Aug 12 2008 - July roundup

Operations

The Tauranga tsunami gauge installation, with the sensors located within the white pipes below sea level.

• The Utiku landslide monitoring system was installed, just south of Taihape. This consists of 4 stations spread across the landslide, each with a continuous GPS receiver and a ground water level sensor, and one site with a rain gauge.
• The Tauranga tsunami gauge was brought on line with the upgrade of the radio repeater site at nearby Papamoa.
• A new continuous GPS site near Levin, Moutere No.3 (LEVN) was made fully operational.
• The generation of the New Zealand earthquake catalogue was restructured to accommodate a "near real-time" catalogue. GeoNet Data Centre Technicians are now processing earthquake locations one week behind real time. This allows for more timely finalised earthquake hypocentres to be generated for scientific use.

Website

• Links to web services for access to hypocentres and felt reports were added to the Resources section of the website.

Earthquakes

• The most significant earthquake of the month occurred on July 12, magnitude 6.0 (revised), 80 km south-west of Te Anau, 100 km deep. It was felt throughout Fiordland, Otago and Southland, with maximum intensities MM 5 in Queenstown and around Invercargill.

Reported Landslides

Wednesday July 2

• Small slip observed on Grant Road, Wellington, near corner with Harriett Street (about 2-3 m³).
• Slip SH 3, Awakino Gorge, north of Awakau Bridge.

Thursday July 3

• Slip SH 3 Awakino Gorge: reactivated, blocking both lanes.

Sunday July 6

• SH 4 Wanganui to Raetihi: road closed by slip 1 km north of Field’s Track intersection. Road re-opened 9 am July 7.
• Washout SH 7, 8 km north-west of Hanmer Springs intersection. Flooded Waiau River undermined road.

Monday July 7

• SH 3, Awakino Gorge, both lanes blocked by slip just north of Awakau Bridge.
• Shotover River Landslide Response (161.26Kb)
  
  Massive slip movement detected, Shotover River, near Arthur’s Point and 500 m from Canyon Swing. Moonlight Track closed. Movement estimated to be 100 mm horizontal and 200 mm vertical in a 2 hour period. There is potential to block the river if the slide continues. A warning device has been installed to detect a blockage. Part of cliff face fell away on July 9. A landslide rapid response was undertaken, which involved taking the GNS Science terrestrial laser scanner down to the Shotover River to scan the landslide upstream of Arthur’s Point. Preliminary results indicate that the landslide is still moving. A repeat scan is planned during August.

Friday July 11

• Rocks Road, Nelson, blocked briefly by a rockfall at Magazine Point during torrential rain about 9 am.

Saturday July 12

• SH 1 Pukerua Bay: slip blocking both southbound lanes just south of Whenua Tapu intersection.
• SH 3, Ratana (between Bulls and Wanganui) – slip partially blocking one lane.

Monday July 14

• SH 3 in the Awakino Gorge, slip debris still coming down. Road open, but minor hazard exists.
• Slip on Shotover River continuing to move after a major movement on July 12. Otago Regional Council monitoring the situation. Tracks closed and rafting and boating on river suspended.

Wednesday July 16

• Macetown Road above Arrowtown closed by a slip. However, the road is not used in winter. Another slip affected the Crown Range Road, but was cleared.

Wednesday July 23

• Train derailed by slip on Johnsonville line about 7:30 pm near Crofton Downs. Train services resumed in afternoon of July 24.
• Slip reported SH 1 at Paekakariki and another between Whenua Tapu and Pukerua Bay, both cleared by July 24.
• SH 3 in the Manawatu Gorge down to one lane after large slip caused by torrential rain.
• SH 3 Awakino Gorge landslide continuing to cause problems.
• Slip SH 58 between Paremata Bridge and Postgate Drive blocking one lane.

Thursday July 24

• SH 2 Rimutaka Hill affected by a number of small slips reducing road to one lane in places.
• SH 3 Awakino Gorge – ongoing rock and soil falls from slip near Awakau Bridge.

Tuesday July 29

• Report of a slip on a private pathway in Brooklyn, Wellington.

Wednesday July 30

• SH 1 Dome Valley, Warkworth blocked by slip.
• SH 1, blocked by slip 2 km north of Dargaville turnoff.
• SH 1 Pohuehue Viaduct south of Warkworth blocked by slip.
• SH 11 Kawakawa, Lemons Hill. Slip briefly blocked both lanes.
• SH 2 Awakeri-Taneatua affected by slip on White Pine Bush Road.
• SH 35 near Tolaga Bay, closed by a slip.
• SH 4 Wanganui-Raetihi, closed by a slip.
• SH 25/SH 25a intersection, Hikuwai closed by a large slip.

Thursday July 31

• Torbay, Auckland landslide affected 15 houses. One severely damaged.
• Karangahake Gorge was affected by slips and flooding.
• Te Awanga, Hawke's Bay, house washed away by sea.
• SH 2 Rimutaka Hill, partially blocked by two slips near summit.
• SH 1 Blenheim to Christchurch blocked by slips in several places. Railway Picton-Christchurch blocked by several slips, including large one south of Kaikoura.
• Stillwater-Westport railway through the Buller Gorge has been blocked by a slip.
• Glenfield, Auckland slip affecting two houses.
• Palmerston North-Gisborne railway closed due to slips.
• In Swanson, Waitakere, deep-seated landslide affecting 4 houses, one evacuated.
• Gisborne city reported many small slips affecting properties.
• Far North District – Mangakahia Road (at Twin Bridges) and Broadwood Road both blocked by slips.
• SH 57 Shannon-Opiki affected by a slip, but mainly closed because of flooding.
• Wellington City – a number of slips reported affecting central city streets.