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Story: Tsunamis

Landslide, Fiordland

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Landslide, Fiordland

First an earthquake, then a landslide, then a tsunami. This progression occurred on 22 August 2003 in Fiordland. The landslide shown here produced a wave that affected areas 4 to 5 metres above sea level in Charles Sound. The area is almost uninhabited, but a wharf and helipad were damaged.

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GNS Science

by Graham Hancox

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Willem de Lange and Eileen McSaveney, Tsunamis – Tsunamis – New Zealand’s underrated hazard, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/6209/landslide-fiordland (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Willem de Lange and Eileen McSaveney, published 2 March 2009.