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Disasters New Zealand

Explore the impact and timelines of natural and man-made disasters in New Zealand like Wahine, Tangiwai, Erebus, and the Napier and Christchurch earthquakes. Also covered are Civil Defence, support systems and survival stories. SCIS no. 1807259

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Wahine Disaster

Wahine Disaster

Wahine disaster 45 years on

As the Wahine was sinking the passengers were singing There’s a Hole in my Bucket.

The anniversary of the Wahine disaster

On the 10th of April 1968, the passenger ferry Wahine sank.

Wahine disaster

A photograph galley of images relating to the Wahine disaster.

A Wahine rescue mission

A personal account of the Wahine tragedy by Major Joan Beale.

Heroes of the Wahine disaster

There were many heroes and brave rescuers on the day the Wahine sank.

Tragedy on White Island

10 miners are killed on White Island.

The Brunner disaster

Letter about the importance of two women at the Brunner mine entrance after the disaster.

Brunner coal mine disaster

Brunner coal mine disaster

On 26 March 1896 an explosion at Brunner, West Coast, killed 65 coal miners in New Zealand’s worst mining disaster.

Disaster robot

Robots help search for life in earthquake rubble.

The First news of the eruption, Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XX, Issue 144, 18 JuneE 1886

First newspaper reports of the Tarawera eruption of 1866.

Wahine disaster prompts life-saving services

The significance of the Wahine disaster goes beyond the events of the day.

Wahine disaster

Wahine disaster

E-book about the Wahine disaster.

Aftershock

Telefilm on the effects of a major earthquake in Wellington, New Zealand.

Civil defence warning system

Civil defence warning system

The Wellington City Council's admitting the new tsunami and civil defence warning system needs improvements.

Survival story

Numerous stories, some of survival, others more tragic are emerging in the aftermath of the quake. One of those caught was Tom Brittenden, who was working at Cashel Mall at the time.

Wahine disaster

Fifty years after the disaster, the Wahine 50 Trustees have planned a number of events to take place on Wahine Day 2018.

Tornado in Greymouth

Tornado in Greymouth

This photograph shows the damage done by a tornado that ripped through Greymouth on the 10thof March 2005. The tornado came in from the sea and made landfall at Blaketown. It then moved through the...

Influenza epidemic

Article about the spread of the 1918 influenza epidemic in Wellington.

Kaimai air disaster

At 9:09am on 3 July 1963 twenty-three people died in what remains New Zealand's worst internal aviation disaster. As a National Airways Corporation DC-3 plane began its descent towards Tauranga in ...

Canterbury claims

Canterbury claims

Insurance companies and Canterbury earthquake claims.

Telegram from King George V

Telegram from King George V

To mark the 85th anniversary of New Zealand’s deadliest natural disaster, Archives New Zealand will be sharing a number of records via their social media channels this week. The 1931 Hawke's Bay...

Abbotsford landslide

Abbotsford landslide

New Zealand’s most publicised landslide occurred in the Dunedin suburb of Abbotsford. Cracks were first noticed by residents in 1969. In May 1979 an underground water pipe was unearthed and enginee...

Brynderwyn accident

Brynderwyn accident

On February 7th 1963, New Zealand's worst bus crash occurred on Brynderwyn Hill. The bus was chartered by the Maori Affairs Department and was returning from Waitangi Day celebrations carrying 35 p...

Erebus Disaster

Erebus Disaster

New Zealand disasters timeline

The disasters timeline and map give an overview of New Zealand's worst natural disasters, transport accidents, fires, mining accidents and other tragedies that have caused major loss of life.

Stickers are fun, right?

Stickers are fun, right?

Red, yellow, and green. The colours of a quake damaged city.

Ruapehu

Eruptions over time from the archives

Rena oil spill

Video clip showing the effects of the oil spill on the coastline and the wildlife and shorebirds.

How Māui challenged the earthquake god

The myth about Māui and his challenge to Whakaruamoko, the earthquake god.

Warning sign

A sign warning of the tsunami hazard.

Measles epidemic

Measles epidemic

For some time, Māori had no immunity to the new diseases that arrived with Pākehā settlers. Severe epidemics were common. This newspaper article of 1887 describes a deadly outbreak of measles in Ta...

