Chapter 3 Enabling better risk-informed decisions

All New Zealanders need to be making decisions that take into account climate change – across all aspects of our lives. The impacts of climate change will affect where we want to live, how we farm, where we invest in infrastructure, how we run our businesses, where we invest our money, where we allow new development, and how we protect our properties and keep ourselves safe. These are but a few examples.

To make good decisions in the face of climate change, we need to be able to assess our climate risk, which means the extent we are exposed to, are sensitive to and are able to respond to climate hazards. We have a significant amount of information on how the climate is expected to change in Aotearoa New Zealand that can be used to assess risk. However, the way that information is collected and managed is inconsistent and it can be hard to find and use. We also need datasets that better respond to iwi, hapū and Māori needs for information.

The National Climate Change Risk Assessment 2020 highlighted that we have limited tools and guidance on how to make decisions under uncertainty that take into account change over long timeframes. The Climate Change Adaptation Technical Working Group identified that, to adapt effectively, we need to: be informed about how the climate is changing and what this means; have the appropriate tools; and take dynamic action to proactively reduce exposure and vulnerability.

In response, this plan provides key information, guidance, tools and methodologies that can help us understand and assess our risk and develop suitable adaptation strategies, policies and solutions. It is the Government’s priority to make sure all New Zealanders – Māori, councils, communities, businesses and households – have what they need to make better, risk‑informed decisions, despite the uncertainty that climate change brings.

The actions in this chapter help reduce all risks identified by the National Climate Change Risk Assessment 2020. In particular, it addresses a risk related to the governance domain (G):

• G1: Risk of maladaptation across all domains due to the application of practices, processes and tools that do not account for uncertainty and change over long timeframes.

The Government has identified a range of objectives relevant to its priority to enable risk-informed decisions. These are:

• system-wide objectives – which are about making sure all New Zealanders have access to information, tools and guidance
• objectives for three outcome areas (see chapter 8: Infrastructure, chapter 9: Communities and chapter 10: Economy and financial system)

Table 2 shows the Government’s objectives that guide this priority, across the different systems and outcome areas.

Table 2: Government objectives relating to critical actions to enable risk-informed decisions

Adaptation decisions are complex and often taken under conditions of uncertainty. In response, the Government has developed a range of initiatives that will enable New Zealanders to make decisions that will reduce their vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and build resilience in their communities, properties and businesses.

Eight critical actions will provide information, scenarios and guidance. Some actions apply to all New Zealanders while others are targeted at specific sectors and groups.

To provide robust information about climate risks, action 3.2: Design and develop risk and resilience and climate adaptation information portals will collate and deliver the vast range of data, information and knowledge needed to make adaptation decisions for all users. Action 3.1: Provide access to the latest climate projections data will make data to calculate future climate risk available to all New Zealanders, as the most up-to-date regional and local climate projections data are produced from the IPCC’s global projections data.

Action 3.3: Establish a platform for Māori on climate action will help define, measure and implement a national Māori climate strategy and action plan. It will activate kaupapa Māori, tangata Māori solutions that build climate resilience.

Action 3.4: Raise awareness of climate hazards and how to prepare will provide public education campaigns and information to help communities make emergency preparedness a part of everyday life.

Through action 3.7: Deliver a rolling programme of targeted adaptation guidance, a range of users will be provided with non-statutory guidance. This guidance will help them use decision-making tools and scenarios, assess risks and prepare adaptation plans.

Action 3.8: Develop guidance for assessing risk and impact on physical assets and the services they provide will ensure infrastructure asset owners are supported to evaluate the risks to their assets. This will reflect leading practice and international standards, and existing sector-specific Aotearoa guidance.

From 2023, about 200 of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest financial market participants will be required to analyse and publicly disclose their climate-related risks and opportunities each year under action 3.5: Support high-quality implementation of climate-related disclosures and explore expansion. This will provide information that enables redirection of funding away from high-risk investments and towards climate-resilient activities.

Action 3.6: Improve natural hazard information on Land Information Memoranda will ensure property owners can assess their exposure to natural hazards when buying a property.

