Hazards

Due to its position in the 'Roaring Forties', a belt of strong winds in the Southern Hemisphere which generally occur between the latitudes of 40 and 49 degrees, as well as its small size, New Zealand is a windy country.

New Zealand has low-lying coastal areas that are vulnerable to inundation (flooding) by the sea.

Tsunami is a Japanese word meaning great wave in harbour.

River floods occur when water spills from a river channel onto land that is normally dry, and are one of New Zealand's costliest natural hazards.

Some commonly-asked questions about tornadoes in New Zealand.

Understanding what happens above and below ground during a flooding event, and how it is different from normal rainfall conditions

New Zealand faces a variety of hazards associated with snow.