Wellington, Feb 3 NZPA - Hundreds of people gathered in Hastings this morning to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the most destructive natural disaster in New Zealand history, the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake.

The magnitude 7.8 quake flattened buildings in Hastings, Napier and Wairoa on February 3, 1931, killing 258 people and injuring thousands more.

As many as 600 people gathered today at the Hastings clock tower, where the bells were rung at 10.46am to commemorate the time the quake struck.

The service was a "poignant reminder" of the significance of the disaster, Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said.

"We can't contemplate what it must have been like. All we can do is reflect," he told NZPA.

Survivors and their families were among those to commemorate the quake.

"It was a very moving experience. One of the survivors placed a wreath on the clock tower, so it was very moving for those families."

The anniversary had seen a renaissance among younger people in recent years, much like Anzac Day had nationally, Mr Yule said.

The quake's impact was still visible today through the contemporary architectural styles embraced in the reconstruction effort, he said.

"That's what gives us our Spanish mission and art deco architecture, which is so prominent in both cities now. It's such a fundamental part of our history, our architecture."

The anniversary was a reminder that people need to be prepared for natural disasters.

"One day there will be another major earthquake in New Zealand," Mr Yule said.

"I think people in Hawke's Bay are more prepared than most others. We do know what can happen because we've been through it."