The supporting actions and future work programmes in this chapter will give businesses and communities more specific information, guidance and tools to drive action (eg, see action 3.7.7: Produce guidance for preparing adaptation plans and action 3.7.3: Produce guidance for dynamic adaptive pathways planning). It provides frameworks and guidance for assessing vulnerabilities and resilience for the health and building sector (eg, see action 3.25: Design methodology for risk assessments of public buildings and action 3.28: Assess healthcare service resilience). Programmes are being implemented to develop new knowledge and understanding of climate impacts and consequences (eg, action 3.29: Produce an adaptation professional development programme for key audiences). Support is provided for specific sectors and groups, such as farming, property owners and community housing providers.

Addressing inequity

Climate change will exacerbate existing inequities and create new ones. Understanding where these vulnerabilities exist, and how they may emerge, is key to effective adaptation.

Action 3.2: Design and develop risk and resilience and climate adaptation information portals will consider how the risk and resilience and climate adaptation information portals will collect and make available data and information on social and equity risks and support the assessment of climate vulnerability. This will include the exposure and sensitivity of disproportionately affected groups such as Māori and Pacific peoples, older people and children, disabled people, isolated communities, women and low-income groups.

Action 3.8: Develop guidance for assessing risk and impact on physical assets and the services they provide will consider the needs of groups who may be disproportionally affected or who are least able to adapt. Asset owners assessing impacts on infrastructure will need to consider how emergency services differ for those whose lives will be threatened if they have no power supply.

Critical actions

Action 3.1: Provide access to the latest climate projections data

Timeframe: Years 1–2 (2022–24)
Lead agency: NIWA
Relevant portfolio: Climate Change
Primarily supports: Objective SW2
Status: Current

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) Projections Project is working to make the global climate projections from the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report (AR6 WG1) more applicable to Aotearoa. This will give New Zealanders the regional and local climate projections data they need to assess future climate risk and make adaptation decisions.

By January 2023, national climate projection datasets for Aotearoa are being produced.

Action 3.2: Design and develop risk and resilience and climate adaptation information portals

Timeframe: Years 1–6 (2022–28)
Lead agencies: Toka Tū Ake EQC; MfE
Relevant portfolios: Toka Tū Ake EQC; Climate Change
Primarily supports: Objective SW2
Status: Current

The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and Toka Tū Ake EQC (EQC) are scoping the development of the risk and resilience and climate adaptation information portals. This will give the public natural hazard risk information, and provide access to climate data and information.

The joint goal is to develop one portal that will be a national ‘self-service’ information site. It will offer a comprehensive view of Aotearoa New Zealand’s climate and natural hazard risks, at the individual community, local regional and national levels.

Separate portals are currently being scoped to meet end-user needs.

The portal(s) will address gaps in Aotearoa New Zealand’s ability to use, translate and make hazard risk data, including climate data, easily accessible. This will enable those who access the portal(s) to make risk-informed decisions and as a result improve current and long-term natural hazard risk management and climate adaptation.

The portal(s) will use information, data and modelling capability that Toka Tū Ake EQC owns or funds, and data held by others, including government agencies.

The information needs for adaptation are vast and can be relevant to all groups (eg, climate projections) and specific to different groups.

All New Zealanders must be able to understand and assess their risk and have possible options to reduce it. Information will therefore also include strategies and frameworks to help communities make risk-informed decisions and design their adaptation solutions. The Government will work with users to define information needs and test available tools and guidance.

Toka Tū Ake EQC will be delivering the first phase of the risk and resilience portal by the end of 2022.

By the end of 2023, a design scope and delivery plan for the adaptation information component, or portal, will be complete and user needs defined.

Action 3.3: Establish a platform for Māori climate action

Timeframe: Years 1–2 (2022–24)
Lead agency: MfE
Relevant portfolio: Climate Change
Primarily supports: Objective SW1
Status: Current

The platform for Māori climate action is the key mechanism through which the Government is looking to build a climate response partnership with Māori. It will build Te Tiriti partnership and greater recognition of Māori rights and interests, including Treaty settlement commitments, into the climate response.

The platform will build on three focus areas:

• embed partnership and representation – to uphold Te Tiriti principles, processes and mechanisms will be resourced and designed alongside Māori to help tangata whenua to actively participate in the climate response
• support Māori-led strategy and alignment – to elevate te ao Māori within the climate response, Māori will be supported to define, measure and implement a national Māori climate strategy and action plan
• activate kaupapa Māori, tangata Māori solutions – to enable community action, kaupapa Māori, tangata Māori actions and solutions for the climate emergency will be funded.

