ECONOMICS of RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

ECONOMICS of RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE Multiple infrastructure failures and restoration estimates from an Alpine Fault earthquake: Capturing modelling information for MERIT T. R. Robinson R. Buxton T. M. Wilson W. J. Cousins A. M. Christophersen ERI Research Report 2015/04 November 2015 ECONOMICS of RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE e Economics of Resilient Infrastructure programme is a collaborative New Zealand Government funded research programme between the following people and organisations: DISCLAIMER This report has been prepared by the Economics of Resilient Infrastructure (ERI) Research Programme as part of a collaborative research programme funded by the New Zealand Government. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by ERI, the ERI collaborators accept no responsibility for any use of, or reliance on any contents of this Report by any person or organisation and shall not be liable to any person or organisation, on any ground, for any loss, damage or expense arising from such use or reliance. Contact organisation for inquiries and correspondence is GNS Science Ltd, 1 Fairway Drive, Avalon, PO Box 30368, Lower Hutt 5040. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE Robinson, T. R; Buxton, R.; Wilson, T. M.; Cousins, W. J.; Christophersen, A. M. 2015. Multiple infrastructure failures and restoration estimates from an Alpine Fault earthquake: Capturing modelling information for MERIT, ERI Research Report 2015/04. 80 p. T. R. Robinson, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand R. Buxton, GNS Science, PO Box 30368, Lower Hutt, 5040, New Zealand T. M. Wilson, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand W. J. Cousins, GNS Science, PO Box 30368, Lower Hutt, 5040, New Zealand A. M. Christophersen, GNS Science, PO Box 30368, Lower Hutt, 5040, New Zealand © Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited, 2015 ISSN 2382-2325 (Print) ISSN 2382-2287 (Online) ISBN 978-0-908349-47-0 (Print) ISBN 978-0-908349-48-7 (Online) CONTENTS ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................................... V KEYWORDS ......................................................................................................................... V 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 1 2.0 MODELLING THE ECONOMICS OF RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE TOOL .......... 3 3.0 METHODS .................................................................................................................. 4 3.1 DISASTER SCENARIO DEVELOPMENT .................................................................. 4 3.1.1 Disaster Event .................................................................................................... 4 3.1.2 Scenario Modelling ............................................................................................. 4 3.2 LOSS AND RESTORATION MODELLING ................................................................. 8 3.2.1 Critical Infrastructure Networks .......................................................................... 8 3.2.2 Exposure Analysis ............................................................................................13 3.2.3 Expert Elicitation ...............................................................................................14 3.2.4 Network Analysis ..............................................................................................18 4.0 INFRASTRUCTURE LOSSES AND RESTORATION .............................................. 19 4.1 STATE HIGHWAYS ........................................................................................... 19 4.1.1 Pre-Earthquake ................................................................................................19 4.1.2 T=0 ...................................................................................................................19 4.1.3 Restoration Strategy .........................................................................................22 4.1.4 T=3 days ...........................................................................................................27 4.1.5 T=14 days .........................................................................................................32 4.1.6 T=30 days .........................................................................................................36 4.1.7 T=90 days .........................................................................................................40 4.1.8 Aftershock Impacts ...........................................................................................43 4.1.9 Mitigation ..........................................................................................................47 4.1.10 Adaptation ........................................................................................................48 4.2 RAIL ............................................................................................................... 48 4.2.1 Pre-Earthquake ................................................................................................48 4.2.2 T=0 ...................................................................................................................49 4.2.3 Restoration Strategy .........................................................................................49 4.2.4 T=1 day.............................................................................................................50 4.2.5 T=3 days ...........................................................................................................51 4.2.6 T=25 days .........................................................................................................51 4.2.7 T=100 days .......................................................................................................51 4.2.8 T=186 days .......................................................................................................52 4.2.9 Aftershock Impacts ...........................................................................................53 4.3 HEP TRANSMISSION ........................................................................................ 