On 1 July 2025, NIWA merged with GNS Science to become Earth Sciences New Zealand.

Coastal hazards

NIWA's coastal hazards research is improving knowledge and providing tools to help understand coastal hazards and potential impacts for Aotearoa New Zealand – both now and in the future as sea levels continue to rise.

Extreme coastal flood maps for Aotearoa New Zealand

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Coastal hazards

Research

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Services

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Resources

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  • Link to source page

    New tsunami monitoring system for Pacific

    Feature story
    22 September 2020
    A network of state-of-the-art tsunami buoys is being deployed from New Zealand up into the Pacific to keep communities safer.
    Waves
    Geological hazards
    Tsunami

  • Link to source page

    Tsunami evacuation zones home to 1 in 10 New Zealanders

    Media release
    19 August 2020
    NIWA scientists have completed the first national assessment of people and buildings at risk in New Zealand’s tsunami evacuation zones.
    Coastal hazards
    Coasts
    Waves

  • Link to source page

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    Small sea-level rises to drive more intense flooding, say scientists

    Media release
    14 April 2020
    A little can mean a lot – especially when it comes to the relationship between sea level rise and coastal flooding.
    Coasts
    Floods
    Oceans

  • Link to source page

    Adaptive futures: a serious game for climate change adaptation

    Research Project
    NIWA is using serious games to look at problems holistically and provide a framework for climate change adaptation decision-making.
    Climate change
    Hazards
    Weather hazards

  • Link to source page

    NIWA joint winner of 2018 Terry Healy Coastal Project Award

    Media release
    27 November 2018
    A trio of lead authors from NIWA has been named alongside the Ministry for the Environment and others as joint winner of the 2018 Terry Healy Coastal Project Award.
    Climate change
    Coastal hazards

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    A say on the sea shore

    Feature story
    16 October 2018
    Coastal communities around New Zealand are getting a say on how to respond to sea-level rise, and NIWA is helping them.
    Climate change
    Tides
    Coastal hazards

  • Link to source page

    Te Huringa ki te Rangi – He Rautaki Tāwariwari

    Te Huringa ki te Rangi is a decision-making model to support indigenous and coastal communities.
    Climate change
    Coastal hazards
    Te Kūwaha and Māori

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    Councils get help to prepare for sea-level rise

    Media release
    18 July 2018
    A senior NIWA scientist is concerned many councils are having difficulty “getting off the starting blocks” when it comes to planning for coastal climate change.
    Climate change
    Hazards
    Coastal hazards

  • Link to source page

    DART buoy

    2017 - NOAA tsunami warning station

    A tsunami reporting station situated in the Pacific Ocean that is currently off line is to be upgraded in a joint operation involving New Zealand and United States government agencies.
    Coasts
    Tsunami
    Coastal hazards
    Oceans

  • Link to source page

    Sea level observations (near real-time)

    Service
    This system combines daily sea-level data from NIWA, regional councils, port companies, Antarctica NZ, Bureau of Meteorology and territorial authorities.
    Coasts
    Coastal hazards

  • Link to source page

    South coast waves

    Wave hazard research

    Research Project
    NIWA collects wave data, develops and verifies wave forecasting systems, and is developing and producing wave projections.
    Weather forecasting
    Tides
    Waves

  • Link to source page

    Coastal storm inundation

    Education Resource
    New Zealand has low-lying coastal areas that are vulnerable to inundation (flooding) by the sea.
    Hazards
    Weather hazards
    Coastal hazards