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Story: Natural hazards – overview

Minimising earthquake damage

Minimising earthquake damage

Many buildings and bridges in New Zealand are protected by base isolators – lead and rubber bearings that reduce the motion caused by ground shaking in an earthquake. This shows base isolators being installed in the foundations of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington.

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Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: CT009688_18

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Eileen McSaveney and Simon Nathan, Natural hazards – overview – Being prepared, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/6919/minimising-earthquake-damage (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Eileen McSaveney and Simon Nathan, published 2 March 2009.