When the Siren Goes

The Bunker - Our National Crisis Management Centre. Kept in a continuous state of readiness, complete with cafeteria, sleeping accommodation, air-filtering equipment, a water supply, emergency power and earthquake protection, the Bunker (as it's informally known) is MCDEM's base for managing local and nationwide civil defence emergencies.

The Beehive and Parliament Buildings.

A graphical simulation of a fictitious volcanic event in Auckland, created to represent stage one of Exercise Ruaumoko.

A graphical simulation of a fictitious volcanic event in Auckland, created to represent stage two of Exercise Ruaumoko.

Briefing in the Bunker during Exercise Ruaumoko.

Radio New Zealand reporter Lucy Cleary hard at work during Exercise Ruaumoko.

Looking over Napier at the buildings ruined by the 1931 earthquake. Photograph taken by Sydney Charles Smith. Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image. Reference number: 1/2-048343-G

Flood debris alongside the bridge over the Mohaka River, April 1938. Photographer unidentified. On the back of the picture is inscribed: The earthquake [1931?] dammed a creek & formed Te Hoe Lake 5 miles long & 260 ft deep - it rose 10 ft a day when being formed. In the flood it burst through & disappeared down the Mohaka River & this bridge is the one on the main road from Napier to Wairoa where the Mohaka River is crossed not far below the big new Mohaka viaduct. When lots of logs got through one side of the bridge they & the water came along the bridge towards Wairoa side. The river rose quickly 40 ft. Do you wonder this wooden bridge gave way? Reference number: PAColl-0102-01 Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

Building demolished by the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, and a house, still standing, alongside. Photographer unidentified. Reference number: 1/2-060933-F Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

AMP (Australian Mutual Provident Society) building, Napier, damaged by the 1931 Hawkes Bay earthquake. Reference number: 1/4-017234-F Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

Satellite dish at Denniston North used to transmit seismic data.

Edgecumbe fault from the air. (GNS Science)

Edgecumbe fault close-up. (GNS)

Earthquake damage to a road. Photo Supplied by GNS.

Earthquake damage to a road. Photo Supplied by GNS.

Earthquake damage to a road. Photo supplied by GNS.

A house loses its bricks during an earthquake.

Two scientists looking at a cut-away of the fault line in Kaitoki.

Extending northwards from Cook Strait (lower left), the active Wellington Fault cuts across the Wellington region and along the western edge of Wellington Harbour and the Hutt Valley.

An aerial shot of an alpine fault line.

Etna strong-motion accelerograph at Invercargill City Council offices.

Green Lake, Raoul Island (After the March 2006 eruption, Raoul Island)

Kuirau Park, Rotorua.

White Island, April 2000.

White Island.

Rangitoto Island.

Rangitoto Island.

Mt Ruapehu with the path of a lahar streaming off to the right.

Mt Ruapehu during an eruption with the Chateau in the foreground.

Scientific survey after the 2007 lahar on Mt Ruapehu. (GNS Science)

Tarawera rift (GNS)

Tarawera flour mill after the eruption.

North Island active volcanoes.

Raoul Island.

The wreckage of Mr and Mrs A F Hall's house at Pouawa, destroyed by a tsunami on the 26th of March 1947. Photographed by Harold J Dunstan. Published in the New Zealand Free Lance on the 9th of April 1947. On the back of the picture is inscribed: Tidal wave. Remains of Mr Hall's place. Post standing in kitchen in which he, wife, and friend were trapped. This was slewed round. Three other rooms demolished. P 9/4/47. Dunstan ass. Reference number: PAColl-0785-1-159-01 Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

Two men holding fish stranded by the tsunami that hit the coast north of Gisborne on the 26th of March 1947. Photographed by Harold J Dunstan. On the back of the picture is inscribed: Tidal wave damage - Gisborne. Many fish were left stranded and many residents ..... These fish were found well above water mark. P 9/4/47. H J Dunstan Box 233 Gisborne. Reference number: PAColl-0785-1-159-02 Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

Boat Ramp sign warning of Tsunami danger.

Tsunami early warning beacon.

Early warning wharf sensor.

Estimated arrival times for a tsunami generated in Hawaii.

4WD access only, Canterbury 2006.

Snow covered farmland.

Satellite image showing the extent of 2006 snow.

Edgecumbe road blocked from 2004 flood.

Kopane school classroom after a flood.

Seaview and Wellington harbour, 2004.

Moutoa floodgates, 2004 Manawatu.

Thames house interior, 2002.

The Hutt river overflows its banks in the Hutt Valley.

Stop banks on the Hutt river in Wellington.

Aerial shots of Rangitkei and Manawatu. Photographer: Cpl Carl Booty, Photographer Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Bridge washout in Pohaninga. Photographer: Rosalie and Ossie Buchanan.

What's left of the Saddle Road Bridge. Photographer: Rosalie and Ossie Buchanan.