Team

Since 2006, over 50 scientists from research institutes and universities across New Zealand have contributed to the success of IT’S OUR FAULT.

Meet the Team

Nicola Litchfield

Nicola Litchfield

Senior Paleoseismologist
BSc, Geology; MSc(Hons) (1st class honours), Geology; PhD, Geology

Nicola is a Principal Scientist at GNS Science with over 30 years of experience in earthquake geology and tectonic geomorphology. She has worked in the It’s Our Fault programme periodically since it started in 2006 and has been the science leader since 2021. Nicola's research includes studying raised beaches to understand past and future Hikurangi subduction zone earthquakes, and mapping and characterising active faults for land-use planning purposes and seismic hazard.

Edith Bretherton

Edith Bretherton

Natural Hazards Planner
BBS; GradDipArts; BSc, Physical Geography and Earth Science; MSc, Physical Geography

Edith is a Natural Hazard Planner at GNS Science with a background in local government policy development and resource management consenting. She is an accredited RMA Independent Commissioner. Based on the West Coast, she has a passion for physical geography and natural hazards. She also brings experience in civil defence response. Her work at GNS Science is focused on facilitating science to land use planning practice. This aim is to improve planning practice for the management of natural hazards to reduce risk and support the resilience of our communities.

Kate Clark

Kate Clark

Paleoecologist/Earthquake Geologist
BSc, Earth Science/geography; MSc, Earth Science; PhD, Geology

Sheng-Lin Lin

Sheng-Lin Lin

Risk Engineering Team Leader
MSc, Structural Engineering; PhD, Structural Engineering; BSc, Civil Engineering

Hinemoa Kātene

Hinemoa Kātene

Senior Research Fellow & Principal Advisor

Hinemoa has expertise in emergency management, Māori and indigenous leadership, Kaupapa Māori, and Matauranga Māori. From 2000-2024 she was the Wellington Regional Emergency Management Office Kai Pāhekoheko Māori/Senior Māori Integration Officer.

Brendon Bradley

Brendon Bradley

Professor of Earthquake Engineering
BE, PhD, Earthquake Engineering

Brendon is a Professor of Earthquake Engineering at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand; and the Director of QuakeCoRE: The NZ Centre for Earthquake Resilience. His areas of activity include engineering seismology, strong ground motion prediction, seismic response analysis of structural and geotechnical systems, and seismic performance and loss estimation methods.

Prof. David Johnston

Prof. David Johnston

Director/Professor of Disaster Management
BSc, MSc, PhD

Prof. David Johnston is the Director of the Joint Centre for Disaster Research at Massey University, and the former Chair of the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk Scientific Committee (IRDR), a programme co-sponsored by the International Science Council (ISC) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). Currently he is also the Deputy Director of the multi-institutional QuakeCoRE research programme His expertise is in social responses to pandemics, human responses to natural hazard disasters, crisis decision-making, and the role of public education and participation in building community resilience and recovery.

Kelvin Tapuke

Kelvin Tapuke

Senior Research Officer

(Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngai Tai, Ngai Tai ki Tamaki, Ngati Porou, Te Whanaua- Apanui, Te Aitanga ā- Mahaki, Ngai Tūhoe, Te Whakatōhea, Ngai Tahu, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngati Raukawa, Toa Rangatira) is a senior research officer at the Joint Centre for Disaster Research at Massey University. Kelvin brings his educational background to the team, having worked on Māori Medium, Māori and Indigenous Leadership, Kaupapa Māori, Mātauranga Māori, Revitalisation of Māori traditional knowledge and practices, Education leadership and curriculum development (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Māori Immersion, Mainstream). He is currently the lead researcher in two MBIE Endeavour projects examining the impacts of disasters on Māori communities.

Andrea Wolter

Andrea Wolter

Remote Infrastructure Specialist

Andrea is an engineering geologist with more than 10 years of experience in slope stability, geomorphology, geology, rock and soil mechanics, and emergency responses. She came from Canada to Aotearoa four years ago and is passionate about supporting communities with science, as part of the complete picture on issues they face.