Earthquakes in the Kāpiti Region
The Kāpiti Coast District Council is a tectonically active area. There are five known faults traversing the Kāpiti Coast District – Ohariu Fault, Northern Ohariu Fault, Gibbs Fault, Ōtaki Forks Fault and the Southeast Reikorangi Fault.
Earthquakes
New Zealand lies on the boundary of the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates. The plates push against each other, along a curving boundary, at a steady rate. The plate boundaries become more and more stressed until eventually something has to give – and an earthquake occurs along a fault somewhere in the plate boundary
While we often feel small earthquakes that don’t cause much damage, many of the active faults in the region are capable of producing large earthquakes.
How much warning will you have?
There will be no warning! An earthquake can occur at any time. The first sign of a quake is often a rumbling sound followed by rolling and shaking.
Be Prepared
Know what to do before you have to do it. If you have a plan, an emergency water supply and a well stocked emergency kit, you may save yourself and your family from a lot of avoidable distress!
What to do to be prepared….
What hazards are associated with earthquakes?
There are a number of hazards associated with earthquakes including fault/ground rupture, liquefaction, ground shaking, land slides and tsunami. Each of the earthquake hazards is likely to affect different areas within the District.
Kāpiti Coast Combined Earthquake Risk Maps (PDF, 4 pages, 577Kb)
Greater Wellington Regional Council has produced maps showing the combined risk of all earthquake hazards for the Wellington region, including the Kāpiti Coast.
Fault movement
In a major earthquake the ground may rupture, with ruptures typically occurring along existing fault traces. This could involve horizontal and/or vertical movement of several meters
View technical information here, about:
- Fault Rupture Hazards
- The risks associated with fault traces
- Where the faults are in the District
Liquefaction
Ground shaking causes some soils to behave like a liquid, causing structures to sink, tilt or topple over
Ground shaking
Violent ground shaking could last up to a minute in a large earthquake. It may be difficult to remain standing during an earthquake. Several hundred aftershocks could be felt in the weeks following the main quake.
For information regarding recent earthquakes in New Zealand visit the Geonet website here.
Landslides
Damage from earthquake-induced landslides can range form severely weakened foundations and structural failures, to total destruction.
Tsunami
Tsunami are long, deep, fast travelling ocean waves propagated by a displacement of water caused by earthquakes, landslides or volcanic eruptions beneath or near the ocean.
View information about tsunami risks on the Kāpiti Coast here.