Human-made hazards
Human-made hazards are also called technological hazards. They are caused by the interaction of people with the environment and human systems. Some examples are:
- a chemical spill or fire (hazardous substances)
- an accident with a petrol tanker (petroleum hazards)
- an electricity blackout or a bridge collapse (infrastructure failure).
Chemicals, or hazardous substances, are a concern in the Wellington region. We have a major port in the Wellington harbour and concentrated industrial areas at Seaview and in the Hutt Valley where hazardous chemicals are stored.
Storage sites of these chemicals or transportation routes are considered to be a high risk if a spill or fire would harm large numbers of people or threaten a sensitive natural area.
- Infrastructure failures
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Lifelines are the essential utility systems that serve communities - water supply, transportation (road, rail, sea and air), electricity and gas supply, communication networks (telephone, television, cable and radio) and sewerage or wastewater.
- Petroleum products
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Tens of millions of litres of petroleum are stored in the Wellington region, mostly in bulk storage tanks at Seaview, Kaiwharawhara and Miramar. Over 800 million litres are transported along roads, railways and across the sea every year.
- Hazardous substances
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The use of hazardous substances is primarily governed by the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO).
- More information
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Greater Wellington has numerous hazard maps, fact sheets, reports and other publications. Some publications are available as PDF files on the website, but you can request paper copies. There may be photocopying charges for paper copies.