The platform will be set up in two phases:

• establish an interim ministerial advisory committee to:
  • support immediate strategic advice and expertise across climate response policy and work programmes that impact Māori
  • advise on a more enduring representative platform to help advance an equitable transition for Māori
• transition the platform to a more enduring form, developed with Māori, to provide a governance presence and strategic advice in emissions reduction plans and national adaptation plans over the longer term.

By the end of 2022, the Interim Ministerial Committee will be established. By 2024, phase two of the platform for Māori climate action will be developed.

Action 3.4: Raise awareness of climate hazards and how to prepare

Timeframe: Years 1–6 (2022–28)
Lead agency: NEMA
Relevant portfolio: Emergency Management
Primarily supports: Objective C1
Status: Current

Enable and work with communities, including rural communities, iwi and Māori, organisations and others to make emergency preparedness a part of everyday life through public awareness and advice. Examples are public education campaigns and resources, such as GetReady.govt.nz, and tailored information for those who face additional challenges. This will help communities to understand the hazards and support them to take action before, and during, an emergency.

By the end of March 2024, a public education strategy will be developed for natural hazards, and there will be increased availability of information on preparedness for extreme weather events.

Action 3.5: Support high-quality implementation of climate-related disclosures and explore expansion

Timeframe: Years 1–6 (2022–28)
Lead agencies: MfE and MBIE, supported by the XRB and FMA
Relevant portfolios: Climate Change; Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Primarily supports: Objective EF2
Status: Current

The Financial Sector (Climate-related Disclosures and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2021 requires about 200 of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest financial market participants to analyse and publicly disclose their climate-related risks and opportunities each year. The purpose is to ensure the effects of climate change are routinely considered in decisions for business, investment, lending and insurance. As the risks and opportunities are more accurately factored into pricing and become more transparent, we expect this will shift investment away from high-risk areas, and towards a sustainable, low-emissions and financially stable economy.

We will also explore extending the mandatory disclosures regime to cover a broader range of activities – for example, public entities at the national and local level.

Key actions to support implementation are led by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and the External Reporting Board (XRB). They include promoting industry-led, sector-level climate scenario analysis; facilitating access to climate data; and working with international organisations to support clear, comparable and consistent climate disclosures.

The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) will be responsible for independent monitoring and enforcement of the disclosures regime. The FMA will also provide guidance about compliance expectations, and reporting on monitoring activities and findings.

The Government will decide whether to extend mandatory disclosure requirements to public entities by 2024.

Action 3.6: Improve natural hazard information on Land Information Memoranda

Timeframe: Years 1–4 (2022–26)
Lead agency: DIA
Relevant portfolio: Local Government
Primarily supports: Objective C1
Status: Current

Changes to legal requirements for Land Information Memoranda (LIMs) will help people make better-informed decisions about natural hazard risk when buying a property. It will give councils greater certainty about what hazard information to include on the LIM. This will link to the suite of information and data portals that communities will have about the risks.

By end of 2023, legislative changes will likely have been made to the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 to provide for improved natural hazard disclosure in LIMs.

Action 3.7: Deliver a rolling programme of targeted adaptation guidance

Timeframe: Years 1–6 (2022–28)
Lead agency: MfE
Relevant portfolio: Climate Change
Primarily supports: Objective SW3
Status: Current/proposed

The Government will roll out a programme of non-statutory guidance for decision makers to assess and manage climate risks. This could also support regulatory requirements to be developed through the National Planning Framework.

3.7.1: Promote the use of the Aotearoa New Zealand Climate Change Projections guidance

Timeframe: Years 1–2

An update for Aotearoa that highlights changes from the 2021 AR6 IPCC.12 report. The update will enable stakeholders to quickly assess where they may need to adapt their risk management plans to account for the latest science.

3.7.2: Produce adaptation guidance for central government policy makers

Timeframe: Years 1–2

A methodology for central government to ensure it considers adaptation in new policy and services. This will avoid increased exposure or vulnerability to climate impacts.

3.7.3: Produce guidance for dynamic adaptive pathways planning (DAPP)

Timeframe: Years 1–2

A guide for central and local government on how to plan for adaptation in a context of uncertain climate futures.

3.7.4: Produce guidance on using different socio-economic scenarios for adaptation planning

Timeframe: Years 1–2

Assists central and local government and businesses to consider future socio-economic scenarios when assessing climate risks, and planning how to manage them.

