Earthquakes & Tsunami

Lesson 3: Wairarapa, Inangahua & Edgecumbe EQs

Key Content

• Tsunami in NZ.
• How earthquakes/tsunami effect the land.
• How earthquakes effect people.

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Discuss how Tsunami have affected NZ in the past.
• Describe how people can reduce the effects of earthquakes.
• Describe how earthquakes affect people.
• Use terminology correctly (eg, subduction, convection currents, epicentre, focus).

Film Archive Footage and Key Questions

9. Tsunamni (1500?) What Lies Beneath: Signs of Tsunami, Natural History NZ, 2005

What Lies Beneath (2005)

a. What could be seen by the three men from the top of the hill at dawn? Ancient Maori gardens.

b. What are some of the theories as to why the local Maori left the area?
(1) Changing/cooling climate. (2) lack of wood for fuel/building. (3) A massive tsunami hit the area about 500 years ago.

c. What is said to be the long term effect of the tsunami?
Killing the forest from salt water poisoning. The gardens were exposed to the elements and it was difficult to grow food. The survivors of the tsunami then left the area.

10. Weekly Review 68, National Film Unit, 1942

Weekly Review 68 (1942)

EARTHQUAKE - HEAVY DAMAGE IN WAIRARAPA June 24 1942, a severe earthquake shook the southern half of the North Island centred on Masterton and the Wairarapa. Measuring 7 on the scale, most Wellington households lost their crockery and down town buildings lost their gables. There was much damage to chimneys, especially in Kilbirnie and Lyall Bay as houses were built on sand which amplifies the shaking. Damage to Wellington’s CBD led to a rethink in the way buildings were designed - a lot of decorative gables, chimneys and towers were removed.

a. Why would more people have died or been injured had the earthquake occurred during the day?
More people out and about in the town and at risk from falling masonry etc.

b. Why was fixing the damage of the 1942 earthquake made even more difficult for the people of Masterton?
Because they had to work under war time conditions (rationed food, limited materials, long working hours, high costs, many men away overseas so army is used to help).

11. Search For Tomorrow. Design For Your Life (extract), NZBC, 1970

Search for Tomorrow (1970)

Details of research into earthquakes and the science of seismology. The Inangahua earthquake is used as an example. This earthquake is significant for the last recorded death in New Zealand by an earthquake; four people died.

a. The scientific study of earthquakes is properly known as?
Seismology.

12. Eyewitness News 03/03/87: After Quake, TVNZ, 1987

After the Quake Eye Witness (3 March 1987)

Footage of the Bay of Plenty earthquake recovery.

a. Which town was most badly affected by the quake?
Edgecumbe.

b. Which groups of people were involved in the recovery of the area after the quake?
Civil Defence, the Army and volunteers.

page top