New Zealand Disasters

Tangiwai, Tarawera, Wahine, Erebus – over its history, New Zealand has had several tragedies. Natural disasters and accidents have accounted for lives and have changed New Zealand's landscape forever.

This Hot Topic explores the history of some of these disasters, the geography of New Zealand, and how to cope with emergencies in the future.

Calamities and Catastrophes
In this level 3-5 unit intended for year 7-8, students will read about and research New Zealand and international disasters. http://english.unitecnology.ac.nz/resources/units/disasters/home.html

Civil Defence
In this level 2-3 unit intended for year 5-6, students explore the Civil Defence organisation in New Zealand. http://english.unitecnology.ac.nz/resources/units/civil_defence/home.html

New Zealand Red Cross
This website provides information about what the Red Cross does, and first aid training opportunities they provide. The site has a school resources centre with activities that focus on natural disasters and international conflicts.
http://www.redcross.org.nz

Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management
This site provides information on civil defence training and tips on what to do in an emergency.
http://www.mcdem.govt.nz/memwebsite.nsf

New Zealand: The Worst Disasters Ever WebQuest - ICT Learning Experience
This ICT Learning Experience describes a webquest based on New Zealand disasters. A sample webquest and student assessment sheet is provided. http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ict/ictpd/disasters_webquest_e.php

Technology/3/2 - B version 1
This assessment material, entitled Disasters, relates to New Zealand technology achievement standard 3.2. Students are asked to develop an effective method of educating an individual or community about disasters and preparing them for the effects of disasters such as injury and damage. http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/tech3_2Bv1_10feb02.doc

Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences
The website of the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited (GNS) includes information on New Zealand's geological evolution, assessing the risks and managing the impacts of hazards, and earth resources. Sections useful for classrooms include The Active Earth with animation of plate motion, and geological maps and The New Zealand Hazard Watch about recent earthquakes, floods, landslides, tsunamis, and other natural hazards. The site also includes an online seismograph.
http://www.gns.cri.nz

Insurance Council of New Zealand - The Cost of Natural Disasters
Natural disasters in New Zealand cost the insurance industry millions of dollars in claims. This site lists the natural disasters which have occurred in New Zealand since 1968, including storms, floods, tornadoes, and snowstorms, and the costs to the insurance industry arising from these events. http://www.icnz.org.nz/consumer/personal/cost.htm

New Zealand History - The Tangiwai Disaster
The website of New Zealand History Gallery features radio broadcasts, pictures and film clips of the Tangiwai Disaster. http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/Tangiwai/index.html
Is part of http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/index.html

Ballantynes Fire Project Pack
This project pack, put together by the Canterbury Public Library, features archives of newspaper pictures and articles relating to the fatal department store fire. http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Heritage/BallantynesFire/index.asp

The Antarctic Sun: Antarctica's Darkest Day
This edition of the Antarctic newsletter, The Antarctic Sun, remembers the crash of Air New Zealand 901 into Mt Erebus.
http://www.polar.org/antsun/oldissues99-2000/99_1128/erebus.html

New Zealand Shipwrecks, Sea Voyages and Disaster Tales
This NZ history website profiles the nation's maritime and mining disasters. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ourstuff/Shipwrecks.htm

MV Mikhail Lermontov
This site from the New Zealand National Maritime Museum features detailed diagrams and a description of the last sailing of the Mikhail Lermontov, a Russian cruise ship that sank off the coast of Picton. http://www.nzmaritime.co.nz/lermontov.htm
Is part of: http://www.nzmaritime.co.nz

TEV Wahine
This record from the New Zealand National Maritime Museum details the sinking of the ferry Wahine, and provides photographs, models and diagrams of the fated ship. http://www.nzmaritime.co.nz/wahine.htm
Is part of: http://www.nzmaritime.co.nz

The Day the Wahine Went Down
This archived news footage from the Wairarapa Times features first-hand recollections of a Wahine survivor and a policeman who attended the scene on the Eastbourne foreshore.
http://www.times-age.co.nz/weekly/wahine.html

Latest New Zealand Earthquake Report
This web page gives the time, location, magnitude and depth of New Zealand's latest earthquake.
http://www.geonet.org.nz/latest.html

A Guide For Preparing Yourself For An Earthquake
This page is part of New Zealand's Earthquake Commission site and provides a set of guidelines for minimising the effects of an earthquake. It sets out precautions for households to take, and suggests items for an emergency kit to keep in storage. The page also links to a safety checklist, instructions to follow when the shaking starts and when it finishes, and information on purifying water. http://www.eqc.govt.nz/quake/prep_qak.htm 2

Please note: These links were valid when this page was posted. However the Web is very volatile, and TKI has no control over outside websites. Please let us know if you find anything inappropriate, if you find a broken link, or if you have an update for a link by emailing links@tki.org.nz. Te Kete Ipurangi recommends that teachers view all websites we link to before using them with students.

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