A new online portal giving Bay of Plenty residents access to detailed natural hazard maps has been launched, marking the region as the first in New Zealand to trial the system.

The Natural Hazards Portal, released by the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake, brings together hazard and insurance claim data to help people better understand risks affecting their homes and communities, a statement said.

The Bay of Plenty is the first region in the country to be included as part of a pilot programme, which will inform a wider national rollout over time.

The portal features maps showing potential risks such as tsunami inundation, earthquake shaking, active faults, liquefaction, and volcanic and hydrothermal activity.

It also includes historical EQCover and NHCover claims data dating back to 1997.

Natural Hazards Commission head of risk reduction Sarah-Jayne McCurrach said the tool is designed to turn complex hazard information into practical insights for everyday decision-making.

“The Natural Hazards Portal helps turn natural hazard information into practical insights for everyday decisions. It ... brings together hazard and claims information in one place and makes it easier for people to better understand the natural hazards that could affect their homes and communities,” she said.

The updated portal has been redesigned to improve usability, with faster loading times, simplified navigation, better mobile functionality, and clearer content.

However, the commission is stressing that the maps are not predictive.

“Natural hazard maps are not predictions of what could happen. Seeing a property on a hazard map does not mean an event will happen there, or that a home will necessarily be damaged,” McCurrach said.

Instead, the maps are intended to help users understand what hazards could affect a location and whether they need to seek further information.

The Bay of Plenty pilot will help shape future improvements to the portal, with plans to expand hazard mapping and add broader national datasets over time.