Weather & geology, or a combination of the two

Fun times in various parts of the North Island at the moment:

Flooding in the Gisborne area isloating some towns - http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2552153/Rising-rivers-threaten-East-Coast-residents

Heavy seas are eating the coastline in Hawkes Bay - http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2550571/Running-out-of-road


and the weather and an earthquake swarm (I actually felt one of them while I was in Dannevirke over the weekend!) have conspired to cause the evacuation of the town of Waihi, and a Declaration of a State of Emergency in the area, as saturated ground and frequent shaking have raised the threat of a landslide to dangerous levels. Someone described the geology of the area as an upside-down bowl of porridge, give it a good shake and it collapses with a soggy blurp - http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2550848/Waihi-landslide-fears-prompt-Lake-Taupo-no-go-zone