Robert Cecil Hayes was a seismologist, astronomer and organist whose achievements spanned a 40-year career at the Hector Observatory (later the Dominion Observatory and then the Seismological Observatory) in Wellington.
Hayes was a key figure during one of New Zealand’s most intense periods of seismic activity, including the 1929 Murchison and 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquakes. He co-authored the definitive paper on the 1931 Hawke’s Bay event.
He was among the first scientists to demonstrate that earthquakes could occur at great depths. His research on seismic waves led to the conclusion that New Zealand was situated on the continental side of the crust near the boundary with oceanic crust—observations that laid the groundwork for modern plate tectonics theory.
He modified Charles Richter’s earthquake magnitude scale to apply to deep shocks and was responsible for its application to New Zealand.
Hayes’ work as an astronomer included responsibility for maintaining the New Zealand Government Time Service, using astronomical observations to keep official clocks accurate. He also coordinated the observatory’s operations for the International Geophysical Year.
A founding member of the New Zealand Astronomical Society, Hayes built his own small observatory at home and set about cataloguing the southern hemisphere stars.
Robert was awarded the Hector Memorial Medal and Prize in 1975 and was a fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society. He was also a talented musician who served as the organist for Saint Mary’s Anglican Church in Karori, Wellington for 35 years. While there he composed three cantatas for the church choir.
Robert married Margaret Wyn Beere on 1 December 1932, at Karori. They had two daughters.
Both are buried at Purewa in X Block, Row 61, Plot 030.
Robert Cecil Hayes was born 19 January 1900 in Wellington and died in Auckland on 3 September 1977.
Robert Cecil Hayes
Died 1977