54 4.3.1 Pre-Earthquake ................................................................................................54 4.3.2 T=0 ...................................................................................................................54 4.3.3 Restoration Strategy .........................................................................................56 4.3.4 T=2 days ...........................................................................................................56 ERI Research Report 2015/04 i 4.3.5 T=30 days .........................................................................................................56 4.3.6 T=80 days .........................................................................................................56 4.3.7 Aftershock Impacts ...........................................................................................56 4.3.8 Mitigation ..........................................................................................................58 4.3.9 Adaptation ........................................................................................................58 4.4 PIPED SERVICES-THE APPROACH USED............................................................ 58 4.5 SUPPORTING SYSTEMS .................................................................................... 62 4.6 WATER SUPPLY .............................................................................................. 65 4.7 SEWERS ......................................................................................................... 66 4.8 STORMWATER ................................................................................................. 66 4.9 THE OVERALL REPAIR TIMES ........................................................................... 67 4.10 AFTERSHOCK IMPACTS .................................................................................... 67 5.0 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................ 68 6.0 REFERENCES ......................................................................................................... 70 FIGURES Figure 1 Active faults in the South Island of New Zealand showing the location of the plate boundary Alpine Fault and Marlborough Faults Zone. .................................................................. 5 Figure 2 Top: Isoseismals resulting from an M8 rupture of the Alpine Fault between Milford Sound and the Ahaura River. .................................................................................................................. 6 Figure 3a) Location map of the South Island State Highways. Green triangles show significant place locations; ...................................................................................................................................... 9 Figure 3b) Location map of the South Island rail network. Green triangles show significant place locations; .................................................................................................................................... 10 Figure 3c) Location map of the Hydroelectric Power (HEP) Transmission network; ................................... 11 Figure 3d) Township locations for the Wastewater, Stormwater and Water study. ...................................... 12 Figure 4
Recommended publications
  • Explore Lake Moeraki Set Your Own Pace Today As You Take Advantage of the Lodge’S Many Outdoor Activities
    VBT Itinerary by VBT www.vbt.com New Zealand: The South Island VBT Vacation + Air Package The dramatic beauty of New Zealand transcends the imagination—as you’ll see when you experience it up close as only an active vacation allows. Our carefully curated bike routes follow untamed seacoast, valleys framed by towering peaks, and woodland trails through the breathtaking South Island. On foot, you’ll explore a wildlife sanctuary, a moving glacier, the winding shores of a glittering lake, and historic gold-mining sites. You’ll also touch Kiwi history in pioneer towns and spend a day at a wilderness resort, with opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, hiking, and more. A home-cooked meal in a local town hall and exclusive visits to a working ranch and wine estate add a personal touch to this quintessential New Zealand bike and walk tour. Cultural Highlights Prepare to be dazzled by the staggering beauty of the South Island’s glittering lakes, lush forests, 1 / 11 VBT Itinerary by VBT www.vbt.com fertile farmlands, and alpine peaks. Hike up a valley carved by the retreating ice of Franz Josef Glacier. Spend a day at a wilderness resort, enjoying kayaking, canoeing, hiking—and perhaps strolling to a colony of glowworms. Experience life on a working ranch and savor a home-cooked meal during a visit to a sheep and cattle station. Sample local vintages during a wine tasting at a local estate. Enter history at the pioneering gold-rush towns of Hokitika and Arrowtown. What to Expect The majority of rides and all walks on this tour are on purposefully-built trails (the Kiwis have it figured out!).
    [Show full text]
  • Fluctuation in Opossum Populations Along the North Bank of the Taramakau Catchment and Its Effect on the Forest Canopy C
    212 Vol. 9 FLUCTUATION IN OPOSSUM POPULATIONS ALONG THE NORTH BANK OF THE TARAMAKAU CATCHMENT AND ITS EFFECT ON THE FOREST CANOPY C. J. PEKELHARING Forest Research Institute, New Zealand Forest Service. Christchurch (Received for publication 10 August 1979) ABSTRACT Fluctuations in density patterns of opossum populations were studied by faecal pellet counts, along the North Bank of the Taramakau catchment from 1970 to 1977. The study area contained two major vegetation associations, rata/kamahi forest and red beech forest. Variations in density patterns over the years indicated that peak population numbers in the beech forests were approxi­ mately half those in the rata/kamahi forests. The upper transitional forests above both major forest types, however, reached similar peak densities. Canopy defoliation was studied by aerial photography in 1980 and in 1973. Within 13 years over 40% of the canopy in these protection forests was defoliated. This large-scale defoliation coincided with a build-up and peaking of the opossum population. In the winter of 1974 the whole area was poisoned by air with 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) impregnated carrot. Approximately 85% of the opossum population was removed by this operation. The greatest decline in pellet densities was recorded in the lower and mid-forest strata. INTRODUCTION A study on the dynamics of opossum populations was initiated by Bamford in 1970 along the north bank of the Taramakau River, Westland (Bamford, 1972). Faecal pellet lines established by Forest Research Institute staff in April 1970 were remeasured in April 1974, 1975 and 1977. The area was aerially poisoned by the Forest Service in June 1974.
