Historical emergenciesNgā ohotata o mua

• 1963 — Two earthquakes of magnitudes 4.8 and 4.9 caused damage near Mangonui and Peria.

• 1973 — Heavy rain brought flooding to the Whangārei District, causing damage to properties and roads.
• 1988 — Cyclone Bola struck most regions of the North Island. In particular Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Gisborne and Northland. Storm conditions resulted in flooding.
• 1999 — Extreme rainfall resulted in flooding in the Hokianga area. 270 people were evacuated.
• 1981 — There was flooding in Kerikeri, including of the famous Old Stone Store.
• 2003 — Twenty houses were evacuated in Kaitaia after the river broke its banks.
• 2007 — Torrential rain and gale-force winds caused widespread flooding.
• 2013 — Strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms crossed New Zealand. The winds caused lots of damage, blowing vehicles off roads, and bringing down power lines. Thousands of homes lost power.

• 1936 — A cyclone destroyed buildings, causing floods and sinking boats.
• 1968 — Cyclone Giselle caused storm damage throughout the country.
• 1988 — Dargaville lost its water supply line when a bridge was swept away during Cyclone Bola.
• 2007 — Torrential rain and gale force winds caused widespread flooding, slips, wind damage and road closures.

• 1883 — The eruption of Krakatau in Indonesia caused a tsunami that was experienced around the country.
• 1960 — A series of one-metre-high waves swept into Port Whangārei after an earthquake in Chile.
• 2021 — On 5 March, there were three earthquakes on the same morning all in the Kermadec Islands region. The last and largest was a magnisture 8.1 earthquake that triggered a tsunami warning. People were evacuated across the North Islands. Fortunately, the waves were not large or damaging and by the afternoon, they had passed. 
• 2022 — A volcanic erupution in Tonga caused tsunami activity around New Zealand, which damaged Tutukaka Marina. 

• Northland has two fields of young volcanoes. Te Puke was active 1800–1300 years ago.

• 1891 — The Port Waikato earthquake (magnitude 6.0) toppled chimneys in Auckland.

• 1999 — Contamination from flooded sewers in Pukekohe remained a problem for several weeks.
• 2001 — Flooding in Leigh uprooted trees and killed livestock. One family was shocked when a car swept inside their house.

• 1936 — A cyclone destroyed buildings, causing floods and sinking boats.
• 1968 — Cyclone Giselle caused storm damage throughout the country.
• 1988 — One of the most notorious storms in recent history, Cyclone Bola caused extensive flooding and extremely high winds.
• 2011 — Tornadoes struck northern parts of Auckland.
• 2013 — Strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms crossed New Zealand. The winds caused lots of damage, blowing vehicles off roads and bringing down power lines. Thousands of homes lost power.
• 2017 — Ex-tropical cyclones Debbie and Cook passed over New Zealand within a week of each other. They caused floods and landslides around the country.

• Over the last 150 years, the coast has been hit by 12 tsunami up to two metres high.
• 1883 — the eruption of Krakatau in Indonesia caused a tsunami that was experienced around the country.
• 2021 — On 5 March, there were three earthquakes on the same morning all in the Kermadec Islands region. The last and largest was a magnisture 8.1 earthquake that triggered a tsunami warning. People were evacuated across the North Islands. Fortunately, the waves were not large or damaging and by the afternoon, they had passed. 

• In the last 150,000 years, several of Auckland’s 49 volcanoes have erupted.
• Rangitoto last erupted 600 years ago.

• 1891 — The Port Waikato earthquake (magnitude 6.0) broke windows, rung bells and threw school-children off their chairs.
• 1922 — A swarm of earthquakes under Lake Taupō were described as “an almost continuous throbbing”. The strongest of them reached magnitude 6.0 on the Richter scale.
• 1964 — About 400 quakes rattled Taupō. The strongest of them was about magnitude 4.5 on the Richter scale.
• 1976 — Several houses in Korakonui lost their chimneys during a magnitude 5.1 earthquake near the Waikato River.
• 1983 — Roads were damaged and boulders up to 2m wide were dislodged along State Highway 5 in a magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Wai-O-Tapu.

• 1846 — A massive landslide on the shores of Lake Taupō overwhelmed Te Rapa, killing 60 people.

