New Zealanders know by first hand experience that living on top of a plate boundary makes life unpredictable. The recent earthquake in Christchurch was just the latest example of that.

I recently had the privilege of interviewing several Kiwis who had experienced first hand the power of a tsunami. Luckily for them they all escaped with no more than cuts and bruises, but many around them were not so fortunate. These tsunami events were overseas – in Thailand 2004 and Samoa 2009. However, it is worth remembering that New Zealand is one of the most ‘at risk’ countries in the world when it comes to tsunami hazard.

In case you haven’t seen it on our GNS Science Youtube Channel here is a video of the vivid tsunami accounts, hosted by Hamish Campbell: