Emergency Management Tauranga uses virtual reality so people can safely experience a tsunami and earthquake and learn how to get through.
Using virtual reality to educate about natural disasters is a first of its kind for New Zealand.
The tsunami and earthquake module offer an immersive experience to help you understand the risks of natural disasters and provides prompts to help you decide how you will respond to keep you and your family safe.
Staff will be visiting coastal hotspots between November 2024 and February 2025, giving you a chance to put your decision making to the test.
You can try the headset at the following locations between 10am and 3pm (weather dependent). Look out for the Emergency Management gazebo.
- 13 December: Mount Maunganui main beach
- 19 December: Pilot Bay
- 20 December: Mount Maunganui main beach
- 7 January 2025: Pilot Bay
- 10 January: Mount Maunganui main beach
- 16 January: Pilot Bay
- 18 January: Mount Maunganui main beach
- 23 January: Pilot Bay
- 24 January: Mount Maunganui main beach
- 30 January: Mount Maunganui main beach
Learn more about our virtual reality earthquake and tsunami simulation.
The modules are interactive, engaging, and low impact. It doesn’t require standing, jumping or walking, making it accessible to anyone aged 12 to 112. (Some scenes may be frightening to children under 12).
The 2022 National Disaster Preparedness Survey found that only two-in-five New Zealanders felt they were prepared for a disaster. Knowing how to respond, learning your tsunami evacuation routes, and having grab and go packs, could make all the difference to your safety in a natural disaster.
The virtual reality experience is free to the Tauranga community and is a great tool for:
- Schools/tertiary providers
- Community groups
- Workplaces
We make it easy by bringing the headsets to you and staying with you during the experience.