On August 10 1993, at 09h 46m UT an earthquake of magnitude (ML) 6.4 occurred near Ormond, a locality to the north west of Gisbome in the North Island of New Zealand. The epicentre of the event was 38.52°S, 177.93°E, and had a focal depth of 48 km (Seismological Observatory, Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd.). Strong motion accelerographs at two sites on sediment in Gisborne recorded peak ground accelerations of 0.22 g at a distance of 20 km from the epicentre, while at Wairoa (80 km to the SW of the epicentre) 0.05 g was recorded, at Tolaga Bay (30 km to the NE of the epicentre) 0.09 g was measured [Pers. Comn. J. Zhou], and strong motion lasted for 5-10 s. Intensity of MMVI was observed in the Ormond area with pockets of MMVII, the later being based in particular on the presence of liquefaction.