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This research uses a community-led approach to reduce tsunami impacts across the Chatham Islands. The islands could be isolated from external assistance following a tsunami, and the performance of key services and on-island capacity to restore services may have considerable influence on response and recovery.
The research involved: a) improving the understanding of the Chatham Islands' tsunami hazard by investigating past tsunami impacts and inundation extents in documented accounts and Tangata Whenua knowledge/oral history, b) assessing potential impacts on societal assets, in particular infrastructure, to form a credible high-impact tsunami scenario, and c) sharing this information in workshops with the Chatham Islands community and using participatory tools to co-develop actions to reduce future tsunami impact.
This research examines the Chatham Islands' tsunami risk and how community participation can be incorporated into tsunami readiness, response planning and exercising.
Authors: Kristie-Lee Thomas
Date: 2018
Funders: Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, Toka Tū Ake EQC, Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment’s National Science Challenge: Resilience to Nature's Challenges, Mason Trust Fund
Format: Master of Science thesis - University of Canterbury
Reference: Thomas, K. (2018). Research to inform community-led action to reduce tsunami impact, Wharekauri-Rekohu-Chatham Islands, Aotearoa-New Zealand: A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Disaster Risk and Resilience, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Canterbury, New Zealand