Wairarapa active faults - introduction and ongoing work (paleoseismic trenching)

The talk will present an overview of research on active fault(lines) in the Wairarapa over the past few years. Nicola will provide an introduction to what we currently know about the faults, including recent mapping using lidar data and discovery of previously unknown faults. Genevieve will then describe fieldwork in February and March this year studying trenches dug across two faults (Papawai and Masterton) to better understood how often and how big earthquakes could be on these faults, which will help us to better understand the risks and impacts to people in the Wairarapa. 

 

Nicola Litchfield is a Principal Scientist who has been working at Earth Sciences NZ (and predecessor organisations) for over 25 years and led the recent mapping project that was incorporated in the revised Combined Wairarapa District Plan. She leads the It's Our Fault programme, which is funding the ongoing research ( https://www.itsourfault.org.nz/).

 

Genevieve Coffey is a Senior Scientist who has been at Earth Sciences NZ/GNS Science for over 5 years and has studied active faults in NZ and the US. She leads the active fault paleoseismology project in the It's Our Fault programme, previously studying faults in the Kapiti Coast / Horowhenua region as well as previous work in the Wairarapa.