    [Show full text]
  • Scanned Using Fujitsu 6670 Scanner and Scandall Pro Ver
    794 1979/143 THE FRESHWATER FISHERIES REGULATIONS (WESTLAND) MODIFICATION NOTICE 1979 PURSUANT to section 83 (2) (d) of the Fisheries Act 1908, and to regulation 7 of the Freshwater Fisheries Regulations 1951, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries hereby gives the following notice. NOTICE l. Title-This notice may be cited as the Freshwater Fisheries Regulations (Westland) Modification Notice 1979. 2. Commencement-This notice shall come into force on the day after the date of its notification in the Gazette. 3. Application-This notice shall be in force only within the West­ land Acclimatisation District. 4. Modification of regulations-The Freshwater Fisheries Regulations 1951 * are hereby modified as follows: Limit Bag (a) No person shall on anyone day take or kill more than 14 acclimatised fish (being trout or salmon) of which no more than 4 may be salmon and no more than 10 may be trout: Size Limit (b) No person shall take or kill in any manner whatever or inten­ tionally have in his possession any trout or salmon that does not exceed- (i) In the case of any salmon, 30 cm in length: (ii) In the case of any trout, 22 cm in length: Open Season Exceptions (c) No person shall fish at any time for acclimatised fish in any stream flowing into Lake Wahapo or Lake Mapourika: Close Season Exception (d) There shall be no close season in Lake Mahinapua: *S.R. 1951/15 (Reprinted with Amendments Nos. 1 to 13: S.R. 1976/191) Amendment No. 14: (Revoked by S.R. 1976/268) Amendment No.
    [Show full text]
  • Operational List
    EPA Report: Verified Source: Pestlink Operational Report for Possum, Ship rat, Stoat Control in the Cascade/Hope/Gorge 13 May 2014 - 26 Aug 2014 29/09/2014 Department of Conservation Weheka / Fox Glacier Office Contents 1. Operation Summary ........................................................................................................................................................ 2 2. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 TREATMENT AREA ............................................................................................................................................... 3 2.2 MANAGEMENT HISTORY .............................................................................................................................. 5 3 Outcomes and Targets ................................................................................................................................................... 5 3.1 CONSERVATION OUTCOMES ................................................................................................................... 5 3.2 TARGETS ....................................................................................................................................................................... 5 3.2.1 Result Targets ....................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Ïg8g - 1Gg0 ISSN 0113-2S04
    MAF $outtr lsland *nanga spawning sur\feys, ïg8g - 1gg0 ISSN 0113-2s04 New Zealand tr'reshwater Fisheries Report No. 133 South Island inanga spawning surv€ys, 1988 - 1990 by M.J. Taylor A.R. Buckland* G.R. Kelly * Department of Conservation hivate Bag Hokitika Report to: Department of Conservation Freshwater Fisheries Centre MAF Fisheries Christchurch Servicing freshwater fisheries and aquaculture March L992 NEW ZEALAND F'RESTTWATER F'ISHERIES RBPORTS This report is one of a series issued by the Freshwater Fisheries Centre, MAF Fisheries. The series is issued under the following criteria: (1) Copies are issued free only to organisations which have commissioned the investigation reported on. They will be issued to other organisations on request. A schedule of reports and their costs is available from the librarian. (2) Organisations may apply to the librarian to be put on the mailing list to receive all reports as they are published. An invoice will be sent for each new publication. ., rsBN o-417-O8ffi4-7 Edited by: S.F. Davis The studies documented in this report have been funded by the Department of Conservation. MINISTBY OF AGRICULTUBE AND FISHERIES TE MANAlU AHUWHENUA AHUMOANA MAF Fisheries is the fisheries business group of the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The name MAF Fisheries was formalised on I November 1989 and replaces MAFFish, which was established on 1 April 1987. It combines the functions of the t-ormer Fisheries Research and Fisheries Management Divisions, and the fisheries functions of the former Economics Division. T\e New Zealand Freshwater Fisheries Report series continues the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Fisheries Environmental Report series.
