Emergencies and hazard management

The Wellington Region is a beautiful place to live. With our mountain ranges, winding rivers and ocean-side cities and towns, we are lucky to call this place home. But we also know there is a flip side to enjoying that beauty, in the form of environmental hazards and their associated risks.

We have the risk of earthquakes with three major fault lines and a plate boundary running through or close to our region. With earthquakes come the risk of tsunami, and our beautiful coastlines provide a real concern for many in our communities. And then we have extensive river systems in the Hutt Valley, Wairarapa and Kapiti which bring flood risks.

Managing hazards in the region

Greater Wellington investigates and monitors hazards in the region. This helps keep us and our communities informed about future events and what we need to do.

We use that research and information to help with decisions made around land use at regional and district level by developing policy and plans, and advising around resource consents.  

We are also responsible for maintaining flood protection schemes and warning systems around the region. 

Emergency water supply planning

The region’s water supply network is vulnerable. Due to the location of the fault lines in relation to our water sources and piping, in a major event like a large earthquake, many areas of the region could be without water. Depending on where you live, it could be as little as 15 days but in some areas it could be as much as 100 days.

While Greater Wellington has the overall responsibility for the region’s water supply, Wellington Water is the group that manages our water. They do this on our behalf, as well as on behalf of the Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington city councils.

We are exploring options for how to overcome these supply issues in an emergency.

For more information on how your area could be affected by water shortages, as well as how to best prepare yourself and your family for a major water shortage, visit Wellington Water.