How much risk do NZ tsunamis pose to Australia?

Research funded by the Australian Government will investigate tsunamis on the west coast of New Zealand to help understand how much risk they pose to Australia.

Although the recent earthquakes south of New Zealand caused little more than a ripple on Australian shores, researchers estimate that more than 300,000 lives and property worth more than $150bn on the NSW coast are vulnerable to large tsunamis. At present, however, scientists do not have a clear idea about how often such tsunamis occur and how big they might be.

The Australian Research Council has awarded a trans-Tasman team of scientists a almost $300,000 over three years to identify and date evidence for past tsunamis on the coast of New South Wales and on the west coast of New Zealand. Contributions from other organisations bring the total funding for the project to about $750,000 over three years. The collaboration involves Dr Dale Dominey-Howes of the University of New South Wales, Professor Jon Nott of James Cook University, and Dr James Goff of the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA).

Dr Goff says the work will help guide tsunami risk management practice in vulnerable areas of New South Wales and underpin the developing Australian Tsunami Warning System.

"Parts of the west coast of New Zealand have experienced large tsunamis in the past, most notably in 1826 and in the 15th century. We will be looking to develop a better understanding of such events, along with those in New South Wales. In particular, we want to find out more about the potential sources and the implications for the tsunami risk to both countries."