Sea floor rise threatens Whale Watch business

The head of Kaikoura Whale Watch says major work will be needed to get its boats back on the water after Monday’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake..

Kauahi Ngapora says the first instingct after the quakes has been to make sure whanau, staff and manuhiri are safe, but this end of the week the town is starting to look at its long term prospects.

As well as fixing roads, sewage, water and power, the marina is unusable outside of high tide because the sea floor lifted.

It will need to be dredged or possibly replaced, and then it’s a matter of finding out how the quakes affected the town’s meal ticket, the whales that gather in the rich waters offshore to feed.

"Some earthquakes do rattle the whales. After the earthquakes in Christchurch they moved away for a couple of days, but the earthquakes in Seddon didn’t really affect them. This earthquake lifted the land so we are not sure what things are like out there but the key for us is to get back out there and see if we can find our tohora," Mr Ngapora says.

Follow us on &
 

Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com

RELATED NEWS

Press Release Te Kōhanga National Trust Board Election Results 2021 Te Arawa saxophonist silenced as Minarapa Mitai-Ngātai mourned Haka dance threatre set for Otautahi