Natural Disasters
Expert says government intervention needed in flood-prone areas
An expert in natural hazard planning says the government needs to buy out residents in flood-prone areas such as Anzac Parade in Whanganui, or risk people losing their lives.
In 2015, floodwaters… Audio
Up close to the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano
Volcanologist Shane Cronin has just returned from a survey of all Tonga's northern islands, trying to piece together what led to the largest volcanic explosion ever recorded there. Audio
$100k to restore biodiversity after Canterbury flooding
More funding has been announced for parts of Banks Peninsula affected by severe flooding last December.
Gisborne mayor touched by Auckland woman's act of kindness
Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz says her week has been made after receiving a hand-written letter with $20 enclosed for flood relief efforts.
"Blobs" under the Earth's Surface
Earth scientist from the University of Wollongong Nicolas Flament on the emerging science of "massive blobs" under the earth's surface. Audio
NIWA scientists to map Tonga eruption's impact on seabed
NIWA scientists are undertaking a mission to discover the undersea impacts of the recent Tongan volcanic eruption.
'The land has turned to liquid' - Wairoa farms hit by heavy rain
Flooded parts of the east coast are not out of the woods yet. Wairoa's had a lashing.
And for some farmers this week has been worse than last - with the land turning to liquid.
Wairoa Federated… Video, Audio
Flood-stricken Tokomaru Bay school had only just had classrooms repaired
The Prime Minister has trudged through the sludgy grounds of Tairāwhiti, to survey the damage from last week's severe flooding.
One of the stops on her tour was Hatea-a-Rangi School, which finally… Audio
Thousands of northeast Japan homes still without power after earthquake kills four
Tens of thousands of Japanese households remained without power on Thursday morning, more than 10 hours after a powerful earthquake that left at least four dead and more than 100 injured.
Funding concerns over Westport flood
An urgent $10m flood protection scheme for Westport could grow larger, with the cost falling on ratepayers if central Government doesn't contribute.
British divers share gripping details of Thai Cave rescue
In 2018, the whole world was captivated by the story of Wild Boar football team that had gone missing in Thailand. Civilian cave divers Rick Stanton and John Volanthen were the first people to find… Video, Audio
Heaphy Bridge on Great Walk irreparable
The flood-damaged Heaphy Bridge on the Heaphy Track has been written off by structural engineers and cannot be fixed.
Homeowners wrestle with unsettled quake claims 11 years on
On the 11th anniversary of the Christchurch earthquake, a lawyer dealing with outstanding insurance claims says the city still has a long way to go.
Strong 5.6 magnitude earthquake near Blenheim
The magnitude 5.6 earthquake near Blenheim was recorded about 4.06 pm by GeoNet.
Forecasting earthquakes - can we better predict ground shaking?
An earthquake engineering expert wants to change the way we predict how the ground will shake during an earthquake. Professor Brendon Bradley from the University of Canterbury is the recipient of a… Audio
Buller resident on evacuation, flood threat
A state of emergency is in place in Westport for the second time in a week.
As the floodwaters rise in the west coast, dozens of residents have had to evacuate.
One of them is Jenny Thomas, who's… Audio
Weather: Another state of emergency declared in Westport
A state of emergency is once again in place in and around Westport - and evacuations are underway for the second time in a week.
A high tide is due at 7pm and residents are being told to get to… Video, Audio
New flood system in Buller would give 8 hours advanced evacuation warning
The final piece of equipment for a new flood monitoring system is now in place in Buller River.
Rebuilding Tonga: Four key lessons from Fiji after Cyclone Winston
Analysis - Fiji built resilient, future-proofed houses after Cyclone Winston. For Tonga, the Fijian experience offers the opportunity to apply what was learnt.
Covering Tonga’s eruption - without communications
That epic undersea eruption in Tonga was heard around the region - and recorded and analysed in minute detail, even from space. But a comprehensive communications wipeout cut reporters off from… Video, Audio
