On the third of February 1931, at 10.47 am, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Hawke’s Bay. In Hastings at least 93 people lost their lives, with hundreds more injured. Michael Fowler, details the destructive impact of the 1931 quake on Hastings CBD and its subsequent recovery. The 15 city blocks of the CBD are catalogued with hundreds of previously unpublished personal stories and photos, which tell dramatic stories of the destruction and heroism.