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Coromandel Peninsula and Firth of Thames tsunami hazards

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Work on assessing and communicating tsunami hazard and risk has been progressively developed by Waikato Regional Council in partnership with Thames-Coromandel District Council and Hauraki District Council.

Using the latest information, knowledge and tsunami models, scientists have determined that the greatest tsunami risk to the Coromandel's eastern coastline is from earthquakes occurring along the Tonga-Kermadec Trench, but that local faults may present the biggest risk with the Firth of Thames. 

Eastern Coromandel Tsunami Strategy

In order to address the risk of tsunami along the eastern coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, Thames-Coromandel District Council, Hauraki District Council and Waikato Regional Council developed the ‘Eastern Coromandel Tsunami Strategy’. The purpose of the strategy is to identify tsunami hazards and minimise risks by informing and working with communities along the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula.

The work undertaken from 2008 onwards assessed the risk of tsunami affecting the eastern Coromandel Peninsula from both distant and near sources (see the overview of each of the coastal areas below). After each assessment, public open days or information sessions were held for each community. The open days provided a good opportunity for people to learn about tsunami hazards and risks on the Coromandel Peninsula, and an opportunity to provide input on how risks should be managed.

Coromandel Peninsula east coast

The tsunami modelling reports for the eastern Coromandel are available below.

Firth of Thames/Coromandel Peninsula west coast

An assessment of the tsunami hazards along the west coast of the Coromandel Peninsula and in the Firth of Thames began in 2017/18. The tsunami modelling report was completed in March 2019.

The tsunami modelling report and summary reports for each community are available below.