D E T E R M I N I N G V O L C A N I C R I S K I N A U C K L A N D Auckland is a vital link in New Zealand’s economy and the city and surrounding region are internationally desirable places to work. However, Auckland sits on a volcanic field. The DEVORA research programme is aimed at a much-improved assessment of volcanic hazard and risk in the Auckland metropolitan area. Media Watch on the Auckland Volcanic Field Story: Click on a range of links to view media stories and risk- related news coverage relevant to the Auckland Volcanic Field. (For use with Press) Theme: Resources This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand License. The authors and DEVORA have taken all reasonable care to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied in this legacy document. However, neither the authors nor DEVORA, warrant that the information contained in this legacy document will be complete or free of errors or inaccuracies. By using this legacy document you accept all liability arising from your use of it. Neither the authors nor DEVORA, will be liable for any loss or damage suffered by any person arising from the use of this legacy document, however caused. DEVORA Determining Volcanic Risk in Auckland ! Media Watch on the Auckland Volcanic Field Media Watch on the Auckland Volcanic Field. Last updated on 07/07/2020. 2019 Volcanic threat in Auckland (December 2019) Following the devastating Whakaari (White Island) eruption in December, there was more interest in understanding the volcanic threat around the rest of New Zealand – including Auckland. Information about the Auckland Volcanic Field (and the rest of New Zealand) can be found in the articles below, including activity levels, and what threats volcanoes pose to our communities: ● ‘Beautiful but deadly’: NZ’s ever-present volcanic risk ● White Island eruption: Just how active are New Zealand’s volcanoes? When Aotearoa heats up from below (December 2019) DEVORA researcher Assoc Prof Tom Wilson was interviewed by Radio New Zealand and chats about the risks of New Zealand volcanism in The Detail, below: ● When Aotearoa heats up from below (Tom Wilson interview, Radio New Zealand’s The ​ ​ Detail, 9/12/2019) Auckland volcanoes: 6km blast, ash hurricane and as little as a day’s eruption warning (December 2019) Professor James White compares the Auckland Volcanic Field to volcanic fields in California and Arizona. These analogues are used to discuss what we can expect in the event of an eruption in Auckland and how much warning we would have beforehand. ● Auckland volcanoes: 6km blast, ash hurricane and as little as a day’s eruption warning (Professor James White interview, Stuff, 29/12/2019) ​ New book highlights Auckland’s volcanic cones (November 2019) Bruce Hayward has recently released his new book “Volcanoes of Auckland: A Field Guide”. He is interviewed by Francesca Rudkin on Newstalkzb where they discuss the Auckland Volcanic Field, and the threat it poses to Auckland City. ● New book highlights Auckland’s volcanic cones ‘Beneath New Zealand’ Airs (June 2019) Prime TV airs the ‘Beneath NZ’ episodes starting Sunday, 9 June at 8:30 pm. The series ​ ​ focuses on NZ’s volcanism, past, present, and future. The third episode focuses on Auckland and features quite a few DEVORA researchers and findings: Media Watch on the Auckland Volcanic Field. Last updated on 07/07/2020. ● https://www.primetv.co.nz/-/prime_beneathnz_ep3 ● New show about New Zealand’s volcanoes (Jan Lindsay interview, Radio New Zealand’s ​ ​ Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan, 7/6/2019) ● Aucklanders should get ready for an eruption Volcanic Fingerprints (Jan 2019) Volcanic ash has a chemical signature that is unique to its source. DEVORA researcher Dr Jenni Hopkins is using this trait to reconstruct the eruption history of the Auckland Volcanic Field. ● Volcanic Fingerprints (Victoria University of Wellington, News webpage, 30/1/2019) ​ ​ ​ The worst natural disaster risks facing New Zealand (Jan 2019) DEVORA and many of our talented researchers feature in this magazine article describing, amongst other NZ hazards, an Auckland eruption. ● The worst natural disaster risks facing New Zealand (North & South Magazine, 15/1/2019 ) ​ ​ ​ Errors in Newshub graphic (Jan 2019) Newshub created a 3D graphic depicting the Auckland Volcanic Field. This graphic contains several significant errors, including: –the population of Auckland is not ~4.7 million. According to Statistics NZ, it is ~1.6 million –we do not think that the Auckland Domain is the oldest volcano; Pupuke is probably the oldest at approximately 190,000 years old –the eruption order was created by Dr Jenni Hopkins for her PhD research (see here: https://www.facebook.com/DEVORAProject/videos/837561346431039) ​ ​ ● Newshub