Ninety years on: Hawke's Bay earthquake to be commemorated 25 Jan, 2021 10:16 PM 3 minutes to read The old Post Office building in Hastings on the corner of Queen and Russell Streets, after the quake. Photo / Supplied The old Post Office building in Hastings on the corner of Queen and Russell Streets, after the quake. Photo / Supplied Hawkes Bay Today By: Gianina Schwanecke Ninety years after the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, a number of events have been organised to commemorate the sombre anniversary. On the morning of February 3, 1931, the Hawke's Bay region was rocked by a 7.8 magnitude quake that practically levelled the city of Napier and killed nearly 250 people.