New Zealand volcanologist in Paris

New Zealand volcanologist in Paris

A trip to Paris for a disaster planning meeting has turned into a real life saga for New Zealand volcanologist Dr David Johnston. Dr Johnston, of Massey University, found himself stranded in the Fr...

Disaster kit

This cartoon followed the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake that resulted in severe damage and many casualties. After disaster strikes, electricity and water will be cut off, roads damaged a...

An epidemic is the abnormally high level of a disease at a particular time. It usually refers to infectious diseases, but it is also possible to have epidemics of non-infectious diseases such as he...

Preparation for a disaster

Preparation for a disaster

Preparation for a civil defence emergency. What can we do to be ready? What everybody should do. This video plays in the Volcanoes gallery at Auckland Museum (see http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/volc...

Schoolgirl honoured for tsunami beach warning

A schoolgirl who ran along a Samoan beach warning people that a devastating tsunami was about to hit has been honoured for her bravery.

The heroes of the Christchurch earthquake

The heroes of the Christchurch earthquake

In the hours and days following the 11 February, 2011 earthquake, emergency services were overwhelmed. Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) task forces and the New Zealand Defence Force joined their effo...

Christchurch Cathedral

Christchurch Cathedral

The Christchurch Cathedral was the main attraction of Cathedral Square. It was designed by

Scientists prepare for lake Taupo eruption

There is only a small chance the volcano that is now Lake Taupo will erupt, but researchers are planning for a worst case scenario in case it does.

Abbotsford residents

Abbotsford residents

On 8 August 1979 a landslide split the suburb of Abbotsford (Dunedin) in two. As a result over 70 buildings were destroyed, mostly suburban houses. Luckily no one was killed or injured. However, so...

Railway disaster at Tangiwai

The Tangiwai disaster

On Christmas Eve, 1953 the swollen Whangaehu River swept away the Tangiwai bridge. The approaching Wellington-Auckland night express rolled onto the damaged bridge. The engine and five carriages pl...

Ballantynes fire

Ballantynes fire

J Ballantyne & Co was a centre for shopping in Canterbury. In November 1947 more than 300 people were employed at the store. At 3.30 that afternoon an employee noticed smoke from the cellar below t...

Te Wairoa school after the Tarawera eruption

Te Wairoa school after the Tarawera eruption

Mt Tarawera erupted on the 10th of June 1886. The eruption that could be heard as far as Blenheim, buried the village of Te Wairoa (now a tourist attraction called ‘The Buried Village’). More than ...

Disaster forecast

Disaster forecast

A weather forecast girl stands in front of a map of New Zealand And outlines a range of potential disasters.

Rena oil spill gives clean up practise

Rena oil spill gives clean up practise

On 5 October 2011, the Rena, a Greek container ship ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef, off the coast of Tauranga. The ship was carrying hazardous materials, tonnes of heavy fuel oil and marine dies...

Christchurch cathedral ruins

Christchurch cathedral ruins

It took 40 years to build, but only a few minutes to be destroyed. This photograph shows what remained standing of Christchurch Cathedral following the devastating earthquake of 22 February, 2011. ...

185 Empty Chairs art installation

185 Empty Chairs art installation

Artists Peter and Joy Majendie wanted to commemorate the 185 people who lost their lives in the earthquake of 11 February, 2011. They also wanted to make a place where Christchurch people could spe...

Volcanoes: Pacific Ring of Fire

The Pacific Ring of Fire and it’s relevancy to New Zealand’s volcanism and earthquakes.

Disaster and insurance

How insurance companies have handled insurance claims in New Zealand.

Safest place to live in NZ

This article examines areas least at risk to disasters in New Zealand.

Pandemic planning and response

Ministry of Health site lists guidance, legislation, planning and response to infectious diseases.

New Zealand disasters

A list of some of New Zealand’s major disasters.

New Zealand disasters

A gallery of items related to disasters of New Zealand.

Volcanic landforms

Volcanic eruptions and their effects on the landscape of New Zealand.

Documentary about the eruption of Mt Tarawera.

Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management

The official New Zealand Civil Defence website.

Accidents & Disasters

Contains images of the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake.

Welcome to Geonet

Up to the minute geological hazard information in New Zealand.

New Zealand’s largest earthquake.

A map showing the location, date and magnitude of New Zealand’s largest earthquakes.

New Zealand's biggest threat revealed

A report on catastrophes says a sharemarket crash is the biggest risk to New Zealand.

