One big volcano, called White Island erupts every year. In Wellington there is a volcano that is next to an enormous fault. This could erupt at any time and if it does there will be disastrous results. 50 volcanoes surround the popular city of Auckland. In some places there is so much molten rock that the volcano could go underwater. If the water gets in, the whole city could be destroyed. Lake Taupo was formed 3000 years ago by a mammoth volcanic eruption.
Another major natural hazard in New Zealand is the earthquakes. In 1931 Napia – South Island a massive earthquake hit this city. It destroyed many homes and buildings.
The climate of the country is spectacular. When the wind, water and warm air from Australia meet the cold air from Antarctica the air is forced to rise above the Southern Alps causing immense rainfall. It is known that 9m of rain falls every year in New Zealand. This amount of rain is called RELIEF RAINFALL. This often results in floods.
It also the impact of man on the environment that makes it so dangerous to live here. People have chopped down many trees which reduces infiltration and increases run-off, which also causes landslides. Most of the thick forests have changed into grassland because of this.
When New Zealand became an island on its own, it took with it, all the exotic species. All the animals had a good life because there were no predators to kill them. For example, the kiwi lost its power of flight because nothing was to kill it anymore. Then when the Europeans arrived, they brought their own animals to the land, which brought immense damage. Sheep were brought to the land and because they needed to pasture, trees were chopped down. Rabbits were also brought to the country. They ate away the vegetation covers, which meant that rain, could easily wash away the soil that would clog up river channels causing floods.
The only possible way of coping with these hazards is to keep a constant check and monitor the earth’s crust. Trees are being planted to try and replace some of the other ones that have been chopped down. Sadly though, this is very expensive, and it will take an awful long time for the country to rebuild its forests. There is no point in any of this being done though if all that’s going to happen is more trees are to be cut down.