• 1936 — A cyclone destroyed buildings, causing flooding and sinking boats.
• 1939 — The worst snowstorm in 100 years killed livestock, blocked roads and halted trains.
• 1968 — Cyclone Giselle caused much storm damage throughout the country.
• 1988 — Cyclone Bola, one of the most notorious cyclones of recent history, battered the North Island.
• 1996 — Cyclone Fergus brought torrential rain, flooding out thousands of campers and holiday-makers.
• 1997 — Cyclone Drena hit only a fortnight after Cyclone Fergus. Waves washed over the top of a seawall and flooded houses in Thames.
• 2007 — Torrential rain and gale force winds caused widespread flooding, slips, wind damage and road closures.
• 2013 — Strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms crossed New Zealand. The winds caused lots of damage, blowing vehicles off roads and bringing down power lines. Thousands of homes lost power.
• 2017 — Ex-tropical cyclones Debbie and Cook passed over New Zealand within a week of each other. They caused floods and landslides around the country.

• 1883 — The eruption of Krakatau in Indonesia caused a tsunami that was experienced around the country.
• 1960 — Whitianga and Waihi were evacuated after a tsunami from a huge earthquake in Chile.

• 26,500 years ago, Taupō erupted in possibly the world’s largest eruption in modern history.
• 1,800 years ago Lake Taupō erupted, filling all the major river valleys of the central North Island with pumice and ash. This eruption was reported by the Chinese and Romans.

• 2004 — Intense rainfall and gale force winds caused flooding to many areas in New Zealand. Hundreds of people were left homeless. Farmland was covered in silt. Sheep and cattle drowned or were swept away. Bridges were damaged and roads were closed.
• 2005 — Over 150 homes were made uninhabitable by floods in the Bay of Plenty.
• 2007 — Torrential rain and gale force winds caused widespread flooding.

• 2004 — Heavy rain resulted in floods and landslides in the Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki districts.
• 1914 — Part of the crater wall on Whakaari | White Island collapsed, causing a landslide in the sulphur mines.

• 1936 — A cyclone destroyed buildings, causing flooding and sinking boats.
• 1939 — The worst snowstorm in 100 years killed livestock, blocked roads and halted trains.
• 1968 — Cyclone Giselle caused much storm damage throughout the country.
• 1988 — Cyclone Bola, one of the most notorious cyclones of recent history, battered the North Island.
• 2007 — Torrential rain and gale force winds cause widespread flooding, slips, wind damage and road closures.
• 2013 — Strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms crossed New Zealand. The winds caused lots of damage, blowing vehicles off roads and bringing down power lines. Thousands of homes lost power.
• 2017 — Ex-tropical cyclones Debbie and Cook passed over New Zealand within a week of each other. They caused floods and landslides around the country.

• 1883 — The eruption of Krakatau in Indonesia caused a tsunami that was experienced around the country.
• 1960 — Whakatāne, Ohope and Ōpōtiki were evacuated after a tsunami from an earthquake in Chile.
• 2021 — On 5 March, there were three earthquakes on the same morning all in the Kermadec Islands region. The last and largest was a magnisture 8.1 earthquake that triggered a tsunami warning. People were evacuated across the North Islands. Fortunately, the waves were not large or damaging and by the afternoon, they had passed. 

• Whakaari | White Island has had continuous activity over the last 150,000 years.
• 140,000 years ago an eruption caused the ground to collapse. A huge basin formed, which is now Lake Rotorua.
• Mount Edgecumbe was last active 3,500–5,500 years ago.
• 1886 — Mount Tarawera erupted, killing over 150 people and destroying the famous Pink and White Terraces.
• 1914 — An eruption on Whakaari | White Island killed ten miners.
• 2019 — Whakaari | White Island erupted, killing 21 people. The eruptions were short-lived and generated an ash plume to ~12,000ft. Forty seven people were on the island at the time of the eruption.

• 1914 — A magnitude 6.8 quake shook the East Cape, causing large landslides.
• 1966 — A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Gisborne. Over 3,000 chimneys were damaged, and the Main Post Office was so badly cracked that it had to be later demolished.
• 2007 — A magnitude 6.7 earthquake caused a lot of property damage in Gisborne.

• 2005 — Floods and slips blocked all roads in and out of Gisborne and destroyed crops.

• 1914 — A magnitude 6.8 quake shook the East Cape, causing large landslides.
• 1988 — Cyclone Bola ripped off roofs, downed trees and caused major slips. Six people died.
• 2005 — Floods and slips blocked all roads in and out of Gisborne and destroyed crops.