    [Show full text]
  • FT1 Australian-Pacific Plate Boundary Tectonics
    Geosciences 2016 Annual Conference of the Geoscience Society of New Zealand, Wanaka Field Trip 1 25-28 November 2016 Tectonics of the Pacific‐Australian Plate Boundary Leader: Virginia Toy University of Otago Bibliographic reference: Toy, V.G., Norris, R.J., Cooper, A.F., Sibson, R.H., Little, T., Sutherland, R., Langridge, R., Berryman, K. (2016). Tectonics of the Pacific Australian Plate Boundary. In: Smillie, R. (compiler). Fieldtrip Guides, Geosciences 2016 Conference, Wanaka, New Zealand.Geoscience Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication 145B, 86p. ISBN 978-1-877480-53-9 ISSN (print) : 2230-4487 ISSN (online) : 2230-4495 1 Frontispiece: Near-surface displacement on the Alpine Fault has been localised in an ~1cm thick gouge zone exposed in the bed of Hare Mare Creek. Photo by D.J. Prior. 2 INTRODUCTION This guide contains background geological information about sites that we hope to visit on this field trip. It is based primarily on the one that has been used for University of Otago Geology Department West Coast Field Trips for the last 30 years, partially updated to reflect recently published research. Copies of relevant recent publications will also be made available. Flexibility with respect to weather, driving times, and participant interest may mean that we do not see all of these sites. Stops are denoted by letters, and their locations indicated on Figure 1. List of stops and milestones Stop Date Time start Time stop Location letter Aim of stop Notes 25‐Nov 800 930 N Door Geol Dept, Dunedin Food delivery VT, AV, Nathaniel Chandrakumar go to 930 1015 N Door Geology, Dunedin Hansens in Kai Valley to collect van 1015 1100 New World, Dunedin Shoping for last food supplies 1115 1130 N Door Pick up Gilbert van Reenen Drive to Chch airport to collect other 1130 1700 Dud‐Chch participants Stop at a shop so people can buy 1700 1900 Chch‐Flockhill Drive Chch Airport ‐ Flockhill Lodge beer/wine/snacks Flockhill Lodge: SH 73, Arthur's Pass Overnight accommodation; cook meal 7875.
    [Show full text]
  • Haast Regional Walks Brochure
    Mäori first settled here at least 800 years ago, the sea, Haast Visitor Centre Introduction coast and navigable rivers providing main points of access. Mäori settlement and activity was centred around Information on the Te Wähipounamu - South West New The Haast area is more than a collection of small gathering, carving and trading precious jade, known as Zealand World Heritage Area, other lands administered by settlements near the main highway or along the road to pounamu (greenstone). Jackson Bay Okahu. It is a diverse region, stretching the Department of Conservation, tracks, accommodation European settlement was attempted at Jackson Bay Okahu from Knights Point to the Cascade Valley and inland to the and advice on recreational opportunities in the Haast area during the 1870s. The pioneers’ attempt to “tame” the forest-lined Haast Pass. The area offers a wide variety of can be obtained from the Haast Visitor Centre at Haast landscape was largely unsuccessful but their efforts left scenery, chances to view wildlife and many recreational (situated on the corner of SH6 and the Jackson Bay Road). a tradition of South Westland residents as being tough, opportunities. Hut tickets, hunting permits, maps, conservation souvenirs resilient and independent. and publications can also be obtained from the visitor The region is famous for it’s dramatic coastline - the This brochure should help visitors find their way around the centre. EFTPOS is available. sweeping curves of beaches, the rugged cliff tops, and Haast area. Displays at the Department of Conservation’s the striking rock formations at Knights Point south of Lake Haast Visitor Centre and at other sites within the World Moeraki.
