Talk:Wellington Harbour

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Untitled[edit]

Done a Web Search. First 50 sites had lots of our Port Nicholson and nothing else in the world except ship names. So I think we can confidently leave the name without embellishment. Robin Patterson 05:45, 5 Jul 2004 (UTC)

Addition of content about Waiwhetu Aquifer[edit]

@Wainuiomartian: Would you like to add some brief content to the Geography section about the Waiwhetu Aquifer, and link to the article you published recently ? This topic is definitely worth covering in this article in summary form. This RNZ report from 29 August might also be useful, although you have to listen to the audio: [1] Marshelec (talk) 08:33, 2 September 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Sure. And I have added two more 'In the arts' items. Wainuiomartian (talk) 19:52, 2 September 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Haowhenua earthquake[edit]

@Marshelec: I think there should be a mention in the geography section of the channel that used to exist where Rongotai is until it was uplifted by the Haowhenua earthquake. What do you think?Wainuiomartian (talk) 20:06, 2 September 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, I think that the tectonic origins could do with significant expansion, so please go ahead. I recall that the book Mountains Volcanoes Coasts and Caves had a good description of the formation of Wellington Harbour, so I will borrow it again from the library, to see what might be useful to add. We can break the Geography section into multiple parts. Marshelec (talk) 21:36, 2 September 2023 (UTC)[reply]
@Wainuiomartian I have just come across a news item about a fault that was found in 2014 in Wellington Harbour. This is probably worth including: [2] Marshelec (talk) 04:16, 22 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Marshelec: done

Sealife?[edit]

@Marshelec: How about a section on notable sealife - penguins, eagle rays etc to be found in the harbour? I've been reading a lot about giant octopuses grabbing people in Oriental Bay and a sea elephant that visited once...just a thought.Wainuiomartian (talk) 17:50, 27 September 2023 (UTC)[reply]

@Wainuiomartian: Yes, that seems a good idea, to show that the harbour has a lot of biodiversity. In recent years we have had visits by southern right whales (Matariki), there are often visits by schools of dolphin, and there is the current Leopard seal making the news. Other visitors that may not make the news include Cape petrels, Australasian gannets. Resident sea life includes both stingray and eagle rays, and apparently there are kingfish, but again it might be a bit hard to find sources. Resident birds include White-fronted tern, and Fluttering shearwater. If you make a start, I will see if I can add anything.On a separate topic, I still plan to add content about the tectonic origins.Marshelec (talk) 19:22, 27 September 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Tsunami?[edit]

@Marshelec: I've just found a newspaper account of a tsunami in the harbour in 1877 which also mentions a similar event in 1868. And of course there was 1855 when water sloshed over the isthmus at Evans Bay. Do you think it's worth adding something about this, maybe including the tsunami warnings on the footpaths and the sirens that we now have? Or is that a bit out of scope?Wainuiomartian (talk) 19:05, 21 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@WainuiomartianYes, I think it is definitely worth covering the record of the tsunami in 1877. The event is included in the list article List of tsunamis affecting New Zealand#1877_Iquique. With regards to the tsunami hazard warnings, I am a bit less sure, because (a) this is part of regional or nationwide preparedness, and (b) is perhaps more related to natural hazards in the Wellington region (ie not just around the harbour but also the south coast). I had a look at the Wellington article, expecting to find a section about natural hazards, but no luck. There is a section called Geology, but in fact all the content is about the record of earthquakes. Here is perhaps another small project - there is merit in having a short section in the Wellington article about its geology, with a main template link to: Geology of the Wellington Region. My current view is that the existing content about earthquakes should be relocated to a new section about Natural hazards. That section could cover earthquake (and landslide risk), damaging wind, flooding and tsunami. I am certain I have seen articles about the risk of landslide following a major earthquake. The article identified that all main transport routes would be seriously damaged in a major earthquake. The Wellington Region Emergency Management office has no doubt published lots of material that could be cited - after all - preparedness is a key part of their job. There is an argument that content about natural hazards in the region might be best added to Wellington Region and linked from Wellington ? So, overall, there is merit in adding content about tsunami risk management, but I am not totally certain where is the best place. I don't think the harbour article is necessarily the best. I have a few other projects on the go at present, but would still be willing to chip in, if you are interested in a joint effort. What do you think ? We could perhaps copy/move this discussion about tsunami risk management to one of those other articles ? Marshelec (talk) 02:44, 22 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I will add something about the 1855 and 1877 tsunamis then, and have a think about the other stuff you mentioned. Wainuiomartian (talk) 03:23, 22 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]