• 1968 — Cyclone Giselle caused much storm damage throughout the country.
• 1988 — Cyclone Bola ripped off roofs, downed trees and caused major slips. Six people died.
• 2013 — Strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms crossed New Zealand. The winds caused lots of damage, blowing vehicles off roads and bringing down power lines. Thousands of homes lost power.
• 2017 — Ex-tropical cyclones Debbie and Cook passed over New Zealand within a week of each other. They caused floods and landslides around the country.

• 1868 — A tsunami from an earthquake in Chile took 15 hours to reach New Zealand, building to a height of 8 metres.
• 1883 — The eruption of Krakatau in Indonesia caused a tsunami that was experienced around the country.
• 1947 — Two tsunami up to 10 metres high destroyed houses, bridges and roads in the Gisborne region.
• 1960 — A huge earthquake in Chile sent a 5.5 metre tsunami. Many Gisborne residents flocked to the shore to watch it and were lucky that the low tide lessened the tsunami’s effects.
• 2021 — On 5 March, there were three earthquakes on the same morning all in the Kermadec Islands region. The last and largest was a magnisture 8.1 earthquake that triggered a tsunami warning. People were evacuated across the North Islands. Fortunately, the waves were not large or damaging and by the afternoon, they had passed. 

• 1995 — An eruption of Mount Ruapehu caused ash to fall across the region. Ash fallout caused major disruption in the Gisborne region.

• 1931 — A magnitude 7.4 quake struck Napier, killing 256 people. Napier and Hastings were destroyed.
• 1932 — The magnitude 6.9 Wairoa earthquake damaged buildings and toppled the Wairoa River bridge.

• 1897 — Floodwater flowed through Taradale, Clive and Napier. Two boats rescuing people on a bridge overturned and ten people drowned.
• 1938 — A flash flood killed 21 workers at a camp in Kopuawhara.
• 2004 — Intense rainfall and gale force winds caused flooding to many areas in New Zealand. Hundreds of people were left homeless. Farmland was covered in silt. Sheep and cattle drowned or were swept away. Bridges were damaged and roads were closed.
• 2020 — Napier received an extreme level of rain in a short period of time. Due to the speed and intensity of the weather, many parts of Napier were flooded.

• 1938 — The Esk Valley Floods ruined thousands of acres of farmland. They swept away bridges  and cut communications.
• 1968 — Cyclone Giselle caused much storm damage throughout the country.
• 1988 — Cyclone Bola ripped off roofs, downed trees and caused major slips. Six people died.
• 2001 — A severe rainstorm caused millions of dollars of damage to buildings in Napier and Hastings.
• 2013 — Strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms crossed New Zealand. The winds caused lots of damage, blowing vehicles off roads and bringing down power lines. Thousands of homes lost power.
• 2017 — Ex-tropical cyclones Debbie and Cook passed over New Zealand within a week of each other. They caused floods and landslides around the country.

• 1868 — A tsunami from an earthquake in Chile took 15 hours to reach New Zealand, building to a height of 8 metres.
• 1883 — The eruption of Krakatau in Indonesia caused a tsunami that was experienced around the country.
• 1960 — A three metre tsunami from an earthquake in Chile damaged a footbridge and a gas-line at the Ahuriri Basin.
• 2021 — On 5 March, there were three earthquakes on the same morning all in the Kermadec Islands region. The last and largest was a magnisture 8.1 earthquake that triggered a tsunami warning. People were evacuated across the North Islands. Fortunately, the waves were not large or damaging and by the afternoon, they had passed. 

• Although there are no volcanoes in Hawke's Bay, ash falls have affected the area. Including from Mount Ruapehu in 1945, 1975, 1995 and 1996, and Mount Tongariro in 1896.

• 1974 — A magnitude 6.0 earthquake at Opunake cracked chimneys and walls. Many shops in New Plymouth and Hawera reported goods thrown from shelves.

• 1971 — The main shopping area of New Plymouth was evacuated as floodwaters covered the city.

