GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The strongest earthquake in New Zealand happened on 10/20/1986 in the Raoul region with a magnitude of 8.1 on the Richter scale.

Detailed explanation-2: -The biggest known earthquake in New Zealand was the 1855 magnitude 8.2 in the Wairarapa; around 5, 000 km2 of land was shifted vertically during the earthquake. The largest earthquake recorded in the world in the last 100 years was the 1960 magnitude 9.5 earthquake in Chile.

Detailed explanation-3: -No, earthquakes of magnitude 10 or larger cannot happen. The magnitude of an earthquake is related to the length of the fault on which it occurs. That is, the longer the fault, the larger the earthquake.

Detailed explanation-4: -The world has only ever experienced a 9.5 magnitude earthquake. This earthquake occurred on May 22, 1960, near Valdivia, in southern Chile. It caused massive destruction and loss of life, and created a tsunami that reached Japan and the Philippines. A magnitude 12 earthquake would be unthinkable in size.