Practical seismological research depends largely on the location of earthquakes, and the location of earthquakes depends on the quality and number of seismograph stations near the region of their occurrence. Realising this, the New Zealand Government in 1962 authorised a plan to upgrade the New Zealand seismograph network over a period of several years to a total of more than. 20 stations in the main islands, - a proposal that was actively supported by the Institution of Engineers.