Mawera Karetai and her son Jack Karetai-Barrett are well-prepared for natural disasters, with survival supplies stored in backpacks at home and in their car. Mawera, a local researcher, warns that Whakatāne, a town in New Zealand, needs to prepare for a massive earthquake and tsunami similar to the 2011 event in Japan.
Scientists studying the Hikurangi Subduction Zone, off the east coast of the North Island, predict a major earthquake could occur within the next 50 years. There’s a 25% chance it could be as large as a 9.1 magnitude quake. Mawera warns that such an event could cause major infrastructure damage and isolation, as resources will be directed to the cities.
Mawera has organized a series of workshops with seismologists from GNS, a geological research institute, for next month. She believes that many people in town are not adequately prepared for an earthquake. The workshops will discuss the various fault lines at risk, including the subduction zone beneath the town. Attendees should leave with an action plan on how to keep their community safe.
Mawera has spoken to the Whakatāne District Council about her concerns that they do not have an evacuation plan for the town. The council has said that they are committed to enhancing community awareness and understanding of disaster education.
The council has begun work on a multi-agency project to develop new evacuation processes and procedures for tsunami and flood risks. They are also developing Civil Defence Centres across the district to provide emergency resources after a natural hazard event.
The workshops are part of a research project called “Our Changing Coast,” funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Endeavour Fund. The project investigates factors such as land movement and sea level rise on coastal communities. Mawera has been asked to study the impacts on young people living in these areas.
The workshops are scheduled for the last week of June. Depending on their success, they may be extended to all coastal areas in New Zealand.