• 2004 — A tornado at Motonui destroyed a house, killing two people.
• 2007 — Seven tornados hit the region during an electrical storm, damaging houses and businesses.
• 2013 — Strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms crossed New Zealand. The winds caused lots of damage, blowing vehicles off roads and binging down power lines. Thousands of homes lost power.
• 2022 — Many parts of New Zealand experienced heavy rain and severe gales as Ex Tropical Cyclone Dovi crossed New Zealand. The severe weather caused flooding, slips, downed trees, road closures and disruption to power and cellphone services.

• 1755 — The last known eruption of Mount Taranaki. The mountain was still smoking when Captain James Cook sighted it in 1769.

• 1843 — A magnitude 7.5 Whanganui earthquake destroyed buildings. A large part of Shakespeare Cliff broke away.
• 1897 — A magnitude 7.0 quake in Whanganui damaged crockery, levelled chimneys and cut water supplies. Cracks appeared in the ground and railway tracks were damaged.
• 1934 — A magnitude 7.2 quake damaged buildings and destroyed chimneys in and around Pahiatua.
• 2014 — A magnitude 6.2 earthquake in Eketahuna damaged buildings across Manawatū-Whangaui and Wellington.

• 1990 — Cyclone Hilda caused the Whanganui River to flood and 96 homes were evacuated.
• 2004 — Intense rainfall and gale force winds caused flooding to many areas in New Zealand. Hundreds of people were left homeless. Farmland was covered in silt. Sheep and cattle drowned or were swept away. Bridges were damaged and roads were closed.
• 2008 — Six students and a teacher from Elim College died in a flash flood while canyoning in the Mangatepopo Stream.

• 1923 — A train travelling from Auckland to Wellington collided with a landslide in Ōngarue, killing 17 people.

• 1936 — A cyclone destroyed buildings and derailed trains.
• 2004 — Intense rainfall and gale force winds caused flooding to many areas in New Zealand. Hundreds of people were left homeless. Farmland was covered in silt. Sheep and cattle drowned or were swept away. Bridges were damaged and roads were closed.
• 2013 — Strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms crossed New Zealand. The winds caused lots of damage, blowing vehicles off roads and bringing down power lines. Thousands of homes lost power.
• 2017 — Ex-tropical cyclones Debbie and Cook passed over New Zealand within a week of each other. They caused floods and landslides around the country.
• 2022 — Many parts of New Zealand experienced heavy rain and severe gales as Ex Tropical Cyclone Dovi crossed New Zealand. The severe weather caused flooding, slips, downed trees, road closures and disruption to power and cellphone services.

• Since 1839, Mount Ngaurahoe has erupted over 60 times. The last eruption was in 1975.
• 1953 — A lahar from Mount Ruapehu destroyed a rail bridge at Tangiwai. 51 people were killed when a train plunged into the river.
• 1995 — Black showers of ash from Mount Ruapehu disrupted air and ground traffic and brought the ski season to an early end.
• 2007 — The dam on the crater lake of Mount Ruapehu collapsed. It created a lahar that sent a 3-5 metre wave down the Whangaehu River.

• 1848 — A magnitude 7.4 earthquake caused serious damage to buildings in Wellington and killed three people
• 1855 — A magnitude 8.2 earthquake in the Wairarapa rearranged the whole Wellington coastline. It was the largest earthquake in New Zealand's modern history. Brick buildings in Wellington and the Wairarapa were destroyed and roads leading out of Wellington were blocked. Five people died.
• 1942 — Two earthquakes struck the Wairarapa only weeks apart. They caused major damage to buildings, including 20,000 fallen chimneys in the Wellington region.
• 2013 — A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck near Seddon in July, causing minor damage. In Wellington, much of the city was closed the following day.
• 2013 — In August, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck near Lake Grassmere, damaging buildings in Seddon and nearby towns. It also damaged buildings in Wellington.
• 2014 — A magnitude 6.2 earthquake in Eketahuna damaged buildings across Manawatū-Whangaui and Wellington.

• 1840 — A flood on the Hutt River resulted in settlers moving their new town from Petone to Wellington.
• 1858 — The Hutt River became a raging torrent, carrying away houses and killing nine people.
• 1976 — Flooding in the Hutt Valley and Wellington destroyed houses, caused slips and blocked roads, causing $30 million in damage.
• 1998 — Heavy rain swelled rivers on the Kāpiti Coast, sweeping one man to his death.
• 2002 — The worst flooding in 50 years hit the Wairarapa.
• 2003 — Heavy rain caused a mud slide to destroy a motel and flooded shops and homes in Kāpiti.
• 2004 — 500 people in Lower Hutt were evacuated due to floodwaters.
• 2015 — Flooding happened in Petone.

