Our Team

Professor of Volcanology, Victoria University of Wellington, colin.wilson@vuw.ac.nz

Research interests: With >35 years of research in rhyolitic/caldera supervolcano volcanism Prof Wilson is a world leading expert on explosive volcanism and interactions of magmatic and tectonic processes

Volcanologist and Hazard Scientist, GNS Science, g.leonard@gns.cri.nz 

Research interests: Graham is a Senior Scientist within the Volcanology Team. His particular research interests are in Taupō Volcanic Zone volcanic mapping; New Zealand volcanic geology, stratigraphy and geochronology; developing effective response to warning systems, especially for volcanic, tsunami & landslide/debris-flow processes; and quantifying/characterising & mitigating the impacts of natural hazard events.

Associate Professor in Physical Volcanology, Massey University, g.lube@massey.ac.nz 

Research interests: Gert leads the research group Physical Volcanology and Environmental Fluid Mechanics and the large-scale eruption simulator facility PELE at Massey University. Gert’s research interests are in explosive volcanism, physics and sedimentology of natural granular-fluid flows, volcano stratigraphy and natural hazard science. Current research foci include the dynamics and impacts of pyroclastic currents and other types of geophysical mass flows, volcanic plumes and gas-particle transport in highly turbulent systems.

Research Seismologist, GNS Science, s.bannister@gns.cri.nz 

Research interests:  Earthquake seismology, defining crustal properties using seismic waves, with a focus on imaging the deep heat and fluid sources in the Taupō Volcanic Zone.

Team Lead - Waikato Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group, mark.bang@waikatoregion.govt.nz 

Volcanologist & Geochemist, Victoria University of Wellington,  simon.barker@vuw.ac.nz 

Research interests: Volcanology, geochemistry and petrology, and the development of novel techniques to study magmatic systems and the timing and impact of large explosive volcanic eruptions on the environment, climate, and humans. I use field volcanology combined with forensic geochemistry to investigate how magmas are generated and stored in the Earth's crust, the processes that trigger volcanic eruptions and their associated timescales, and the impacts of past eruptions on Earth's climate and landscape.

Professor in Geostatistics, Massey University, m.bebbington@massey.ac.nz 

Research interests: My research is focussed on estimation of hazard from volcanoes and earthquakes, with interests in related problems from survival analysis and process control.

Geochemist, Victoria University of Wellington,  bruce.charlier@vuw.ac.nz

Research interests: Trace element and isotope geochemistry

Hazard Communications Specialist, University of Auckland, danielle.charlton@auckland.ac.nz 

Research interests:  Natural hazard research, investigating how best we can produce effective and useful maps. Conveying complex hazard messages to varying audiences. Combining knowledge of science with a grasp of great design, graphics and maps. Helping different audiences better understand scientific information using multiple media channels.

Hazard Communications Specialist, GNS Science & University of Auckland, m.clive@gns.cri.nz 

Research interests: My research interests span across natural hazard and risk communication, volcanic hazard and risk assessment, and transdisciplinary approaches to hazard, risk, and resilience research

Geodynamic modeller, GNS Science, S.Ellis@gns.cri.nz 

Research interests: Geodynamic and finite element modelling

Senior Volcano Geophysicist, Head of Volcanology, GNS Science, N.Fournier@gns.cri.nz 

Research interests: Volcano geodesy and monitoring

InSAR Scientist, GNS Science, i.hamling@gns.cri.nz 

Research interests: Crustal deformation and neotectonics, Earthquake analysis, Geodetic data analysis, Geodynamics, Modelling, Remote sensing, Volcano Geodesy, Volcano Geophysics

Volcanic Risk Scientist, GNS Science, j.hayes@gns.cri.nz 

Research interests: Disaster risk reduction and resilience

Postdoc in Geophysics, Victoria University of Wellington, finnigan.illsleykemp@vuw.ac.nz 

Research interests: My research uses earthquake seismology to better understand the interaction between magmatic and tectonic processes in extensional settings. I currently aim to combine geophysical, geological and geochemical observations in order to constrain how rifting influences volcanism in the Taupō Volcanic Zone.

Director/Professor of Disaster Management, Joint Centre of Disaster Control, Massey University, and Senior Scientist at GNS Science, d.m.johnston@massey.ac.nz  

Research interests: My research has developed as part of multi-disciplinary theoretical and applied research programme, involving the collaboration of physical and social scientists from several organisations and countries.  This research focuses on human responses to volcano, tsunami, earthquake and weather warnings, crisis decision-making and the role of public education and participation in building community resilience and recovery.

