Find the latest Otago river water flow and levels on our Environmental Data Portal.
Environmental Data PortalFind the latest Otago river water flow and levels on our Environmental Data Portal.
Natural hazards, such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides, can harm communities. Learn how the Council works to identify risks and help communities coordinate, prepare, respond in emergencies and recover.
He mea whakararu i kā hapori kā mōrea māori, pērā i te rū whenua, te waipuke, me te horowhenua. Ka ako mō te mahi a te Kaunihera ki te tautohu i kā tūraru, ki te āwhina ki kā hapori ki te whakarite, ki te takatū, ki te urupare hoki ki kā putaka ohotata, ā, ki te ara anō mai mō muri atu.
Natural hazards are naturally occurring events that have the potential to threaten people, property, or infrastructure.
Some hazards, such as flooding, happen quite often, while others are rare (for example, Tsunami and large earthquakes).
Otago faces significant natural hazards, and the Otago Regional Council is actively researching seismic activity, flooding, coastal erosion, and climate change impacts. Our mission: enhance community education, emergency planning, and scientific study to bolster Otago’s resilience against disasters.
To search for natural hazards related to a specific area in Otago, you can explore our Otago Natural Hazards Database. This tool provides information on hazards like earthquakes, flooding, landslides, and more (although does not replace the need for a LIM).
ORC safeguards local communities in Otago by managing flood protection and drainage assets. This includes 200+ kilometres of floodbanks, 12 pumping stations, 55 bridges, and culverts. Flood schemes minimize damage to property, livestock, and infrastructure, vital for Otago’s low-lying communities. Rising sea levels make this work even more urgent.
Otago is known for its stunning landscapes, but also faces natural hazards like flooding, earthquakes, and storms. To adapt, ORC works with communities and organisations to consider building rules, protection schemes, and community engagement.
The Otago Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) website is a ‘go to tool’ for helping individuals, schools, businesses, and communities take the necessary steps towards getting ready for an emergency.
A natural hazard is a situation where a natural event has the potential to cause harm or loss. Informed by science, ORC shares our research into managing natural hazards in Otago.
Learn more about the plans and policies that help mitigate the Natural hazards in Otago.