21 Jun 2023

Comeback for the Kaikoura Canyon's Seabed ecosystems

From Afternoons, 1:32 pm on 21 June 2023

A recent study is painting a remarkable comeback story following the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake.

The 7.8 magnitude shake had decimated nearly all of the Kaikōura Canyon's seabed ecosystems.

But analysis of 2020 data shows parts have already returned to their pre-quake state - in a third of the time scientists initially predicted.

NIWA and Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington PhD student Katie Bigham talks to Jesse about their study.

The earthquakes lifted the seabed by up to 4m along nearly 100km of coastline near Kaikōura, exposing vast quantities of sea life.

The earthquakes lifted the seabed by up to 4m along nearly 100km of coastline near Kaikōura, exposing vast quantities of sea life. Photo: RNZ / Simon Morton