The 1901 Cheviot earthquake occurred at 07:47 NZT on 16 November 1901 (20:15 15 November UTC) with an estimated magnitude of 6.9, centred near the township of Cheviot in the Canterbury region of New Zealand.
Damage and casualties
A baby was killed when a sod hut collapsed. Other casualties in the Canterbury region are not known.
The top of ChristChurch Cathedral's spire fell, as had occurred in the 1888 North Canterbury earthquake. Its stone structure was subsequently replaced with a more resilient design.
Observations of sand blows (sand volcano) and lateral spreading, consistent with soil liquefaction phenomena in the township of Kaiapoi were reported in local newspapers in a two to three block area at the eastern end of Charles and Sewell Streets on the north bank of the Kaiapoi River, in addition to similar effects observed on the opposing river bank, and the road to Belfast.