When Disaster strikes: collected disaster stories

A collection of disaster survival stories.

The story of the loss of flight TE901 on Mt Erebus in Antarctica.

Disaster activities

This pdf has lesson plans and activities on how to plan and prepare for a disaster.

Living with disaster: warning for Kiwis - be ready for the big one

What remains clear is New Zealand's frightening vulnerability to earthquakes.

Pike River Mine: fatally flawed

Rebecca Macfie answers questions about her book about the Pike River mine explosion.

This site shares stories from people who experienced and survived the Christchurch earthquake.

Download the Hazard App to help you and your family prepare for and respond to hazards in New Zealand.

New Zealand's sacred mountains

The Māori legend of Tongariro and his fight for Pihanga.

CTV survivors speak out 6 months on

Survivors speak about their experience of surviving the earthquake.

Natural disasters

Presents Māori and Samoan perspectives on natural disasters.

Cost of disaster events in New Zealand

The cost of insurance claims from New Zealand natural disasters from the Wahine storm until now.

Napier earthquake

Drama unit on how people react to a natural disaster.

Photograph by Jean Francois Fournier of the Rena oil spill on the shores of Tauranga.

Tsunami wiped out historic knowledge

Archaeologist Bruce McFadgen’s report on a huge tsunami that hit New Zealand around 500 years ago.

Tale of two recovering cities

Journalist Tyler Adams writes about Japan’s recovery and Christchurch’s rebuild.

Severe weather 1-2-3

Sitting out in the middle of the ocean, New Zealand is vulnerable to weather extremes from all directions.

Cyclone Bola - March 1988

Cyclone Bola caused an estimated $90 Million worth of damage.

Guides & factsheets

Wahine: Ada’s story

Where were you on the 10th of April 1968? Were you sheltering from Cyclone Giselle as she battered the country? Did you brave the weather to make your way to work or school? Imagine if you were, li...

Guides & factsheets

The Evening Post photographic collection

The Wahine disaster through the eyes of Evening Post photographers.

On Christmas Eve, 1953 the swollen Whangaehu River swept away the Tangiwai bridge. The approaching Wellington-Auckland night express rolled onto the damaged bridge. The engine and five carriages plunged off the bridge and into the river killing 285 passengers. Moments later the sixth carriage dropped into the water.

On Christmas Eve, 1953 the swollen Whangaehu River swept away the Tangiwai bridge. The approaching Wellington-Auckland night express rolled onto the damaged bridge. The engine and five carriages plunged off the bridge and into the river killing 285 passengers. Moments later the sixth carriage dropped into the water.

Pike River lies to the northeast of Greymouth. On the 19th November 2010 there was an explosion which took the lives of 29 miners. Rescue teams could not enter the mine because of the danger of mor...

State of emergency in the Nelson fire region

The State of Civil Emergency in the Tasman region has been extended for another week as authorities continue to deal with the large bush fires.

Influenza pandemic 1918

Where can I find information about the flu (influenza) pandemic in 1918?

Natural Disasters

Natural Disasters

We have no control over earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding, tsunamis, famine and avalanches. Explore how the United Nations (UNISDR) and Civil Defence in New Zealand manage emergencies and h...

Extreme Weather

Extreme Weather

A wild weather forecast can tell you if weather bombs, floods, cyclones, heatwaves, storms, tornados, hurricanes, and blizzards are headed your way. Explore these wild weather concepts and how to g...

Earth Sciences Earthquakes

Earth Sciences Earthquakes

Seismologists say seismic activity is largely caused by tectonic plate activity. These resources cover the types of earthquakes, the Richter scale, prediction, fracking, and their impact and effect...

Earth Sciences Volcanoes

Earth Sciences Volcanoes

Plate tectonics are behind the Pacific Ring of Fire and eruptions of lava, gas, and ash that can cause damage. Volcanologists study the formation and types of volcanoes such as Ruapehu, White Islan...

Pike River Mine disaster 2010

Pike River Mine disaster 2010

The explosion at Pike River Mine on 19 November 2010 killed 29 men. This was a major disaster for New Zealand in recent times. Two years later the Royal Commission of Inquiry began an investigation...

Disaster Preparedness

Disaster Preparedness

Disasters can strike any time. This topic covers surviving disasters like earthquakes, storms, and tsunamis. It also covers survival kits, emergency plans, and relief agencies like civil defence, t...