Abstract:
All New Zealand coastlines are vulnerable to tsunami. Prompt and appropriate evacuation is the most effective method of reducing mortality rates by decreasing short-term exposure during a tsunami event, and is thus a crucial tool for tsunami risk mitigation. This research makes an original contribution to the literature by assessing tsunami evacuation preparedness in New Zealand via an online survey of relevant experts. It also provides an update to tsunami preparedness reviews published prior to significant events such as the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Pragmatic, mixed-methods research was conducted to answer research questions. This research begins by introducing disasters and associated concepts before justifying the selection of tsunami as the focus of this research. Two narrative literature reviews were performed with incorporation of systematic literature review techniques. The first synthesised international tsunami evacuation literature to understand factors that influence tsunami evacuation preparedness. The second synthesised domestic tsunami literature to understand the New Zealand tsunami context, and compare and contrast New Zealand with other nations. These findings were validated through an online survey of relevant New Zealand experts using various tools to obtain quantitative and qualitative data. The culmination of these three approaches allowed recommendations for enhancing tsunami evacuation preparedness to be identified. Many of New Zealand's research efforts, guidance documents, and tsunami risk mitigation interventions are consistent with international standards. New Zealand has even developed innovative interventions that have been adopted elsewhere. However, tsunami evacuation preparedness remains insufficient to prevent avoidable fatalities. Experts generally considered tsunami evacuation preparedness in New Zealand to be inadequate, with lower preparedness for shorter tsunami arrival times. Recommendations to enhance tsunami evacuation preparedness include fostering a cultural change to encourage preparedness, allocating additional resources, reviewing risk management structures, and prioritising tsunami risk mitigation among local authorities. Specific locations in New Zealand have developed excellent tsunami risk mitigation programmes, and New Zealand has an opportunity to cement itself as a world leader in holistic tsunami evacuation preparedness. Suggestions for future work include assessment of tsunami evacuation preparedness across all local authorities in tsunami-vulnerable locations, and investigation into the relationship between drills and tsunami evacuation preparedness.