Friends of WeatherWatch — New Zealand is no stranger to the severe side of Mother Nature and since we started back in 2005 we have always had a focus beyond weather. We are often the first to provide reporting on big quakes, tsunami and ash clouds.  The accurate reporting and coverage we have placed on natural disasters has contributed towards CNN making WeatherWatch an affiliate earlier this year.

But here in New Zealand we deal directly with Sara Page from GeoNet on local events.  Whether it’s a volcano erupting, the ground moving, or an easy to understand explanation of our fault lines or perhaps a recent quake – Sara Page makes sense of it all for all New Zealanders to understand.

Sara has her own blog and is very active on Twitter as @007Gal and of course @GeoNet

We sat down with Sara and asked her 10 questions related mostly to the world of weather.

Next Week:  Bill Ralston, NZ Listener.

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1)  Where did you grow up and what are your strongest weather memories from back then?

I grew up in the Wairarapa, (actually started off in Eketahuna, world famous now!) I remember wonderful long hot summers from my childhood.   

 

2) You have an exciting job at GeoNet where you travel to some very remote parts of New Zealand. What are some of your favourite remote locations – and what’s the weather usually like in these areas?

I do like to visit our more remote equipment sites, the ones you need to travel in a helicopter to get to. The Southern Alps are amazing, its been cool and snowy when i’ve been there.  

 

3) Using exactly 10 words, describe Wellington’s weather: 

Yep its Windy again, but we do get sunshine too!

 

4) In NZ, some people connect weather with earthquakes – what do the GeoNet experts say about earthquakes and any connection with the weather?  

Although lots of people do think this, earthquakes begin many kilometres under the ground and no correlation between the weather and quakes has been found. 

5) Have you ever been in a flood?

No 

6) Knowing what you know about earthquakes – are you ever nervous living in Wellington?  

Oh yes! Though i live far up the Hutt valley, so that kind of helps … 

 

7) It’s a wet Saturday in winter – do you A) Take the dog for a walk and both get soaked, or B) Stay inside where it’s warm and dry and watch DVDs?

My dog will give me ‘the look’ if i do option B. So i have to do A first, then lots of DVDs! 

 

8) We know you love to travel to the tropical islands for a holiday – does that mean you’re a big fan of heat and humidity?  

Oh yes, Rarotonga is my favourite place to visit!  Hot temperatures and hot oceans make me very happy!

 

9) Describe your worst weather forecast:

A ‘high’ that’s under 10 degrees, strong Southerly winds and rain (so your typical winters day in Wellington!  Although Northerlies do seem to make people cranky, is that a myth?).

 

10) What region in New Zealand do you think has the best climate – and why?   

I always think of the Nelson / Golden Bay area as having really nice climate, it probably because I visit there more often than the far north. 

– WeatherWatch.co.nz