From Storms to Solutions: Yash Kumar's Hazard Reporting Initiative

In the wake of devastating landslides and relentless storms battering New Zealand's shores, a University of Auckland student has stepped up with a timely innovation. Yash Kumar, pursuing degrees in computer science and IT management at Waipapa Taumata Rau, has launched ReportTheHazards.com, a crowdsourced platform designed to streamline hazard reporting during extreme weather events. This student-led project not only highlights the power of higher education in addressing real-world challenges but also underscores the growing need for digital tools in campus and community safety.

New Zealand's universities, situated in seismically active and weather-vulnerable regions, have repeatedly faced disruptions from cyclones, floods, and slips. Recent events, including the January 2026 storms that caused widespread power outages and road closures, have amplified calls for better real-time information sharing. Kumar's website emerges as a proof-of-concept, bridging the gap between scattered social media reports and official channels.

Extreme Weather's Toll on New Zealand Campuses

New Zealand's higher education institutions are no strangers to nature's fury. Auckland, home to the country's largest university, lies on an active volcanic field and is prone to cyclones, flash floods, and tornadoes. The January 2026 New Zealand storms, beginning on January 15, brought severe weather to the upper North Island, peaking with heavy rain and gale-force winds that snapped power lines and isolated communities. Universities like the University of Auckland experienced campus alerts, delayed classes, and safety briefings as slips and flooding threatened access routes.

Historical data from NIWA reveals a troubling trend: extreme weather events are intensifying due to climate change, with heavy rainfall events increasing in frequency. In 2025 alone, floods and storms led to school and university closures across the North Island, disrupting thousands of students. A University of Waikato analysis highlights four key lessons from recent summers of disasters, including the need for better predictive modeling and community preparedness—areas where student innovations like Kumar's can contribute.

• Improved real-time data collection to inform travel and evacuation decisions.
• Integration of local knowledge with scientific forecasts.
• Enhanced communication between universities, councils, and emergency services.
• Investment in resilient infrastructure on campuses.

These disruptions extend beyond physical access, affecting mental health, research continuity, and academic performance in New Zealand's tertiary sector.

Meet the Innovator: Yash Kumar's Journey at University of Auckland

🌦️ Yash Kumar's story is a testament to how New Zealand universities nurture problem-solvers. As a computer science and IT management student, Kumar was inspired by the chaos of the 2025 floods, the tragic January 2026 Mount Maunganui landslide that claimed six lives, and a recent nationwide storm causing slips, flooding, and outages. Frustrated by fragmented information—scattered across Facebook groups, council pages, and news alerts—he channeled his coursework into action.

"The website is a one-stop crowdsourced repository for reporting landslips, floods, storms, and weather events," Kumar explains. His project stems directly from the Business School's BUSAN 300: Data Wrangling and Big Data course, taught by lecturer Shohil Kishore, where he honed skills in AI applications and big data analytics.

Kishore praises Kumar as a top student and class representative: "His studies gave him the skills to create this website, which is great to see." This alignment between curriculum and community needs exemplifies the University of Auckland's commitment to practical, impactful learning.

Unpacking ReportTheHazards.com: A Step-by-Step Guide

The platform, accessible at ReportTheHazards.com, is refreshingly simple yet powerful. Users encounter an intuitive interface with:

1. A straightforward reporting form where hazards like potholes, landslides, earthquakes, flooding, downed trees, damaged roads, and slips can be logged with location, description, and optional photos.
2. An interactive map displaying reports in real-time, allowing users to zoom into affected areas nationwide.
3. Clear disclaimers: It's unmoderated, a test site, and not for emergencies—call 111 or use official channels for serious issues.

Step-by-step process:

1. Visit the site and select 'Report Hazard'.
2. Pin your location on the map or enter manually.
3. Choose hazard type and add details.
4. Submit—report appears instantly for public view.

Kumar envisions councils or government agencies adopting and moderating it for broader use, potentially integrating AI for verification.

Photo by Gunnar Ridderström on Unsplash

University of Auckland's Innovation Ecosystem

The University of Auckland fosters student entrepreneurship through programs like Future17, which tackles UN Sustainable Development Goals, and climate-focused research in resilience and sustainability. Initiatives such as the 'SimCity' resilience planning tool demonstrate how the institution prepares students for climate challenges. For aspiring IT innovators like Kumar, resources include business analytics courses and partnerships emphasizing real-world applications.

Explore career advice for tech roles in higher ed or higher ed jobs in New Zealand to see similar opportunities.

Expert Insights from NZ Higher Education Leaders

Shohil Kishore sees immense potential: "Grassroots, community-driven reporting has advantages... An app with real-time notifications would be next." Dr. Lauren Vinnell, Senior Lecturer at Massey University's Joint Centre for Disaster Research, calls it a "good prototype" but cautions on risks like reporter safety, competition with GeoNet, and false assurances from empty maps. She draws from studies on the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, advocating low-risk uses like potholes while linking to officials.

Vinnell's research on disaster behavior informs her balanced view, emphasizing education on reporting protocols.

Challenges in Crowdsourced Systems and Solutions

• Unmoderated Content: Risk of misinformation; solution: AI moderation and council oversight.
• Connectivity Issues: During crises, internet fails; hybrid app-SMS integration.
• Adoption: Building trust; partnerships with universities and GeoNet.
• Privacy: Anonymized reports with opt-in verification.

NIWA's extreme weather research supports such tools, predicting more intense events ahead.

Enhancing Campus Safety in NZ Universities

Universities like Otago and Waikato have faced wind gusts lifting students and roof damage. UoA's hazard protocols could integrate Kumar's map for proactive alerts. A Waikato-led study on tertiary education climate scenarios to 2100 stresses adaptation in teaching and infrastructure.

Stakeholders: Students gain safer commutes; staff better research continuity; admins cost savings on disruptions.

Photo by Maja Guseva on Unsplash

Future Outlook: Student-Led Climate Resilience in Higher Ed

New Zealand's eight universities are ramping up climate strategies, from UoA's net-zero goals to Massey's disaster research. Student projects like this pave the way for scalable solutions. With government pushing national adaptation plans, higher ed can lead via innovation hubs and cross-institutional collaborations.

Actionable insights: Universities should embed hazard tech in safety apps; students pursue data courses for impact.

Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators

Kumar's success spotlights pathways in NZ higher ed. Interested in IT management or computer science? Check university jobs or research assistant roles. Rate your professors at Rate My Professor and gear up with higher ed career advice.

This hazard reporting website exemplifies how uni students turn challenges into opportunities, fortifying New Zealand's resilience.