East Coast LABLife at the Boundary

Overview

East Coast LAB [Life at the Boundary] brings together scientists, emergency managers, experts and stakeholders across the East Coast to discover more about natural hazards and how they affect us. They have been helping GNS Science and other organisations take Hikurangi Subduction Earthquake science to communities since 2015.

The project

Life at the Boundary

The East Coast of New Zealand’s North Island is close to the boundary of two tectonic plates. The area where the plates meet is known as the Hikurangi Subduction Zone, where the Pacific Plate subducts or dives down under the Australian Plate. The Hikurangi Subduction Zone is New Zealand's largest and most active fault, stretching offshore from Gisborne down to the top of the South Island. Scientific research has shown that the Hikurangi subduction zone has a history of generating large earthquakes and tsunami. While we can’t predict when earthquakes will occur, recent science suggests there is a 1-in-4 chance of a magnitude 8 Hikurangi subduction zone earthquake in the next fifty years.

Living so close to this boundary means that we could be affected by a number of natural hazards like earthquakes, tsunami, coastal erosion and even volcanoes.  The more we understand about what causes these natural hazards to happen, the better we can be prepared.

The East Coast LAB (Life at the Boundary) engages with scientists, researchers, local emergency management advisors, local community groups and schools to share existing and new knowledge about the Hikurangi plate boundary. GNS science is grateful to their tremendous efforts to make our science understood and useful.

Hands-on discovery

East Coast LAB provides hands-on opportunities to discover more about earthquakes, tsunami and volcanic eruptions and how they affect us through these avenues:

• LAB, National Aquarium of New Zealand: Step into the LAB and discover more about earthquakes, tsunami and volcanic eruptions.
• LEARNZ Virtual Field Trips: Take part in a free virtual field trip to learn more about natural hazards along the Hikurangi plate boundary
• Ship to Shore Science: Uncover research at the plate boundary and connect your students LIVE to the ship R/V JOIDES Resolution while it's working at sea
• Life at the Boundary Roadshow: Join East Coast LAB, scientists, and your local emergency management advisors to hear about the latest Hikurangi subduction zone science and hazard impact information at these free public events.
• Citizen Science projects: If you would like to actively contribute to our science research, consider participating in a citizen science initiative. Participation in citizen science projects adds valuable information about out natural hazards. We also hope you will learn more about natural hazards by participating.

Visit the LAB(external link).

Get involved through citizen science(external link).