Tsunami evacuation zones updated
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Minor changes in revised tsunami evacuation zones mainly impact 10 rural properties.
The Ashburton District Council released its updated tsunami evacuation zones after scientific modelling showed new areas that could be flooded in some worst-case tsunami scenarios.
Council strategy and compliance group manager, Jane Donaldson, said most of the newly included area is rural land rather than homes, but people who live or spend time near the coast are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the updated zones.
“These events are rare, so people don’t need to be alarmed, however they should have a plan for what to do if they need to evacuate.”
Based on the new modelling, that was commissioned by Environment Canterbury, the changes in the Ashburton District are relatively minor, with around 10 new properties included in the revised zones.
Settlements such as the South Rakaia Huts, Lower Hakatere Huts, and North Rangitata Huts were already located within existing tsunami evacuation zones.
The district has two tsunami evacuation zones, red and orange.
The red zone is most likely to be affected by a tsunami and includes estuaries, river mouths, and beaches where a tsunami of any size could cause strong currents and surges in the water.
The orange zone is less likely to be affected by a tsunami than the red zone and includes areas of land that could be flooded in a large tsunami.
Donaldson said that people in the red and orange zones need to evacuate immediately if they feel a long or strong earthquake, or receive an official tsunami warning.
“There may not be time for an official warning, so once the shaking stops, head immediately inland until you’re outside of the evacuation zones.”
Donaldson said coastal residents should search their address on the council website (ashburtondc.govt.nz/tsunami) and see if any of their property is within a tsunami evacuation zone.
ECan senior scientist - natural hazards, Helen Jack, said the likelihood of a tsunami being created close to Ashburton’s coast is small, and the biggest tsunami threats for the district are those created by large earthquakes on the Hikurangi or Kermadec subduction zones (to the east and north of the North Island), the Puysegur subduction zone (to the south of Fiordland), or by large earthquakes off the coasts of Central or South America.
A map of the new evacuation zones and further information can be found at: Ashburtondc.govt.nz/tsunami
*Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
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Poll: Should drivers retake the theory test every 10 years?
Drivers get where they need to go, but sometimes it seems that we are all abiding by different road rules (for example, the varying ways drivers indicate around a roundabout).
Do you think drivers should be required to take a quick driving theory test every 10 years?
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Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
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