The Weekender // The big one

The chances of the Alpine Fault generating a massive earthquake in the next 50 years are much higher than scientists previously thought. New research published earlier this week estimates that there's a 75 per cent chance of the Alpine Fault rupturing before 2068 (and there's an 82 per cent chance that the earthquake will be at least magnitude 8). "I guess it's a sobering new story for some New Zealanders," study leader Jamie Howarth told RNZ, "but in many ways actually knowing more about what the hazard is of the Alpine Fault puts us in a position to be better prepared." What does that preparation look like? In 2014, New Zealand Geographic attended a Civil Defence exercise that simulated the aftermath of such a quake. Keep reading...

Faulty towers

The chances of the Alpine Fault generating a massive earthquake in the next 50 years are much higher than scientists previously thought. New research published earlier this week estimates that there's a 75 per cent chance of the Alpine Fault rupturing before 2068 (and there's an 82 per cent chance that the earthquake will be at least magnitude 8).

"I guess it's a sobering new story for some New Zealanders," study leader Jamie Howarth told RNZ, "but in many ways actually knowing more about what the hazard is of the Alpine Fault puts us in a position to be better prepared."

What does that preparation look like? In 2014, New Zealand Geographic attended a Civil Defence exercise that simulated the aftermath of such a quake. Keep reading...

Remembering Gallipoli

It’s staggering to consider that in 1915, New Zealand could assemble an army of 100,000—roughly a fifth of its entire male population. Of those, just under a fifth were killed and another 40,000 wounded. In a country of around a million people, that is a casualty rate of epically distressing proportions. What response, other than tears, could there be?

As local communities, parishes, schools and sports clubs picked themselves up from the disasters of Gallipoli and the Western Front, the great age of war memorial building began. We now live surrounded by that record of death. Keep reading...

Better Ancestors: Backyard Paradise

Over just a year-and-a-half, Byron Birss has learned from scratch how to create a regenerative food forest, and he is documenting and sharing the journey with thousands of people on social media. While Backyard Paradise is only a small piece of land, the inspiration he offers through the telling of his story is having a widespread and lasting impact. Watch the video...

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