The 2016 Kaikōura earthquake caused sudden large-scale changes along the coastline. The intertidal zones were lifted up to 6 metres in some places. Marine scientists referred to the earthquake as a “sudden, overnight tipping point”, and within 4 days of the earthquake, they were on location at Kaikōura in order to survey the damage. For marine ecologist Dr Leigh Tait, these events provided an opportunity to investigate how the loss of kelp has modified the marine environment ...
