Natural Hazards - News

Science Centres: Natural Hazards

Preparing New Zealand for storms: lessons from Yasi
4 May 2011

Cyclone Yasi, which hit Australia in February, was a massive storm that destroyed hundreds of homes and devastated tropical rainforests. Understanding the risks posed by natural hazards like Cyclone Yasi, and how to mitigate their impact, is an important priority for New Zealand as extreme weather resulting in emergency situations can be expected to become more frequent. Our climate is becoming increasingly variable, while more people are living in coastal areas which are vulnerable to storms.

NIWA weather modelling research aims to improve the accuracy of New Zealand forecasts
29 March 2011

NIWA’s weather prediction model simulated the intense rainfall which fell just north of the capital, and flooded parts of Porirua, on Sunday 27 March. Thirty nine millimetres of rain fell in less than an hour, around 1.00pm.

Measurable tsunami waves hit New Zealand on cue after Japan earthquake
17 March 2011

New data from NIWA shows waves generated by last Friday’s magnitude 9.0 Japan earthquake reached all coasts of New Zealand, as predicted, and even registered on a sea-level gauge at Scott Base, in Antarctica.

NIWA Scientists set to survey Pegasus Bay with seismic equipment
16 March 2011

NIWA’s research vessel Kaharoa set sail from Wellington today, destined for Lyttelton and equipped with seismic survey gear to survey an area of southern Pegasus Bay.

Just how windy can it get in Wellington?

11 February 2011

We all know it can get pretty windy in New Zealand.

NIWA scientists travel to flood − stricken Australia
27 January 2011

NIWA scientists leave for Brisbane this Friday 28 January.

NIWA finds new ways of seeing past earthquakes – under the sea
13 October 2010

NIWA scientists are working at the cutting edge of earthquake research, developing new ways to interpret the history of undersea earthquakes occurring on major faultlines around New Zealand. This work will help scientists determine the likelihood of damaging earthquakes from underwater faults close to the coast.

Download the seabed!
19 August 2010

Highly detailed maps of New Zealand’s seabed are now freely available on NIWA’s website.

NIWA confirms collapse of undersea volcano
16 August 2010

The aptly named ‘Rumble III’ undersea volcano on the Kermadec Ridge, 200 km northeast of Auckland, has dropped in height by 120 metres in the last couple of years, pioneering research by NIWA has shown.

A rainfall planning tool for engineers – have you HIRD of it?
7 July 2010

The latest version (V3) of NIWA’s High Intensity Rainfall Design System (HIRDS) is a web-based system that lets engineers find out how much rain they should design for at any location in New Zealand. It will tell them the probability of a really big downpour, and how big that downpour might be.

Summer Series 6: Deadly hazards of the beach
29 April 2010

Potentially lethal to swimmers, while providing a handy tow for experienced surfers, rips are a hazard on most of New Zealand’s favourite swimming and surfing beaches.

2009 a benign year for natural disaster claims
31 March 2010

Earthquakes, floods, landslides, and low rainfall, were some of our major hazard events in 2009. For the insurance industry, it was one of the least costly years for natural disasters with claims only totalling $6.75 million, compared with $86.27 million the year before.

Like waves in a bathtub – the Chile tsunami reverberated around and around bays in New Zealand
5 March 2010

The results from 19 sea-level gauges around New Zealand reveal that six locations had peak wave heights of over one metre generated by a magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Chile on 27 February.

NZ scientists learn lessons from Samoa tsunami
4 December 2009

A team of NZ scientists say the results of their field work after the Samoa Tsunami are of interest internationally and here in New Zealand.

Tropical cyclone outlook: normal
20 October 2009

Climate and weather organisations across the Pacific are predicting near normal tropical cyclone activity in the southwest Pacific this coming summer. On average, nine tropical cyclones occur in the region each year.

NZ scientists to study tsunami impacts in Samoa
9 October 2009

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.

NIWA runs computer model of Vanuatu tsunami
9 October 2009

NIWA's hydrodynamic computer models may soon be able to predict the effect of tsunamis as they happen.

NIWA reveals seabed treasures
15 September 2009

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.

Hurricane Katrina expert to speak in Wellington
14 September 2009

14 September 2009 - Port of New Orleans CEO, Gary La Grange, is in Wellington to talk about the lessons New Orleans learnt from its recovery from Hurricane Katrina and how these experiences can help protect coastal and port areas worldwide. Mr La Grange is one of the keynote speakers at the Australasian Coasts and Ports Conference at Te Papa Tongarewa, from 16-18 September 2009.

NIWA selects IBM to provide new supercomputer to advance environmental forecasting
28 August 2009

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.