LANDSLIDE RISK AND GEO-EDUCATION (LaRGE)
Join us for an international workshop to learn, share, and discuss the management, communication and education of landslide risk.
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NAU MAI, HAERE MAI – WELCOME!
The New Zealand Geotechnical Society is delighted to invite you to the First International Joint Workshop of Joint Technical Committee 1 and Joint Technical Committee 3 on Landslide Risk Assessment, Communication and Geo-education. We will share the latest research and develop best practice guidelines in the stunning New Zealand city of Queenstown.
Since 1760 there have been at least 1,500 deaths from landslides in New Zealand, making them one of New Zealand’s most significant natural hazards. More fatalities have occurred from landslides than from earthquakes, volcanic activity and tsunami combined over the last 160 years. Queenstown is particularly vulnerable, making it an ideal venue for a conference about landslides. More than 50% of the land around the town is mapped as known landslides, with the underlying quartzofeldspathic schist very susceptible to deep seated failures. The largest, Queenstown Hill Landslide, has an estimated volume of 240M m³.
Our theme “Landslide Risk and Geo-Education” unifies the full lifecycle of landslide risk management. It encompasses the needs to educate the next generation of landslide risk managers, to robustly understand landslide risk, and to communicate that risk to the public and decision makers so that real change is implemented.
This landmark international event unites JTC1 and JTC3 to advance landslide risk assessment, education, communication, and outreach – creating a unique opportunity for diverse impacts, and will be attended by leading experts from around the world.
STRUCTURE
The workshop is structured around specific projects through interactive workshop sessions. We will go beyond disseminating knowledge: we will generate new ideas, develop ongoing projects, and create tangible outputs including guidelines and research direction.
LaRGE2026 will also deliver great training courses, keynote speeches, presentations, poster sessions, and field trips. The training courses will span landslide risk assessment, emergency response, science communication, and landslide geoeducation. We will be encouraging delegates to take part in our parallel science communication training, and to create their own simple-language summary of their work on video. The development and sharing of knowledge within this workshop conference will occur through several different formats, with something on offer for everyone.
The interactive workshops will be a great opportunity to influence real world outputs which will be used within academia and industry long after the conclusion of this session.
For those who wish to present their own research, abstract submissions will be open soon and successful candidates will be notified of either a poster, video or presentation opportunity. There is no need to submit an abstract to attend the workshops or training sessions; your interest in these events can be indicated at registration.
PROGRAMME
Monday
NZ Public Holiday
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance that commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations, and the contribution and suffering of all those who have served. We will pay our respects in the morning and use the afternoon as a reserve day with potential additional activities such as training, workshops and field trips.
Tuesday
Field trips & exercises
We have designed three three field trips carefully aligned with the objectives of the workshops which will provide great value for delegates. With opportunities to see how landslide risk has been assessed and managed for major infrastructure, to how it's being communicated and controlled through community awareness, these cover the full range of landslide risk management and will be integrated as case studies into the core workshops. For more details see the field trips page.
Wednesday
Training
Learn from industry experts in the field of landslide risk management. For more details see our training page.
Thursday
Susceptibility, Data & Risk
Presentations on landslide inventory, susceptibility and risk assessment best practice. Workshops on landslide data management.
Friday
Risk to Policy
Presentations on managing and mitigating landslide risk. Workshops on landslide risk assessment guidelines and practice.
Saturday
Outreach & Education
Presentations and discussions on communication of risk to stakeholders, education of public and policy-makers, and professional development for geoprofessionals and academics.
Sunday
Additional Field Trips & Excercises
To be confirmed, we may also add an informal wine-tasting landslide focused trip, and a one or two-day optional exercise to develop:
- Fieldwork material for post-graduate, undergrad and secondary school students
- Professional education modules (e.g., landslide training information for emergency managers)
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for up-to-date announcements
Early Bird Deadline:
TBC
LaRGE 2026 Conference will be in
Queenstown New Zealand
Key Dates
- Sponsorships open:
CLICK HERE for more info - Abstracts open:
CLICK HERE to submit - Abstracts close:
01 August 2025
- Abstract acceptance:
Mid-August 2025 - Registrations open:
August 2025 - Draft paper submissions close:
15 October 2025
CORE WORKSHOP ELEMENTS
FIELD TRIPS
Please click the button to find information on the field trips.
WORKSHOPS
Please click the button to find information on the workshops.
TRAINING
Please click on the button to find information on the training options.
EXPERT SPEAKERS
Please click on the button to find information on our fantastic international and local speakers.
CONFERENCE SUSTAINABILITY
New Zealand, Queenstown, and the New Zealand Geotechnical Society are committed to creating a better future for our communities, environment and economy.
Queenstown Lakes' Destination Management Plan, Travel to a Thriving Future, is our roadmap to achieving a regenerative tourism and a carbon zero visitor economy by 2030. It will ensure that our district remains a special place for future generations, and a place we can continue to be proud to share with visitors for years to come.
This conference will be fully aligned with these goals, and further information will soon be made available on the specific actions we'll be taking to reduce the environmental impact of our activities.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR NEW ZEALAND
In early 2023 a series of severe weather events triggered over 150,000 landslides in the North Island of New Zealand, causing 11 deaths and over NZ$14 billion of direct costs, and triggering a national state of emergency for only the third time in New Zealand’s history.
New Zealanders were already aware of the importance of landslides hazards; they are a common experience, and in November 2016 a magnitude 7.8 earthquake triggered tens of thousands of landslides in the South Island of New Zealand, causing years of disruption to infrastructure and several hundred landslide dams which posed a significant hazard to people.