3.7.5: Regularly update adaptation guidance for local government

Timeframe: Years 1–4

Supports local government to consider adaptation in planning and decisions. This will include guidance on communicating scientific and technical information to communities, and on making climate decisions.

3.7.6: Produce guidance on integrating mātauranga Māori into adaptive planning and working with mana whenua

Timeframe: Years 3–4

Helps central and local government effectively engage with hapū, iwi and Māori when managing risk and planning for adaptation.

3.7.7: Produce guidance for preparing adaptation plans

Timeframe: Years 1–4

Enables communities and different audiences, sectors and levels of government to produce their own adaptation plans, using a standard approach under conditions of uncertainty in climate projections. This could include interpreting downscaled projections.

3.7.8: Regularly update the guide to local climate change risk assessments

Timeframe: Years 5–6

Sets out a step-by-step process for local risk assessments. It will be updated on a six-yearly cycle after the release of each national climate change risk assessment. It supports local government to conduct their own assessments, to better understand the risks their regions face.

Action 3.8: Develop guidance for assessing risk and impact on physical assets and the services they provide

Timeframe: Years 2–3 (2023–24)
Lead agency: Te Waihanga
Relevant portfolio: Infrastructure
Primarily supports: Objective INF1
Status: Current

Te Waihanga will scope and deliver guidance for asset owners to evaluate risks to their physical assets and the services they provide. This will help them understand, and subsequently manage, the impacts of climate change on existing and new assets.

The guidance will be process-based, and therefore apply to all infrastructure assets, in all geographies. It may include steps to:

• identify the stresses and shocks that could affect assets over time, and their potential impact on asset operation
• determine the critical components of the asset, or resources required for operation, to prioritise impact assessment and resilience planning
• determine what impacts mean for planned emergency levels of service, and how these might affect critical customers and vulnerable communities.

The guidance will be designed to integrate into enterprise risk management systems, so climate risks become increasingly assessed alongside other natural and systemic risks. It will also purposefully reflect the obligations of lifeline utilities under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002, so climate risk and impact assessment does not become an additional administrative burden.

The methodology will consider the needs of all groups who may be disproportionally affected, or are least able to adapt, including Māori, people of lower socio-economic status, disabled people, women, older people, youth and migrant communities.

The guidance will reflect leading practice, and leverage international standards and guidance, and sector-specific Aotearoa guidance, where this exists.

By 2026, the guidance will be published.

Supporting actions

Action 3.9: Complete the Data Investment Plan project

Timeframe: Years 1–6 (2022–28)
Lead agency: Stats NZ
Relevant portfolio: Statistics
Primarily supports: Objective SW2
Status: Current

The Data Investment Plan project recently completed a stocktake of essential datasets across central government and prioritised data gaps for investment. The data gaps may be filled by acquiring new data or making existing data fit for purpose.

Action 3.10: Assess socio-economic and climate vulnerability for Māori

Timeframe: Year 1 (2022/23)
Lead agency: TPK
Relevant portfolio: Māori Development
Primarily supports: Objective C2
Status: Current

This action will collect and analyse social data against climate data to determine where support for resilience is most needed. This will enable the Government to better understand what support is needed to strengthen resilience for Māori communities.

Action 3.11: Implement the National Disaster Resilience Strategy

Timeframe: Years 1–6 (2022–28)
Lead agency: NEMA
Relevant portfolio: Emergency Management
Primarily supports: Objective SW1
Status: Current

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) will design a pathway to give effect to the National Disaster Resilience Strategy’s vision, goals and objectives. The vision is for a disaster-resilient nation that acts proactively to manage risks and to build resilience in a way that contributes to the wellbeing and prosperity of all.

Action 3.12: Improve how science, data and knowledge are used to inform emergency management

Timeframe: Years 1–6 (2022–28)
Lead agency: NEMA
Relevant portfolio: Emergency Management
Primarily supports: Objective SW2
Status: Current

The National Emergency Management Agency’s 2021 Science Strategy will be used to create a framework for scientific engagement, promotion and influence for risk reduction, readiness, response and recovery. Research, data, mātauranga Māori, local knowledge and technical expertise will inform strategic decisions on emergency management, and explore practical interventions to improve disaster resilience.