• 2003 — Heavy rain caused a mud slide to destroy a motel and flooded shops and homes in Kāpiti.

• 1936 — A cyclone sunk many boats. The inter-island ferry Rangatira ran onto rocks in Wellington Harbour.
• 1968 — Cyclone Giselle ripped off roofs and toppled trees, causing 54 deaths. Including 51 on board the inter-island ferry Wahine when it sunk in Wellington Harbour.
• 2013 — Strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms crossed New Zealand. The winds caused lots of damage, blowing vehicles off roads and bringing down power lines. Thousands of homes lost power.
• 2017 — Ex-tropical cyclones Debbie and Cook passed over New Zealand within a week of each other. They caused floods and landslides around the country.
• 2021 — A severe sea swell event affected the Wellington South Coast. Evacuations were required on Breaker Bay Road. 
• 2022 — Many parts of New Zealand experienced heavy rain and severe gales as Ex Tropical Cyclone Dovi crossed New Zealand. The severe weather caused flooding, slips, downed trees, road closures and disruption to power and cellphone services.

• 1855 — The Wairarapa earthquake created a 10-metre tsunami.
• 1883 — The eruption of Krakatau in Indonesia caused a tsunami that was experienced around the country.

• 1868 — A magnitude 7.2 earthquake of Farewell Spit damaged buildings around Golden Bay. Over 100 aftershocks were felt over the next 10 days.
• 1929 — The magnitude 7.3 Murchison earthquake damaged buildings, including the tower and dormitories of Nelson College.

• 1990 — Forty-five people were evacuated and one person killed during flooding in Nelson/Tasman.

• 1929 — The magnitude 7.3 Murchison earthquake damaged buildings and caused massive landslides

• 1968 — Cyclone Giselle caused storm damage around the country.
• 2013 — Strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms crossed New Zealand. The winds caused lots of damage, blowing vehicles off roads and bringing down power lines. Thousands of homes lost power.
• 2022 — Many parts of New Zealand experienced heavy rain and severe gales as Ex Tropical Cyclone Dovi crossed New Zealand. The severe weather caused flooding, slips, downed trees, road closures and disruption to power and cellphone services.

• 1855 — The Wairarapa earthquake created a 10-metre tsunami.

• 1893 — The magnitude 6.9 Nelson earthquake cracked ceilings and crockery. The spire of Nelson Cathedral was nearly a metre out of vertical after the quake.
• 1929 — The magnitude 7.3 Murchison earthquake damaged buildings. Including the tower and dormitories of Nelson College.

• 1990 — Forty-five people were evacuated and one person killed during flooding in Nelson/Tasman.

• 1968 — Cyclone Giselle caused storm damage around the country.
• 2013 — Strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms crossed New Zealand. The winds caused lots of damage, blowing vehicles off roads and bringing down power lines. Thousands of homes lost power.
• 2022 — Many parts of New Zealand experienced heavy rain and severe gales as Ex Tropical Cyclone Dovi crossed New Zealand. The severe weather caused flooding, slips, downed trees, road closures and disruption to power and cellphone services.

• 1855 — The Wairarapa earthquake created a 10-metre tsunami.

• 1848 — A magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Marlborough moved the ground by as much as seven metres.
• 1966 — A magnitude 5.8 earthquake damaged nearly every house in Seddon.
• 2013 — A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck near Seddon in July, causing minor damage. In Wellington, much of the city was closed the following day.
• 2013 — In August, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck near Lake Grassmere, damaging buildings in Seddon and nearby towns. It also damaged buildings in Wellington.
• 2016 — A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck north-east of Culverden.

• 1938 — At Te Pukatea Bay three houses were wrecked by floods. Boulders, some estimated at up to 30 tons each, covered the area where they stood.
• 2004 — Parts of Picton and Waikawa Bay were flooded after heavy rainfall. A civil defence emergency was declared due to the threat of a possible dam burst.

• 1968 — Cyclone Giselle caused storm damage around the country.
• 2013 — Strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms crossed New Zealand. The winds caused lots of damage, blowing vehicles off roads and bringing down power lines. Thousands of homes lost power.
• 2021 — Heavy rain in the West Coast and Marlborough caused flooding. People in both regions had to evacuate. 
• 2022 — Many parts of New Zealand experienced heavy rain and severe gales as Ex Tropical Cyclone Dovi crossed New Zealand. The severe weather caused flooding, slips, downed trees, road closures and disruption to power and cellphone services.

