Natural Hazards

Natural hazards are naturally occurring events such as earthquakes, floods, landslides which potentially damage property and threaten human life.

The main natural hazards affecting Otago include river and lake flooding, earthquakes, landslide, coastal flooding and coastal erosion.

Through research and understanding where natural hazards may occur we can manage the impacts of natural hazards and minimise damage they may cause.

A wide range of natural hazards affect the Otago Region, including:

We collect and provide information on natural hazards affecting the region
We provide early warning of flooding and rapid reaction following severe earthquakes
We work with the Territorial Authorities to react to natural hazard events through the Otago Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group

Recent Otago Regional Council initiatives include:

Organising presentations by Associate Professor Tim Davies on natural events and human consequences in Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago
Read more about The Great Alpine Fault Earthquake talks.
Investigating and constructing an improved Leith-Lindsay flood protection scheme
High precision surveying of the entire Otago coastline to provide information on which areas may be affected by storm surge and future sea level rise
Collating information on the seismic hazard that affects the region
Investigating a possible flood protection scheme for Stoney Creek, Wanaka
Jointly (with Queenstown Lakes District Council) investigating flood mitigation options for Lake Wakatipu
A natural hazards report for the Makarora area
Mapping and classification of alluvial fans throughout the Otago Region
Young River landslide dam monitoring
Monitoring of waves and currents in Te Rauone Bay
Investigating tsunami scenarios for the Otago coastline
Working with GNS to best utilise their earthquake alert services

New projects include:

Developing a Natural Hazards Strategy for the Otago Region
Developing a hazards information database for the Otago Region available to the public
Investigating landslide hazards affecting the Otago Region
Investigating the causes of coastal erosion at Te Rauone beach, Otago harbour
Investigating flood hazards in the lower Clutha River/Mata-Au
Investigating flood hazards in the Lower Taieri
Further study of alluvial fans features in Otago
Investigating storm surge scenarios for the Otago coastline
Investigating flood hazards in Cardrona
Investigating the natural hazards that potentially affect Glenorchy

Hazard Watch - weekly reviews of natural hazard events reported in New Zealand
Earthquake Commission of New Zealand
Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) - New Zealand
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
The New Zealand GeoNet Project - real-time monitoring and data collection for rapid response and research into earthquake, volcano, landslide and tsunami hazards
MetService - weather information from the Meteorological Service of New Zealand Ltd
Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) - New Zealand tidal predictions
Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management - read the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002
Natural Hazards Information Centre - a resource jointly created by NIWA and GNS
Stop Disasters game - learn how communities avoid, mitigate and protect themselves from the effects of various natural disasters with this online game from the UN. (Requires Flash.)

Information and Services