Hazards

New Zealand’s coast is sculpted by ocean waves. Some wave conditions bring joy to surfers and beachgoers, but, at other times, waves can cause major hazards at sea or along the shore.

The New Zealand Palaeotsunami Database (Database) brings together all known information about tsunamis that occurred prior to written records.

Antarctica is experiencing stunning skyscapes like those recently seen in New Zealand, thanks to the afterglow effect from the Tongan volcano.

Whitianga Wharf sea levels

Understanding how hazards impact people and the environment provides the foundation for informed decision making for a resilient Pacific.

New Zealand faces a variety of hazards associated with undersea geological activity.

Generally speaking, a drought is defined as a rainfall deficit which restricts or prevents a human activity – for example, farming or power generation.

Heavy rainfall is one of the most frequent and widespread severe weather hazards to affect New Zealand.

NIWA collects wave data, develops and verifies wave forecasting systems, and is developing and producing wave projections.

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

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