Natural hazards are naturally occurring events that have the potential to threaten people, property, or infrastructure.

Some hazards, such as flooding, happen quite often, while others are rare (for example, Tsunami and large earthquakes).

Mō kā mōrea māori About natural hazards

Otago faces significant natural hazards, and the Otago Regional Council is actively researching seismic activity, flooding, coastal erosion, and climate change impacts. Our mission: enhance community education, emergency planning, and scientific study to bolster Otago’s resilience against disasters.

Read more

Kā mōrea kai tō takiwā Hazards in your area

To search for natural hazards related to a specific area in Otago, you can explore our Otago Natural Hazards Database. This tool provides information on hazards like earthquakes, flooding, landslides, and more (although does not replace the need for a LIM).

Read more

Te kaupare waipuke Flood defences

ORC safeguards local communities in Otago by managing flood protection and drainage assets. This includes 200+ kilometres of floodbanks, 12 pumping stations, 55 bridges, and culverts. Flood schemes minimize damage to property, livestock, and infrastructure, vital for Otago’s low-lying communities. Rising sea levels make this work even more urgent.

Read more

Te urutautaka o te mōrea māori Natural hazards adaptation

Otago is known for its stunning landscapes, but also faces natural hazards like flooding, earthquakes, and storms. To adapt, ORC works with communities and organisations to consider building rules, protection schemes, and community engagement.

Read more

Otago Civil Defence and Emergency Management

The Otago Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) website is a ‘go to tool’ for helping individuals, schools, businesses, and communities take the necessary steps towards getting ready for an emergency.

Read more

Pūroko me kā Tuhika Reports and publications - natural hazards

A natural hazard is a situation where a natural event has the potential to cause harm or loss. Informed by science, ORC shares our research into managing natural hazards in Otago.

Read more

Natural hazard plans and policies

Learn more about the plans and policies that help mitigate the Natural hazards in Otago.

Read more