Pre-eminent geohazard researcher Helen Jack knows the risks, warning signs, and what to do and will be delivering a series of community talks to raise awareness of this underappreciated hazard.

The series, ‘Hikurangi: Let’s not be surprised’, kicks off on Wednesday 30 April in Rangiora and Thursday 1 May in Kaiapoi, with later dates scheduled for August in Oxford and Woodend. The one hour sessions will be led by Environment Canterbury geohazard scientist Helen Jack and supported by the Waimakariri Civil Defence Emergency Management team.

With more than 20 years’ experience researching earthquake and tsunami hazards in Canterbury, Helen will dive deeper into what the Hikurangi subduction zone is, our risk, likely impacts, and discuss what people and communities can do to prepare.

Helen says that while people may consider the Hikurangi subduction zone as a North Island issue, there is enough science now to support it being a hazard here too.

“The programme of tsunami modelling we commissioned GNS Science to do for us between 2018 and 2024 really highlighted the threat to Canterbury.

“This is because of the way the tsunami waves bend around the islands and underwater seamounts to the east of New Zealand to send waves around in Canterbury’s direction. And the way that the Chatham Rise – the shallow piece of water between Canterbury and the Chatham Islands – tends to focus the waves into Pegasus Bay.

“I will be showing some nifty animations that illustrate this really well,” she says.

Aside from tsunamis, Helen says the Hikurangi subduction zone could produce an earthquake up to three minutes long, with the potential for damaging shaking in Waimakariri.

“So, the impacts of the earthquake could be similar to an Alpine Fault earthquake, and we will talk about this too.”

Helen’s talks will be tailored to each town – whether they’re in a tsunami evacuation zone or not. She says residents who live inland “might expect to accommodate their coastal friends who are evacuating, so have the tea and biscuits ready.”

These important community science sessions have been developed in partnership with University of Canterbury, Environment Canterbury and Emergency Management Canterbury to build awareness and resilience in our emergency systems through considering the reality of our tsunami risk.

'Hikurangi: Let's not be surprised' events:

Date	Location	Morning session	Evening session
Wednesday 30 April	Rangiora RSA	10am - 11am	7pm - 8pm
Thursday 1 May	Kaiapoi Rugby Football Clubrooms	10am - 11am	7pm - 8pm
Wednesday 20 August	Oxford Town Hall	10am - 11am	7pm - 8pm
Thursday 21 August	Woodend Community Centre	10am - 11am	7pm - 8pm