The Shaky Isles or Shaky Islands is a nickname for New Zealand.[1] At one time this nickname was used in New Zealand itself, though its usage there is now seen as dated; it is still fairly widely used in Australia.
The term derived from New Zealand's frequent seismic activity. The islands lie on the margin of two colliding tectonic plates, the Pacific and Indo-Australian Plates. Earthquakes are common, particularly in the southwest of the South Island and in the central North Island, and the North Island's scenery is marked by several active and dormant volcanic cones.
The phrase is at worst only very mildly derogatory, and is usually only used humorously with no pejorative connotations.
The country records more than 14,000 earthquakes a year – but only about 150 are usually felt. Schoolchildren in the country regularly undertake earthquake drills.
On 4 September 2010, New Zealand's second largest city Christchurch on the South Island was hit by a powerful 7.1 Richter Scale earthquake,[2] damaging many buildings, but no loss of life. This was mainly due to New Zealand's building standards, the epicentre being approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the city, and that the quake hit at 4:35am. A 6.3 earthquake on 22 February 2011 caused far more damage in Christchurch, including 181 deaths. This quake struck at about lunchtime and was centred closer at Lyttleton, and shallower than the prior quake, explaining the resultant destruction.[3]
The title "Shaky Isles" has been used at least twice as the title for songs referencing New Zealand - by Mike Harding in 1989 and Dave Dobbyn in 1991. There is also a New Zealand theatre company based in London called "The Shaky Isles Theatre Company"[4], headed by Emma Deakin.