Active Earth

Vigilance

New Zealand remains very much geologically active today. The devastating Christchurch earthquakes of 2011 are still fresh in the minds of New Zealanders, as large swathes of that city remain demolished and abandoned in what is known as the ‘red zone’. Wellingtonians live in uncomfortable awareness of the fault line they live on top of, Aucklanders of the volcanic heat of Rūaumoko beneath theirs. We must all remain vigilant.

Active Land, Awesome Forces

In its Whakarūaumoko | Active Land exhibition at Te Papa Tongarewa, and with the support of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Earthquake Commission, all of the concepts and events we’ve learned about so far come together to allow Kiwi and International visitors alike to get an immersive and hands-on understanding of, and connection to, the whenua (land) beneath us. This exhibition offers interactive installations that foster an understanding of the forces beyond our control and encourage visitors to think about how they can prepare themselves, their whanau (families), and their communities for the turbulent rumblings of Aotearoa, and the many ways in which they manifest.

Rūaumokos story is also told in the permanent Whakarūaumoko | Active Land exhibit. The mātauranga (knowledge) of te ao Māori (Māori worldviews) are interwoven throughout the exhibition, weaving together the spiritual and physical aspects of these phenomena. Visitors can follow the story of Zealandia, and create volcanic eruptions by building the pressure underground in an interactive display of magma flows.

^{A view into part of the Whakarūaumoko | Active Land exhibition in Te Papa Tongarewa. Jo Moore, 2019. © Te Papa. All rights Reserved}

A display of the Indo Australian and Pacific plates tectonic plates (Aotearoa perched on top), can slide over each other as visitors learn about the sliding subduction that created our maunga (mountains).

^{An interactive display of the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates in relation to New Zealand. Jo Moore, 2019. © Te Papa. All rights Reserved}

A tsunami tank gives visitors the power to unleash a wave across a diorama of the coastline – illustrating how far these devastating swells can climb the land.

^{A child watching after creating a miniature tsunami in the ‘tsunami tank’. Jo Moore, 2019. © Te Papa. All rights Reserved}

Earthquakes are an experience shared by all New Zealanders, and one that children are trained for from early schooling. The Quake House brings that home. Walk inside a tiny replica of a classic timber kiwi home, and experience the ground shaking beneath your feet. Feel the sharp jolts and deep rolls of quakes that speak to the depth and distance of the earthquake epicenter.

^{The Quake House, where visitors can experience an earthquake, complete with shaking and an immersive video experience. Jo Moore, 2019. © Te Papa. All rights Reserved}

This experience prompts visitors to consider many things; their rapid response to a quake for their immediate safety (Drop, Cover, Hold), the preparations they need to make for the aftermath of a “big one” (food and water stockpiles, plans for locating loved ones), and how to quake-proof their home (securing objects like bookshelves, being aware of vulnerable structures like chimneys). It is simultaneously a thrilling, and sobering experience. Partnered with this is a smaller “quake table” that mimics a tiny quake, complete with materials, and a challenge to build your own quake-proof structure atop it. Visitors can become a civil engineer, and see whether their creations have the structural integrity to withstand the forces of the Alpine Fault.

^{A woman building a structure she hopes will withstand the miniature earthquake on top of the ‘shake table’. Jess Dewsnap, 2021. © Te Papa. All rights Reserved}

Learn more about what goes on inside the Quake House, and how it was created.