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The state-of-the-art National Geohazards Monitoring Centre, which serves to detect and respond to natural hazards, has officially opened.
The new facility, located at GNS Science’s Avalon campus, will be staffed around the clock. The idea is that any detected earthquake, tsunami, large landslide or volcanic activity will be analysed almost immediately and information sent to people making decisions and managing responses.
The new centre shows what can be achieved when government agencies work together, Earthquake Commission (EQC) director of resilience research Dr Hugh Cowan said.
“EQC has been a founding partner in GeoNet since 2001 with GNS Science and LINZ,” he noted. “We continue to fund this national system for earth hazard monitoring.”
Cowan highlighted that GeoNet provides the foundation for modern scientific research on New Zealand’s natural hazard risk and is linked to leading centres of expertise worldwide.
“It’s wonderful to see the service develop as agencies collaborate and contribute funding and expertise,” he said.
“From the original partnership of EQC, GNS Science and LINZ plus several specialised partners, it now includes MCDEM and MBIE. The result of this collaboration will help all New Zealanders be more resilient in our very active environment.”
Each year, EQC invests $16 million in science research to reduce the impact of natural disasters on people and property – $12 million of this funding goes to GeoNet.
