Our Plate Boundary
Aotearoa New Zealand is positioned astride the active Pacific-Australian plate boundary.
Our continent's position provides an ideal natural laboratory for a global community of researchers to better understand processes that control natural hazards.
GNS Science drives our work in this area through our Te Riu-a-Māui Zealandia SSIF programme. This research investigates the geological processes that formed and evolved the continent beneath our feet. It covers all work on the plate boundary with a focus on the Hikurangi Subduction Zone, which is characterised by high and unknown risk.
Our research
We investigate and model the crustal structure, deformation mechanisms and processes in and near the modern Pacific-Australian plate boundary that transects Te Riu-a-Māui Zealandia.
Our main emphasis is on the Hikurangi subduction zone where we find a spectrum of plate boundary slip processes, including steady creep, episodic slow slip events, and seismic (stick-slip) behaviour. We focus our research on:
- Understanding the transition from subduction to collision
- Understanding the role of the Alpine Fault in New Zealand tectonics and earthquake occurrence
- Using exhumed, ancient analogues to better understand modern plate boundary processes
We also focus our research on how volcanism and geothermal properties have been shaped by our continent's unique movement due to the plate boundary processes happening underneath.
Model of Magnitude 8.9 Hikurangi Earthquake and Tsunami
This scenario helps emergency responders to plan and prepare for a magnitude 8.9 earthquake and tsunami on the Hikurangi Subduction Zone.
Key questions driving our research
- Why, when and where do large plate boundary earthquakes happen?
- How are stress and strain distributed across the plate boundary?
- How do volcanism and geothermal systems in Aotearoa New Zealand link to magma, heat production and crustal fluid circulation?
- How do we develop model-informed monitoring and future-focused data acquisition networks across all our hazards, environments and energy risks?
- How can we better detect and provide warnings for tsunami generated from all sources including earthquakes, submarine landslides, tsunami earthquakes and volcanic edifice collapse?
- What role do Earth's surface and sea floor processes play in defining the changing dynamics of Aotearoa New Zealand's landmass?