Action 3.13: Provide a forestry planning and advisory service

Timeframe: Years 1–6 (2022–28)
Lead agency: MPI
Relevant portfolio: Forestry
Primarily supports: Objective NE1
Status: Current

The forestry planning and advisory service will help to reduce climate risks by providing data-informed advice and planning tools. Advice will be on both harvest and non-harvest forestry – for example, to help decision makers consider where land is available for new forestry; where restoration, regeneration and reversion may be needed; and where unsuitable land may need to be retired from forestry, including conversion from plantation to indigenous forestry.

The advisory service will support vulnerable groups such as rural communities, producers and Māori with land management, economic development and job creation.

Action 3.14: Deliver the Integrated Farm Planning Programme

Timeframe: Years 1–3 (2022–25)
Lead agency: MPI
Relevant portfolio: Agriculture
Primarily supports: Objective NE1
Status: Current

The Integrated Farm Planning Programme will provide a framework for farmers and growers to incorporate all their key farming areas, including greenhouse gases, into their farm planning. The goal is to enable a farmer or grower, using their preferred data-collection tool, platform or system, to meet all regulatory and business needs within a single framework.

The programme funds a career pathways scheme, providing more advisors skilled in whole-of-farm planning. This includes climate change advice, and a fund for industry, catchment and similar initiatives to increase the uptake of integrated farm planning.

The programme brings together many broader work programmes, including greenhouse gas farm planning, a biodiversity planning module, upskilling for primary industry advisors, planning for adverse events and resilience, and increased data sharing in the primary sector. These programmes will underpin adaptation across the sectors. The new Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) On Farm Support services will also guide integrated farm planning, including how to use greenhouse gas calculators and other tools.

Action 3.15: Design and implement the Farm Monitoring Programme

Timeframe: Years 1–2 (2022–24)
Lead agency: MPI
Relevant portfolio: Agriculture
Primarily supports: Objective EF1
Status: Current

The Farm Monitoring Programme collects farm-level information from up to 2,000 dairy, sheep and beef, deer, arable and horticulture farms/orchards. Detailed information on physical, production, financial and environmental aspects from each farm is collected to determine how the farm is performing. Farm Environmental Plans and nutrient budgets are created for each farm.

Quality data will inform decision-making to enable improved farm management decisions and profitability, while considering compliance and regulations to assist greenhouse gas reductions. This data helps farmers adapt to climate change by determining optimal stocking rates, diversifying crop rotations, improving soil quality, reducing off-farm flows of nutrients, and implementing more efficient farm practices to improve performance.

Action 3.16: Improve consumer understanding of property insurance pricing and risks

Timeframe: Year 1 (2022/23)
Lead agency: Treasury
Relevant portfolio: Finance
Primarily supports: Objective EF2
Status: Current

Information sheets will help consumers identify, manage or even reduce their climate risks. This links to the work on Land Information Memoranda (LIMs), as greater disclosure can help people make better decisions on where to buy and build property.

Action 3.17: Support and promote the integration of climate adaptation and mitigation in new and revised standards commissioned by third parties

Timeframe: Years 2–6 (2023–28)
Lead agency: Standards NZ
Relevant portfolio: Infrastructure
Primarily supports: Objective INF3
Status: Current

At the beginning of each relevant project, Standards NZ may bring adaptation and mitigation to the attention of the committee members of a standard it has commissioned. This may help improve resilience in existing and new assets, by guiding industry practice in asset design and operation.

Action 3.18: Review electricity and gas networks’ management of climate risk and resilience

Timeframe: Years 1–6 (2022–28)
Lead agency: Commerce Commission
Relevant portfolio: Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Primarily supports: Objective INF3
Status: Current

The Commerce Commission reviews many of the aspects of regulated electricity and gas networks’ performance. The Commission is currently consulting on amending the asset management plan requirements for electricity distributors so that sector stakeholders can better understand distributors’ risk management, including managing network resilience challenges posed by climate change. From time to time, the Commission will publish reviews of aspects of regulated networks’ plans, to support them to improve their approach to managing risk and building adaptive capacity, and to provide more confidence that their related expenditure forecasts are robust.

Action 3.19: Develop Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways programme for the research, science and innovation system

Timeframe: Years 1–6 (2022–28)
Lead agency: MBIE
Relevant portfolio: Research, Science and Innovation
Primarily supports: Objective SW2
Status: Current

Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways programme for the research, science and innovation system will position the system for the future. This includes focusing resources on national goals, such as climate change, and addressing other issues facing the research system, such as how best to honour Tiriti obligations, system funding and incentives, workforce and institutional design.