graphic reveals Auckland’s deadly volcanic field (Newshub, 14/1/2019) ​ ​ ​ (Note: this article has since been removed) 2018 Christchurch lava lab could help prepare for Auckland eruption (Dec 2018) Researchers at Canterbury University are creating their own lava flows for experiments. The results have implications for Auckland in future eruptions. ● Christchurch lava lab could help prepare for Auckland eruption (Stuff, 20/12/2018) ​ ​ ​ Media Watch on the Auckland Volcanic Field. Last updated on 07/07/2020. Auckland Ascent Rates – How Much Warning Time Will We Have? (July 2018) Dr. Marco Brenna, a researcher with Otago University, recently published a paper on how diffusion in olivine crystals suggests that magma ascent in the Auckland Volcanic Field may happen quite rapidly. While we knew from geochemical evidence, models, and related studies of other volcanic areas that magma ascent was likely to be fast (days to weeks) in Auckland, this study is the first to use Auckland samples to estimate how quickly magma rises from the mantle to the surface. The article received some press: ● Auckland could get just five days’ warning of eruption ( NZ Herald, 27/8/2018) ​ ​ ​ ● Auckland could have just five days’ warning before a volcanic eruption ( Stuff, 27/7/2018) ​ ​ ​ Deadly Base Surge Research Commences (July 2018) Dr Stuart Mead (Massey) is researching the deadliest threat associated with Auckland eruptions: volcanic base surges, and this caused a media stir. Surges are destructive clouds of hot gas and ash that form when water and magma mix. We see evidence of surges at ~80% of Auckland volcanoes. Stuart’s research is supported by the Earthquake Commission in a separate but affiliated project. The EQC is a great supporter of DEVORA and a lot of other research projects focused on understanding the threats posed by the Auckland Volcanic Field. We look forward to hearing about Stuart’s findings! ● Earthquake Commission funds new research to better understand Auckland’s volcanic surges (Stuff, 24/07/18) ​ ​ ● Study into Auckland eruption reveals impact to city (NZ Herald, 24/07/18) ​ ​ ● EQC funds research on Auckland volcanic surges (Scoop, 24/07/18) ​ ​ ● The biggest risk to life if Auckland erupts (Southgate Observer, 19/8/2018) ​ ​ ​ Press Release: The current eruption of Kilauea: Could it happen in Auckland? (May 2018) The current eruption of Kīlauea volcano on Hawai‘i has provided some spectacular footage of cracks opening in roads, fountains of glowing lava, and billowing clouds of gas – and has people wondering whether such activity could occur in Auckland. We thought this would be a great opportunity to explain how this latest eruption on Hawai‘i compares with what we might expect in Auckland if our volcanic field reactivates. View Press Release Related Press Articles and TV Coverage: ● Why Hawaii’s eruption matters for volcanic Auckland (NZHerald, 9/5/2018) ​ ​ ​ ● Hawaii eruption an ‘eerie analogue’ for Auckland volcano risk, scientists say (Stuff, 8/5/2018) ​ ​ ​ ● NZ scientists keeping close watch on Hawaii’s volcanic eruption (NewsHub, 7/5/2018) ​ ​ ​ ● Could a volcanic eruption like Kilauea happen in Auckland? (RadioNZ, 11/5/2018) ​ ● Auckland volcanic eruption could look similar to Hawaii’s Mt Kilauea, scientists say (TVNZ, ​ 12/5/2018) Media Watch on the Auckland Volcanic Field. Last updated on 07/07/2020. 2017 Simulating a Possible Eruption in Auckland (September 2017) This week, University of Auckland students participated in a simulation of an Auckland Volcanic Field eruption. After a day in the field, they took on the challenge of guiding the city through several months of preparation and the eruption itself. Learn more by listening to Prof Kathy Campbell’s interview with Radio New Zealand here. ​ ​ Will your roof withstand flying volcanic rocks?(July 2017) UC researchers are exploring the consequences of flying volcanic rocks (“ballistics”) on building materials. This is truly “groundbreaking” research that garnered both TV and radio coverage in June/July. Check out the links below to find out more: ● Will your roof withstand flying volcanic rocks?(Radio NZ, 15/6/2017) ​ ​ ​ ● How safe is your house if a volcano erupts nearby? (TVNZ 30/7/2017) ​ ​ ​ AVF Eruption History Decoded (July 2017) Fourty-eight of Auckland’s 53 volcanic centres can now be placed in order. To do this, researchers devised new and improved techniques to figure out the eruptive history of the Auckland Volcanic Field, with some surprising findings. Their findings were summarized in two papers, which both garnered media attention. The two articles can be found here and ​ ​ here. To read the press articles or listen to the radio interview see the links below: ​ ● Scientists reveal Auckland’s explosive history (NZ Herald 18/7/2017) ​