Discover what we’ve already uncovered about the plate boundary and the natural hazards that affect us
Ever wondered what goes on beneath your feet and deep below the ocean? Here you can learn about the Earth’s surface and tectonic plates, the East Coast and the Hikurangi trench, natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes, and how to ‘get ready and get thru’ in disasters.
There is so much that we don’t yet know about what happens on the surface of the Earth but we do know that the earth is made up of four main layers - the inner core, outer core, mantle and crust.
Read more
Earth's crust is rather like a jigsaw puzzle and is made up of large pieces called tectonic plates. Some tectonic plates are huge and include entire continents.
Read more
Here on the East Coast, we are close to the Hikurangi tectonic plate boundary which lies just off the coast. This is the boundary between the Australian plate and the Pacific plate.
Read more
An earthquake is the shaking of the Earth's surface due to movement of tectonic plates. Earthquakes are caused by the release of pressure between two tectonic plates.
Read more
Tsunami is a Japanese word meaning 'harbour wave'. These waves can move very fast and for very long distances.
Read more
Volcanoes erupt when magma finds weaknesses within the earth’s surface. Pressure builds up and forces magma towards the surface. This pressure is released in the form of an eruption and the magma explodes to the surface.
Read more
The Earth's climate is getting warmer and as global temperatures continue to rise, we'll see more changes in our climate and our environment.
Read more
Our coast is shaped by many forces - the sea, the wind, the structure of the rock and earth along different parts of the coast, and even people and their activities. Living on the coast means we are also vulnerable to coastal erosion - the wearing away of the coast and coastal inundation - higher than normal sea levels
Read more
Disasters can affect us all at any time due to damage that they can cause. By helping your family be more prepared at home, you can reduce the risks and increase your own safety.
Read more
Disclaimers and Copyright
While every endeavour has been taken by the East Coast Life at the Boundary to ensure that the information on this website is
accurate and up to date, East Coast Life at the Boundary shall not be liable for any loss suffered through the use, directly or indirectly, of information on this website. Information contained has been assembled in good faith.
Some of the information available in this site is from the New Zealand Public domain and supplied by relevant
government agencies. East Coast Life at the Boundary cannot accept any liability for its accuracy or content.
Portions of the information and material on this site, including data, pages, documents, online
graphics and images are protected by copyright, unless specifically notified to the contrary. Externally sourced
information or material is copyright to the respective provider.
© East Coast Life at the Boundary - www.eastcoastlab.org.nz / 06 835 9200 / info@eastcoastlab.org.nz