It's Our Fault
The Wellington region’s unique and beautiful geography was created by major fault lines running through the landscape. IT’S OUR FAULT studies the awesome forces that shape our region, and looks at how we prepare for and recover from earthquakes. We work with communities, iwi, councils and government to help our region get through a major disaster.
The Wellington Fault
TE RŪ PŌNEKE
The Wellington Fault is one of several huge fault lines that have shaped the region. It stands out as a clear line in the landscape. The fault has a major quake every 700—1000 years on average. According to our research, the last one was 170—370 years ago. The high population of the area makes it one of New Zealand’s highest-risk geological hazards
FAULTS YOU CAN SEE
NGĀ TOHU RŪ E TAEA TE KITE
The Wellington Fault is the most active major fault in the region. The western side of the fault moves north, while the eastern side moves south in a big earthquake. Eventually, Khandallah and Petone could join up — but not for about 1 million years.
FAULTS BENEATH OUR FEET
HE TOHU RŪ KI RARO
About 23 kilometres beneath Wellington lies the boundary between the Australian Plate and the Pacific Plate. They move past each other at a rate of several centimetres per year in parts of New Zealand. Underneath Wellington, these plates are currently locked together, and abrupt movement along their boundary could produce a powerful earthquake and tsunami.
Contact
|
Nicola Litchfield | Science Leader E: itsourfault@gns.cri.nz T: +64 4 570 1444 www.itsourfault.org.nz/ |
GNS Science 1 Fairway Drive, Avalon, Lower Hutt 5010 PO Box 30368, Lower Hutt 5040, NZ |
 |
Please read the terms of use for these It's Our Fault web-pages. Use of the It's Our Fault publications and information will be deemed to be acceptance of the terms.
 |
 |
 |