Maori Social Scientist, GNS Science, l.kaiser@gns.cri.nz 

Research interests: Indigenous disaster research

Physical Volcanologist, University of Canterbury ben.kennedy@canterbury.ac.nz 

Research interests: My research and teaching are driven by a love of volcanoes, and fuelled by experiments and projects that are fun, exciting, and important to society

Emergency Management Coordinator - Community Resilience, Waikato Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group drew.mehrtens@waikatoregion.govt.nz 

Research interests: The role of purakau (story) in public education, the role of marketing in emergency management, the use of visual, oral, aural and written language in effective emergency communication.

Structural Geologist, University of Auckland, j.muirhead@auckland.ac.nz 

Research interests: Interactions between tectonic and magmatic processes. My work combines classical field geology, remote sensing, gas geochemistry and seismic reflection methods to understand local and regional-scale deformation processes at tectonic-magmatic systems. Recent and ongoing studies focus on active continental rifting in East Africa, magma emplacement in large igneous provinces, and understanding the structure of monogenetic volcanic fields. Mainly, I enjoy working in any geological setting that contains a fault, fracture, dike or volcano – preferably all of the above.

Associate Professor, Massey University, J.N.Procter@massey.ac.nz 

Research interests: Identifying and characterising volcanic mass flows. I integrate various geological and geomorphological field and laboratory methods with remote sensing and GIS to analyse and interpret flow transport and emplacement mechanisms, as well as the potential future hazards from volcanic mass-flow events. I have also studied Matauranga Maori in relation to volcanoes, landscape evolution and environmental management

Research Programme Coordinator, Victoria University of Wellington, melissa.rotella@vuw.ac.nz 

Research interests: Physical volcanology, geochemistry, research management

Structural Geologist, University of Auckland, j.rowland@auckland.ac.nz 

Research interests: bringing a structural geologist's perspective to understanding how hot fluids, such as molten rock, move through the crust

Seismologist, Victoria University of Wellington,  martha.savage@vuw.ac.nz 

Research interests: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Earth structure, Plate Tectonics

Volcano Information Specialist, GNS Science,  B.Scott@gns.cri.nz

Research interests: 

Earthquake Hazard Assessment, Geothermal, Hazard Assessment, Tectonics, Volcano surveillance, Volcanology

Research Leader - Ngāti Tūwharetoa,  bubs@hekainga.co.nz 

Earthquake Geologist and Tectonic Geomorphologist, University of Canterbury, timothy.stahl@canterbury.ac.nz

Research interests: How faults deform the Earth and lead to the uplift of mountains, as well as all the surface processes that occur in the million year interim. My research spans the spatial scale of centimeter-scale displacement of faults in trenches, to several kilometers of accumulated mountain topography across active plate boundaries. Likewise, I am interested in processes that occur over the timescale of a single earthquake to many millions of years. My work involves a broad range of survey, mapping, geochronology, and modelling techniques to quantify rates and styles of faulting.

Iwi Consultant, kelvinretimanatapuke@hotmail.com 

Research interests: Māori and Indigenous Leadership, Kaupapa Māori, Matauranga Māori, Revitalisation of Māori traditional knowledge and practices, Education leadership and curriculum development (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Māori Immersion, Mainstream), Treaty claims, History of Pioneer Battalion, 28th Māori Battalion, Vietnam Veterans.

Research Leader - Iwi, sylviakelvin@hotmail.com 

Research interests: Kaupapa Maori, Matauranga Maori, grassroots and community, geography, earth science, indigenous, curriculum development, formal and informal education, Western Science-Traditional Knowledge interface, GIS, literacy, teacher training

Science Education, Teacher Education & Environmental Education, University of Canterbury, sara.tolbert@canterbury.ac.nz 

Research interests: Science and education as essential parts of a collective effort toward a just, caring, & sustainable world. My research is focused on broadening participation in the sciences, technology, and engineering as well as supporting youth and teachers to engage justice and sustainability issues in science teaching and learning. 

Earthquake Geologist, GNS Science, P.Villamor@gns.cri.nz 

Research Interests: Earthquake Geology and Paleoseismology in active volcanic areas

Disaster Risk and Resilience, University of Canterbury, thomas.wilson@canterbury.ac.nz 

Research interests: Natural hazard and risk assessment, with special interest in volcanic eruptions. Impacts of natural hazards to critical infrastructure and primary industries - including development of innovative methods to analysis vulnerability to volcanic ash fall. Community resilience to natural hazards. Evacuation and loss modelling using geospatial platforms (GIS)