    [Show full text]
  • West Coast Visitor Waste Management Strategy
    WEST COAST VISITOR WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY AS AMENDED BY 2ND STAKEHOLDER MEETING IN GREYMOUTH ON 4TH OCTOBER 2006 PREPARED FOR : W EST COAST WASTE MANAGEMENT GROUP PREPARED BY : T OURISM RESOURCE CONSULTANTS , IN ASSOCIATION WITH LINCOLN UNIVERSITY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This strategy has been developed to manage waste generated by visitors to the West Coast. It has been prepared for several parties: the West Coast Waste Management Working Group, an inter-agency working group consisting of: West Coast Regional Council; Buller District Council; Grey District Council; Westland District Council; Transit New Zealand; Department of Conservation; and the Ministry for Environment. Other parties also have an interest in the project, including Tourism West Coast and the Ministry of Tourism. The strategy has been prepared by Tourism Resource Consultants in association with Lincoln University. It has been prepared following meetings with council staff, Transit New Zealand, Opus and various community, waste management and visitor industry representatives on and off the West Coast. Relevant information on visitor sites and facilities were integrated into a database and ‘Hot-Spots’ (areas under substantial pressure from visitors) were identified. Our goal with this strategy is to: Minimise effects of waste generated by visitors to the West Coast. Our objectives to achieve this, are to: Provide a level of infrastructure and service that is cost-effective, integrated and of the right capacity to cope with present and future growth in the visitor industry; Provide effective information and education so that visitors use waste management facilities; Discourage non-complying activities and enforce financial consequences for visitors who are not using waste management facilities.
    [Show full text]
  • Cross Country Chronicle- November 2013.Pdf
    Cross Country Chronicle November 2013 The Official Magazine of The Cross Country Vehicle Club (Wellington) Inc PO Box 38-762, Te Puni 5045, Wellington The club meets at 7:30pm on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Page 1 - CCVC, four wheelingwww.ccvc.org.nz in the capital since 1971! Page 1 Please support our generous sponsors... Page 2 - CCVC, four wheeling in the capital since 1971! Page 2 WHEN HELP IS NEEDED Should any members fail to return from any outing, four wheel drive or otherwise, whether as a club member or as a private individual, the fol- lowing person/s should be contacted in the first instance: Anthony Reid 973 8262 or 027 273 6579 or 021 061 1831 Morris Jury 566 6197 or 021 629 600 Table of Contents Vehicle Inspectors Dayal Landy Gold Coast Mechanical Cover OOPS! 2 Epiha St, Paraparaumu Ph. 04 902 9244 P. 3 Help, Index, Safety Inspectors Antony Hargreaves Epuni Motors 1987 Ltd 2 - 6 Hawkins St, Lower Hutt P. 4 Upcoming National Events Ph. 04 569 3485 Dave Bowler P. 5 Committees Pete Beckett Bowler Motors Ltd 11 Raiha St, Porirua P. 7 Presidents Piece Ph. 04 237 7251 Grant Guy P. 8 Winter Wayfaring 2013 G Guy Motors 61-63 Thorndon Quay, Wellington Ph. 04 472 2020 P. 13 Night Hawk Family Rally Carl Furniss Wellington 4WD Specialists P. 16 Moawhanga School Scenic Trip 26 Hawkins Street, Lower Hutt Ph. 04 976 5325 P. 19 Ham radio to the rescue Shane & Carl Mendoza Mechanical 34 Goodshed Road, Upper Hutt P.
