Beneath the Waves

Raranga Whāriki Papa Moana: Building Resilience to Natural Hazards in Aotearoa

2021-2026

Project Summary

Strengthening Preparedness for Near-Shore Volcano Hazards

The programme aims to improve community preparedness and resilience to natural hazards from Aotearoa New Zealand’s near-shore volcanoes, Tūhua/Mayor Island and Whakaari/White Island. By enhancing public understanding of volcanic activity and tsunami risks, the project supports safer, more informed communities.

Using Immersive Technology to Communicate Natural Disaster Risks

HIT Lab NZ is collaborating with Professor Ben Kennedy from the School of Earth and Environment to apply game design, virtual reality (VR), and other immersive technologies to natural hazard education. These tools help communicate complex environmental risks in ways that are engaging, accessible, and meaningful for the wider community.

Game-Based Learning for Volcanic and Tsunami Hazards

As part of the project, student Kieron Wall is co-designing an immersive educational game for school-aged children. This game teaches young people about the hazards associated with volcanic eruptions and tsunamis, supporting early understanding and resilience-building.

Professor Heide Lukosch is further exploring how game-based approaches can support disaster risk communication. Although games have been widely used in disaster risk management, this project advances the field by using immersive technology to reach diverse communities across cultural, linguistic, and social boundaries. This inclusive approach positions the research as world-leading and innovative.

Cultural Foundations of the Raranga Whāriki Papa Moana Project

The project name, Raranga Whāriki Papa Moana, was gifted by Professor Taiarahia Black of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. The metaphor of the Raranga Whāriki (woven mat) reflects the interconnected life, elements, and sources within the ocean floor. It also connects to the placement of scientific monitors on the seafloor, symbolising a woven relationship between technology, environment, and culture.

The name acknowledges the reciprocity between Tūhua, Whakaari, and the ocean floor, upholding their wairua, mana, and distinctiveness. From a scientific perspective, data from these monitors will be woven together through the project’s research activities, integrating Mātauranga Māori with contemporary science. This collaboration strengthens understanding of volcanic activity, its relationship to the ocean floor, and its influence on the wider environment—reflecting the deep connections among Ngāti Awa, Tauranga Moana, and scientific communities.

Acknowledgement

This project is funded by a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Endeavour Grant, under the lead of GNS Science, as part of the Beneath the Waves research programme.

Contacts

Prof. Heide Lukosch, HIT Lab NZ, University of Canterbury
Prof. Ben Kennedy, School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury

More Information

GNS programme details http://beneaththewaves.org.nz/.
UC News article New Research Uses Gaming Tech to Help Kiwis Prepare for Natural Disasters.
Radio New Zealand interview with Ben Kennedy and Kieron Wall (2024, May 1).

Play

Volcanic Explorer NZ is a single player game which has been tested in schools around New Zealand. Developed with teachers, it incorporates primary school science curriculum and civil defence advice for natural disasters. It is made up of six mini games each with their own learning goals that cover everything from preparing a coastal town for an eruption, packing an emergency kit, learning about types of volcanoes, to finding out how scientists collect data.

Play Volcanic Explorer NZ