Natural Hazards news

A team of New Zealand scientists and engineers will travel to Samoa this weekend to gather information on the impact of the September 30 tsunami on coastal communities and infrastructure.

Three new posters of the Cook Strait and Wellington Harbour seabed reveal for the first time a treasure trove of detailed information for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

NIWA and IBM today announced a multi-million dollar partnership where NIWA will purchase one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers for use in environmental forecasting.

Scientists have discovered there is no connection between major fault lines in the North and South islands through central Cook Strait meaning that an earthquake fault rupture may be contained to one island if it occurred.

The findings are part of research released today by the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA) which provides vital new information to help assess the potential hazard of earthquakes in New Zealand.

Parts of the West Coast of the South Island received a tsunami wave over one metre high as a result of the Gizo (Solomon Islands) tsunami.

Official sea-level gauge results from NIWA show the highest wave height of 1.1 metres occurred at Charleston, near Westport at 20:10 on Monday 2 April (NZST). "Fortunately, this wave occurred around mid-tide on the West Coast," says Dr Rob Bell of the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA).

The number of known offshore earthquake sources in the Bay of Plenty has been drastically revised.

Just ten days after the state of emergency was lifted in Whakatane, the Bay of Plenty is to host a major conference on the management of natural hazards.

The conference will be held at Baycourt in Tauranga, Tuesday 10th – Wednesday 11th August.

“It could hardly have been more timely,” says Dr Warren Gray of NIWA. “Delegates will hear about the practical implications of the latest science on flooding, coastal hazards, landslides, volcanoes, and earthquakes.”

NIWA scientists have been simulating flooding in Milne Stream near Halswell to study the effect of plants along the banks of Christchurch streams. The study is a joint project between NIWA and the Christchurch City Council, and field work wraps up tomorrow (Friday, June 4).

Natural hazards hit New Zealand with a vengeance last week, with an earthquake, a tsunami, floods, large waves, and gales all making their presence felt.