• 1855 — The Wairarapa earthquake created a 10-metre tsunami.
• 1883 — The eruption of Krakatau in Indonesia caused a tsunami that was experienced around the country.

• 1929 — The magnitude 7.3 Murchison earthquake left 17 dead. Some settlements were cut off for up to two weeks.
• 1968 — A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Inangahua Junction. It caused landslides, blocked roads, buckled railway lines and cut communications. Two people died. Hundreds of people had to be evacuated by helicopter.

• 1935 — An 18-metre long span of the Kaniere Bridge over the Hokitika River was swept away and floated out to sea.
• 1994 — A new record of 682mm of rain in 24 hours was set at Colliers Creek, causing slips and flooding.
• 1998 — Rivers burst their banks in the Karamea area. They flooded homes and properties, forcing evacuations.
• 2016 — A state of local emergency was declared in Franz Josef after the Waiho river broke its banks.

• 2013 — A huge storm caused a major landslide at Haast.

• 2003 — A tornado in Greymouth damaged twenty businesses in an industrial area.
• 2005 — A tornado damaged the port area of Greymouth. A retirement home was evacuated.
• 2013 — Strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms crossed New Zealand. The winds caused lots of damage, blowing vehicles off roads and bringing down power lines. Thousands of homes lost power.
• 2018 — Ex-tropical cyclones Gita and Fehi hit the country in February. They caused floods, landslides and power outages.
• 2021 — Heavy rain in the West Coast and Marlborough caused flooding. People in both regions had to evacuate. 
• 2022 — Heavy rain hit the Buller District, causing flooding in Westport. Hundreds were evacuated in Westport less than a year after the last major flood.
• 2022 — Many parts of New Zealand experienced heavy rain and severe gales as Ex Tropical Cyclone Dovi crossed New Zealand. The severe weather caused flooding, slips, downed trees, road closures and disruption to power and cellphone services.

• 1912 — A campsite near the sea was flooded by a 1.5 metre tsunami near Westport.

• 1888 — A magnitude 7.0 earthquake in North Canterbury knocked the top off the spire of Christchurch Cathedral.
• 1901 — Cheviot was badly damaged in a magnitude 7.3 quake, and a baby was killed in the collapse of a sod hut. Christchurch had many broken windows, cracked stonework and toppled chimneys.
• 1929 — During a magnitude 7.0 earthquake at Arthur’s Pass, 60 million cubic metres of rock broke off Falling Mountain.
• 2010 — The Canterbury (Darfield) earthquake caused huge amounts of damage to property. No lives were lost.
• 2011 — A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck 10 km south-east of central Christchurch at a depth of only 5 km. With a death toll of 185, it is New Zealand’s worst natural disaster in terms of loss of life since 1931.
• 2016 — A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck north-east of Culverden.

• 1945 — Flooding in South Canterbury caused over $485,000 worth of damage, especially in Christchurch and Akaroa.
• 1986 — Flooding caused in $60 million worth of damage in Canterbury and Northern Otago.

• The 2010 and 2011 earthquakes cause massive landslides in many parts of Canterbury
• 2016 — The earthquake and aftershocks in Kaikōura triggered between 80,000 and 100,000 landslides.

• 1975 — A nor’wester windstorm blew roofs off buildings and flattens over 6,000 hectares of trees.
• 2000 — The Lyttelton boat marina was destroyed in a southerly storm.
• 2002 — A severe snowstorm closed roads, schools and airports. Some roofs in Ashburton collapsed under the weight of the snow, and there were many vehicle accidents.
• 2006 — A large snowstorm delivers record snow depths to some parts of Canterbury. There were extended power cuts, collapsed roofs and closed roads. Many motorists were stranded in the snow.
• 2013 — Strong winds, very heavy rain and thunderstorms crossed New Zealand. The very strong winds caused lots of damage, blew vehicles off roads, and brought down power lines. Thousands of homes lost power.
• 2017 — Ex-tropical cyclones Debbie and Cook passed over New Zealand within a week of each other. They caused floods and landslides around the country.
• 2018 — Ex-tropical cyclones Gita and Fehi hit the country in February, causing floods, landslides and power outages.
• 2021 — Heavy rain caused widespread flooding in Canterbury, especially in Waimakariri, Selwyn and Ashburton.

