2016 News

  • Guy McPherson and the end of humanity (not)

    The following commentary by Professor James Renwick from Victoria University's School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences was originally published Hot Topic blog on December 11. The climate scientist discusses the claims of ecologist Guy McPherson who has been touring New Zealand talking about the imminent extinction of humanity.

  • Alpine Fault theory takes shape

    PhD research from Victoria University of Wellington has added weight to a debate regarding the shape of the South Island’s Alpine Fault.

  • Fault unlocks new geological data

    The freshly ruptured Kēkerengū Fault has unearthed a few more secrets about New Zealand's tectonic past, and will help map out a plan for what the country can expect in future, scientists say.

  • Will Ries (GNS Science) is using a GPS unit to measure the offset of a farm track that was damaged during the quake

    Victoria scientists respond to a quake-hit New Zealand

    From almost the moment the Kaikoura earthquake struck, Victoria scientists have been on hand to provide information and research support to help understand the quake and what the future impacts might be.

  • Kekerengu Fault has a Word to its Geologists

    Victoria University’s third year structural field geology course includes a one week field trip to Kekerengu coordinated by Prof Tim Little that provides practical experience in field mapping and analysis of geological structures.  This includes analysis of many of the faults in the Marlborough area.The recent M7.8 earthquake dramatically shows our students that the faults that they map are not just obscure geological curiosities but dynamic features that have the power to drastically affect peoples lives.  This shows up by the spectacular disruption of the landscape which is on a scale that is rarely observed so clearly.

  • The science of the shakes:

    The following commentary by Associate Professor John Townend from Victoria University's School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences was originally published in The Press on 28 November. The geophysicist explains the scientific response beyond the recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake to strike New Zealand.