Research

Find out more about some of our natural hazards-related work.

RiskScape software

RiskScape is a software application for analysing natural hazard consequences.

Future Coast Aotearoa

Aotearoa New Zealand’s coastal lowlands are our flat low-lying land (or plains) adjacent to coasts and estuaries. Our coastal lowlands are valued for many reasons, including unique ecological wetlands, cultural sites of significance, valued recreational areas, highly-productive agriculture and are popular places to live.

Tsunami generated by underwater volcanoes

Marsden-funded research investigating how erupting volcanoes can cause deadly and damaging tsunamis.

Mā te haumaru ō te wai: Increasing flood resilience across Aotearoa

Flooding is one of the most costly natural hazards in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our regular flood clean-up bills are topped only by much less frequent earthquakes.

Forecasting weather systems

NIWA’s research into forecasting weather systems aims to increase the resilience of New Zealand communities to weather-related hazards.

Adaptive futures: a serious game for climate change adaptation

NIWA is using serious games to look at problems holistically, support understanding and give a framework for climate change adaptation decision-making.

PARTneR (Pacific Risk Tool for Resilience)

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

Submarine faulting beneath Pegasus Bay

In September 2010 and February 2011, two devastating earthquakes (M7.1 and M6.3 respectively) hit the Canterbury region

Coastal adaptation to climate change

NIWA is developing guidelines and advice to help coastal communities adapt to climate change.

Wave and storm-surge projections (WASP)

NIWA is working on a ministry-funded project to produce a model, validated by 40 years of historic data, to project future wave and storm surges off the coast for two climate change scenarios.

Physical hazards affecting coastal margins and the continental shelf

This programme is about providing improved knowledge of the causes and potential consequences of coastal hazards in New Zealand, and how often they might pose a threat.