• 1883 — The eruption of Krakatau in Indonesia caused a tsunami that was experienced around the country.
• 1960 — The Chilean earthquake caused a 5.5 metre tsunami in Lyttelton, which poured over the walls of the dry-dock.
• 1998 — A massive tsunami that hit Papau New Guinea caused an 0.3-metre rise in water level at Lyttelton, Sumner and Timaru.

• 1974 — A magnitude 4.9 earthquake in Dunedin caused cracked chimneys, fallen plaster and broken household goods.

• 1863 — Flash flooding from the Shotover River killed 25 miners camped along its banks.
• 1878 — Heavy rain and melting snow caused floods that lasted for three weeks.
• 1979 — Floodwaters covered the Taieri Plains, including Dunedin airport.
• 1986 — Northern Otago and Canterbury floods caused $60 million damage.
• 1999 — The main shopping areas of Queenstown and Wanaka were under water during flooding in Central Otago.

• 1979 — 600 people evacuated from Abbotsford after the largest landslip in an urban area of New Zealand.

• 1868 — In February, a great storm swept across much of the country, causing flash floods. It wrecked 12 ships, including the Star of Tasmania and the Water Nypmh at Ōamaru. More than 40 people died.
• 1978 — Storm and flood damage resulted in a state of emergency being declared.
• 1993 — Storms generated in the Southern Ocean caused severe weather conditions.
• 2013 — Strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms crossed New Zealand. The winds caused lots of damage, blowing vehicles off roads and bringing down power lines. Thousands of homes lost power.
• 2018 — Ex-tropical cyclones Gita and Fehi hit the country in February. They caused floods, landslides and power outages.

• 1877 — 3.7 metre waves occurred in Port Chalmers.
• 1883 — The eruption of Krakatau in Indonesia caused a tsunami that was experienced around the country.

• 1988 — A magnitude 6.7 earthquake shook Te Anau. It caused landslides and cut power to parts of the South Island.
• 1993 — A magnitude 6.8 earthquake on Secretary Island was felt from Auckland to Stewart Island and even as far away as Australia.
• 2003 — A magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Fiordland lifted the seabed by 45cms and triggered more than 200 landslides.
• 2004 — A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck 240 kilometres south-west of Te Anau. Had it occurred under or near a population centre, there would have been major damage.
• 2007 — A magnitude 6.7 earthquake caused landslides in Milford Sound and was felt from Wellington to Stewart Island.
• 2009 — The magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Dusky Sound was the largest since the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake.

• 1878 — Heavy rain and melting snow caused floods that lasted for three weeks.
• 1984 — 4,000 people were evacuated from their homes during flooding in Southland.
• 1994 — Roads and bridges were washed out in the Fiordland/Southern Lakes districts.
• 1999 — The worst flooding in 100 years occurred in Central Otago and Southland.
• 2020 — Parts of Milford, Gore, Mataura and Wyndham after widespread flooding.

• New Zealand’s largest landslide was 13,000 years ago in Fiordland, covering an area over 45 square kilometres.

• 1978 — Storm and flood damage resulted in a state of emergency being declared.
• 1993 — Storms generated in the Southern Ocean caused severe weather conditions.
• 2013 — Strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms crossed New Zealand. The winds caused lots of damage, blowing vehicles off roads and bringing down power lines. Thousands of home lost power.
• 2018 — Ex-tropical cyclones Gita and Fehi hit the country in February. They caused floods, landslides and power outages.

• 1820 — a 10-metre tsunami killed several hundred people at Orepuki.
• 1998 — a 0.15-metre tsunami in Foveaux Strait from Antarctica reminded people that tsunami can come from the south as well as the Pacific.

1985 — A storm on the Chatham Islands destroyed the Royal Albatross nesting habitat.

• 1868 — A 6-metre-high tsunami from Chile washed into the huts of a Māori village. People rushed to higher ground before the much higher second wave arrived 10 minutes later. The entire village was destroyed and one person drowned.
• 1924 — 6-metre waves from Chile pounded the Chatham Islands.
• 1960 — A tsunami from a huge earthquake in Chile affected the whole Pacific, including a 3–4m wave on the Chatham Islands.