"Study Reveals New Zealand's Rare but Devastating 90-Foot Tsunamis"

A new study using synthetic earthquakes has found that tsunamis up to 90 feet high could hit parts of New Zealand, particularly along the northeast coast of the North Island, in a worst-case earthquake scenario. The research focused on the Hikurangi subduction zone and revealed that smaller, shallower faults called crustal faults also contribute significantly to the tsunami hazard. The study suggests that New Zealand can expect a tsunami of at least 16.4 feet every 77 years, with a wave of at least 49.2 feet every 580 years. The findings highlight the importance of understanding the risk of devastating waves in regions near subduction zones.