People in the Project: Matt Parker
Role in Ngā Ngaru Wakapuke
Matt is a PhD student at the School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury.
Within Ngā Ngaru Wakapuke, his research is focused on understanding the paleoseismology and earthquake behaviour of active faults near the Hope–Alpine fault intersection zone, in the southern part of the transition zone. Specifically, he is investigating the source of the MW 7.0 1929 Arthur’s Pass earthquake, better constraining the incremental slip rate of the Kakapo Fault and how changing fault geometries in this area affect simulated earthquakes.
Outside of research, he enjoys trail running and tramping in the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana
Research background
Matt gained an MSc in Geology from the University of Canterbury which used the provenance of sediment eroded from rising mountain ranges to reconstruct long term landscape changes and helped to constrain the development of the Australian–Pacific plate boundary in North Canterbury.
Following this, he was part of the Pūhiko Nukutū research programme which is currently investigating storing green hydrogen in depleted gas fields in Taranaki. He developed 3D geological models of these fields to be used for simulations of hydrogen injection/withdrawal. Alongside this, Matt has been involved with mapping and characterising previously unknown active faults in Taranaki.
Current research
Matt is mapping tectonic and gravitational fault scarps between Arthur’s Pass and Hanmer Springs using freshly released lidar. The role of strong earthquake shaking in the formation/reactivation of gravitational fault scarps unclear, but there appears to be a high density near the 1929 Arthur’s Pass earthquake modelled epicentre. He is also preparing for a field campaign early next year to Arthur’s Pass National Park where he plans to extract short sediment cores from ridge-top tarns adjacent to fault scarps to constrain the timing of their formation and see if they could provide an alternative record of ground-shaking.
Publications
Liu J, Dempsey D, Nicol A, Parker M, Passmore J. 2025. Impact of operational parameters on water invasion in underground hydrogen storage: A numerical investigation of the Ahuroa field, New Zealand. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 153.
Higgs KE, Strogen D, Nicol A, Dempsey D, Leith K, Bassett KN, Reid CM, Yates E, Parker MO, Bischoff A et al. 2024. Prospectivity analysis for underground hydrogen storage, Taranaki Basin, Aotearoa New Zealand: A multi-criteria decision-making approach. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 71:1468-1485.