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.

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.

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

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

Coastal risk exposure for New Zealand, adaptation guidance for local government and relevant summaries of previous court cases and Building Act 2004 determinations.

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.

The scientific records of palaeotsunamis to have affected New Zealand shores can now be accessed in a new one-stop information shop.

Scientists will be knocking on doors in Edgecumbe next week seeking to survey the damage done to buildings from recent flooding caused when a stopbank on the Rangitaiki River breached.