Tsunami are a fascinating but potentially devastating natural phenomena that have occurred regularly throughout history along New Zealand's shorelines, and around the world. With increasing population and the construction of infrastructure in coastal zones, the effect of these large waves has become a major concern. Many natural phenomena are capable of creating tsunami. Of particular concern is the underwater landslide-induced tsunami, due to the potentially short warning before waves reach the shore. The aims of this research are to generate a quality benchmark dataset suitable for comprehensive comparisons with numerical model results and to increase our understanding of the physical processes involved in tsunami generation. The two-dimensional experimental configuration is based on a benchmark configuration described in the scientific literature, consisting of a semi-elliptical prism sliding down a submerged 15° slope. A unique feature of these experiments is the method developed to measure water surface variation continuously in both space and time. Water levels are obtained using an optical technique based on laser induced fluorescence, which is shown to be comparable in accuracy and resolution to traditional electrical point wave gauges. In the experiments, the landslide density and initial submergence are varied and detailed measurements of wave heights, lengths, propagation speeds, and shore run-up are made. Particle tracking velocimetry is used to record the landslide kinematics and sub-surface water velocities. Particular attention is paid to maintaining a high level of test repeatability throughout the experimental process. The experimental results show that a region of high pressure ahead of the landslide forces up the water over the front half of the landslide to form the leading wave crest, which propagates ahead of the landslide. The accelerating fluid above, and the turbulent wake behind, the moving landslide create a region of low pressure, which draws down the water surface above the rear half of the landslide to form the leading trough. Differences in the phase and group velocities of the components in the wave packet cause waves to be continually generated on the trailing end of the wave train. The downstream position that these waves form continually moves downstream with time and the wave packet is found to be highly dispersive. The interaction of the landslide pressure field with the free surface wave pressure field is important, as the location of the low pressure around the landslide relative to the wave field acts to reinforce or suppress the waves above. This has a substantial effect on the increase or decrease in wave potential energy. When the low pressure acts to draw down a wave trough, the wave potential energy increases. When the low pressure is below a wave crest, it acts to suppress the crest amplitude, leading to an overall decrease in wave potential energy. Measurements of the efficiency of energy transfer from the landslide to the wave field show that the ratio of maximum wave potential energy to maximum landslide kinetic energy is between 0.028 and 0.138, and tends to increase for shallower initial landslide submergences and heavier specific gravities. The ratio of maximum wave potential energy to maximum landslide potential energy ranges between 0.011 and 0.059 and tends to be greater for shallower initial submergences. For two experimental configurations the ratio of maximum wave potential energy to maximum fluid kinetic energy is estimated to be 0.435 and 0.588. The wave trough initially generated above the rear end of the landslide propagates in both onshore and offshore directions. The onshore-propagating trough causes a large initial draw-down at the shore. The magnitude of the maximum draw-down is related to the maximum amplitude of the offshore-propagating first wave trough. A wave crest generated by the landslide as it decelerates at the bottom of the slope causes the maximum wave run-up observed at the shore. A semi-analytical model, based on inviscid and irrotational theory, is used to investigate the wave generation process of a moving submerged object in a constant depth channel. The simplified geometry allows a variety of phenomena, observed during the experimental tests, to be investigated further in a more controlled setting. The variations in the growth, magnitude, and decay of energy as a function of time is due the interaction of the pressure distribution surrounding the moving slider with the wave field, in particular, the leading crest and trough. The largest energy transfer between slider kinetic energy and wave potential energy occurs when there is prolonged interaction between the slider's low pressure region and the leading wave trough. The generation of onshore propagating waves by a decelerating landslide is confirmed, and the magnitude of the maximum wave run-up is found to be dependent on the magnitude of the slider deceleration. The model also shows that slides with Froude number close to unity convert substantial amounts of energy into offshore propagating waves. The onshore propagating wave potential energy is not as sensitive to Froude number. A further result from the model simulations is that the specific shape of the slider has only a minor influence on the wave response, provided the slider's length and area are known. A boundary element model, based on inviscid and irrotational theory, is used to simulate the laboratory experiments. Model predictions of the wave field are generally accurate, particularly the magnitude and range of wave amplitudes within the wave packet, the arrival time of the wave group, the amplitude of the run-up and run-down at the shore, the time the maximum run-down occurs, and the form and magnitude of the wave potential energy time history. The ratios of maximum wave potential energy to maximum slider kinetic energy are predicted to within ± 29%. The model predictions of the crest arrival times are within 3.6% of the measured times. The inability of the inviscid and irrotational model to simulate the flow separation and wake motions lead to a 45% under prediction of the maximum fluid kinetic energy. Both the semi-analytical and BEM models highlight the need for the correct specification of initial slider accelerations in numerical simulations in order to accurately predict the wave energy.