura Earthquakes Emergency Relief Act 2016 provided a modified resource consent process that enabled a shortened process for consenting works needed to restore the harbour.[5][6] Excavation work in the harbour began in late December with government funding of $5 million and a subsequent contribution of $1 mllion from the Kaikōura District Council, Whale Watch and Encounter Kaikōura. The excavation and reconstruction of the harbour was originally expected to take a year, but was completed in nine months, with an official re-opening on 14 November 2017.[4][7][8]
The first European settlement in the South Island was founded at Bluff in 1823 by James Spencer, a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo.[9]
In January 1827, the French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville arrived in Tasman Bay on the corvette Astrolabe. A number of landmarks around Tasman Bay were named by d'Urville and his crew, including d'Urville Island, French Pass and Torrent Bay.[10]