    [Show full text]
  • Prepared for West Coast Regional Council
    Applying the Cumulative Hydrological Effects Simulator (CHES) for managing water allocation A demonstration of CHES in the Grey catchment, West Coast Prepared for West Coast Regional Council June 2016 Prepared by : Jo Hoyle Jan Diettrich Paul Franklin For any information regarding this report please contact: Dr Jan Diettrich Software developer Hydrology +64-3-343 8076 [email protected] National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd PO Box 8602 Riccarton Christchurch 8011 Phone +64 3 348 8987 NIWA CLIENT REPORT No: CHC2016-074 Report date: June 2016 NIWA Project: WCRC5501 Quality Assurance Statement Reviewed by: Roddy Henderson Formatting checked by: Tracy Webster Approved for release by: Helen Rouse © All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or copied in any form without the permission of the copyright owner(s). Such permission is only to be given in accordance with the terms of the client’s contract with NIWA. This copyright extends to all forms of copying and any storage of material in any kind of information retrieval system. Whilst NIWA has used all reasonable endeavours to ensure that the information contained in this document is accurate, NIWA does not give any express or implied warranty as to the completeness of the information contained herein, or that it will be suitable for any purpose(s) other than those specifically contemplated during the Project or agreed by NIWA and the Client. Contents Executive summary ............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Physical Properties of Surface Outcrop Cataclastic Fault Rocks, Alpine Fault, New Zealand
    Article Volume 13, Number 1 28 January 2012 Q01018, doi:10.1029/2011GC003872 ISSN: 1525-2027 Physical properties of surface outcrop cataclastic fault rocks, Alpine Fault, New Zealand C. Boulton Department of Geological Sciences, University of Canterbury, PB 4800, Christchurch 8042, New Zealand ([email protected]) B. M. Carpenter Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, 522 Deike Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA V. Toy Department of Geology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand C. Marone Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, 522 Deike Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA [1] We present a unified analysis of physical properties of cataclastic fault rocks collected from surface exposures of the central Alpine Fault at Gaunt Creek and Waikukupa River, New Zealand. Friction experi- ments on fault gouge and intact samples of cataclasite were conducted at 30–33 MPa effective normal stress (sn′) using a double-direct shear configuration and controlled pore fluid pressure in a true triaxial pressure vessel. Samples from a scarp outcrop on the southwest bank of Gaunt Creek display (1) an increase in fault normal permeability (k=7.45 Â 10À20 m2 to k = 1.15 Â 10À16 m2), (2) a transition from frictionally weak (m = 0.44) fault gouge to frictionally strong (m = 0.50–0.55) cataclasite, (3) a change in friction rate depen- dence (a-b) from solely velocity strengthening, to velocity strengthening and weakening, and (4) an increase in the rate of frictional healing with increasing distance from the footwall fluvioglacial gravels contact. At Gaunt Creek, alteration of the primary clay minerals chlorite and illite/muscovite to smectite, kaolinite, and goethite accompanies an increase in friction coefficient (m = 0.31 to m = 0.44) and fault- perpendicular permeability (k=3.10 Â 10À20 m2 to k = 7.45 Â 10À20 m2).
    [Show full text]
  • West Coast Crimson Trail
    WEST COAST CRIMSON TRAIL The West Coast is the rata capital of New Zealand. In the North, from the Heaphy Track to Greymouth, northern rata often dominates the forest landscape, mainly near the coast and on limestone faces. Huge trees festooned with climbing and perching plants billow above the forest canopy. On higher ground southern rata is scattered on bluffs and through beech forest. Northern rata South of Hokitika in the valleys and slopes of the beech-free main divide, Northern rata (Metrosideros robusta) is one of New Zealand’s tallest flowering trees and grows from southern rata becomes a dominant canopy tree reaching high into the Alps. Hokitika northwards. It usually begins life as an epi- And, in the far South, it forms emergent giants on the flood plains, or gnarled phyte (perching plant) high in the forest’s canopy. groups around the precipitous shores of the fiords. As its roots descend to the ground, the rata smoth- ers its host. Grows to 25m or more in height with a This Crimson Trail is a journey from the north to south on the West coast of trunk up to 2.5m in diameter. Prefers warm moist New Zealand’s South Island. As you travel some 500 kilometres you will see areas such as north-west Nelson and Northland. significant glaciers, wild coastline and large tracts of primeval forest. Northern rata grows from sea level to a maximum of 900m above sea level. Southern rata Southern rata (Metrosideros umbellata) is the most widespread rata, growing throughout New Zealand as well as in the sub-antarctic Auckland Islands.
    [Show full text]