Main Natural Hazard

In New Zealand many natural hazards can be linked to its location. Though many different natural hazards occur I believe that earth quakes are the most important to address. Natural hazards have shaped the country's beautiful landscape, but also caused loss of life and devastation.

Why It Happens 

New Zealand lies on the boundary between the Australian Plate and the Pacific Plate. Along these plates there are many faults. Two of which are called the Alpine Fault and the Wellington Fault. Blocks of rock on the faults sometimes move upward or sideways, causing earthquakes.

GNS science locates every year over 15,000 earthquakes in New Zealand and can expect several magnitude 6 earthquakes every year, one magnitude 7 every 10 years and a magnitude 8 every century. About 200 of the earthquakes are big enough to be felt. Since 1840 more than 450 people have died in a large earthquake.

Reason for Importance

Earthquakes cause other natural hazards like tsunamis, flooding and landslides which is why I address it as a priority. With all of these different natural hazards comes possible damage to citizens housing. In worst case scenarios there have been reports of deaths as well. This is an important factor and gives reason to look more into how we can prevent these natural hazards.

Recommendations 

Some recommendations would be to have a good evacuation plan for people living there as well as having buildings to be up to date to withstand earthquakes. I think that people living there should always be researching the conditions of the weather to stay up to date with what is going on so you can be prepared if a natural hazard occurs. 

Target Help First

Most earthquakes occur along the main ranges running from Fiordland in the southwest to East Cape in the northeast which follows the boundary between the Indo-Australian and Pacific plates so I would target help first in these areas due to it being the most occurring areas of earthquakes.

    Construct House

Nestled inland, Hamilton is where I would construct my house because it is tucked away from the coast which will cancel out any risk of tsunamis as well as a safe distance from known fault lines.

References 

"Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand." Earthquakes –. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2016. 

"Where Do Earthquakes Happen in New Zealand?" Where Do Earthquakes Happen in NZ? / New Zealand Earthquakes / Earthquakes / Science Topics / Learning / Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2016.

"Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand." Natural Hazards – Overview –. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2016. 

Costal erosion happens when wind and water currents wear away the shoreline. Depending on whether they are sandy or rocky they will erode in different ways.  

Costal erosion can be a big problem if houses are built on low lying sand, or on cliffs. A zoning system has been set up to prevent  buildings being put up in areas which are likely to flood or erode. 

New Zealanders love to love by the sea but this is something they have to put into mind. One way people have tried to make coast stable and protect buildings is to build sea walls. You can find many around Waitemata Harbour in Auckland and the Wellington waterfront. Beaches can be restored by bring in sand from somewhere else. Planting native grasses that trap sand can stop sand dunes from being blown or washed away.

"Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand." Collapsed Cliff - Costal Erosion -. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2016.

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