Action 3.20: Continue prioritising research and investment in climate-related science

Timeframe: Years 1–6 (2022–28)
Lead agency: MBIE
Relevant portfolio: Research, Science and Innovation
Primarily supports: Objective EF1
Status: Current

The Government has a range of science funding programmes that support innovative adaptation by pushing the boundaries of knowledge and transferring this knowledge. These include:

• Vision Mātauranga Capability Fund, which aims to unlock the science and innovation potential of Māori knowledge, resources and people
• the Endeavour Fund for scientific research, run by the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). For example, in 2020 the Endeavour Fund awarded the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) $15 million over five years to produce Aotearoa New Zealand’s first consistent national flood hazard and risk assessment (Mā te Haumaru ō Nga Puna Wai ō Rākaihautū Ka Ora Mo Ake Tonu: Increasing Flood Resilience Across Aotearoa). This will identify risks and help communities and sectors take early action to reduce costs over time by showing where flooding is likely, and by identifying the vulnerability of communities and assets
• the STRAND project, an interdisciplinary Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Fund project led by the University of Otago. This is exploring climate risks to residential property values across space and time, and the implications for financial stability
• the Whakahaura Extreme Events and the Emergence of Climate Change programme is studying extreme weather in climate and weather systems, in hydrological, biological and economic systems
• Strategic Science Investment Funds. Examples include:
  • the Antarctic Science Platform, which improves scientific understanding of pressing issues such as climate change and ecosystem resilience
  • the Enhancing Land Use Platform, which supports research that enables
    New Zealanders to better measure and manage their land resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and manage the environmental impacts of land use
  • the Weather and Climate Hazards Platform, which improves understanding of large-scale weather and climate systems through numerical prediction techniques, monitoring and advanced measurement (eg, predicting extreme weather events and impacts and assessing climate adaptation and mitigation)
  • the Deep South National Science Challenge. This 10-year research programme, finishing in 2024, aims to improve understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand’s changing climate. It will aid timely decisions on adaptation by building Aotearoa’s evidence base and providing sectors and communities with insights and information. This is part of addressing gaps in our knowledge and building our monitoring capabilities. There are key inputs to decisions at all levels of society on how to adapt.

In addition, there are other climate-related science funding programmes across government, such as MPI’s Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Inventory research programmes (see action 10.6: Continue delivering the Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Inventory research programme).

Future proposed work programmes

Action 3.21: Develop mātauranga Māori indicators of climate impacts on the natural environment

Timeframe: Years 1–2 (2022–24)
Lead agency: MfE
Relevant portfolio: Environment
Primarily supports: Objective NE1
Status: Proposed

Mātauranga Māori indicators will enable monitoring and evaluation of impacts on biodiversity, mahinga kai, flora, fauna and human health. This will create data baselines that centralise indigenous knowledge and values, and can be used in environmental assessments.

Action 3.22: Work with community housing providers to enable effective climate hazard response

Timeframe: Years 2–4 (2023–26)
Lead agency: HUD
Relevant portfolio: Public Housing
Primarily supports: Objective HBP1
Status: Proposed

This will provide better data and information on the exposure of community housing providers to climate risks. An action programme will increase the resilience of community housing by supporting strategies for emergency management and long-term adaptation. In turn, this will reduce exposure of community housing tenants to climate risks. The scheme will also focus on working with Māori and Pacific providers. It will help increase resilience in ways that are culturally appropriate, and respond to the needs of Māori and Pacific recipients.

Action 3.23: Develop 3D coastal mapping

Timeframe: Years 1–6 (2022–28)
Lead agency: LINZ
Relevant portfolio: Land Information
Primarily supports: Objective SW2
Status: Proposed

Coastal mapping comprises detailed 3D mapping of the coastal zone and the upgrade and addition of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sites in the coastal zone. The purpose is to assess the impacts of sea-level rise and model the impacts of tsunami and storm surges on communities, infrastructure and biodiversity.

Action 3.24: Produce new tools and guidance specific to mātauranga Māori and mātauranga indicators

Timeframe: Years 3–4 (2024–26)
Lead agency: MfE
Relevant portfolio: Climate Change
Primarily supports: Objective SW2
Status: Proposed

These resources will be developed in partnership with hapū, iwi and Māori, to help them take action in their communities and to inform decisions. This action will provide targeted guidance on planning in uncertain conditions.

Action 3.25: Design methodology for risk assessments of public buildings

Timeframe: Years 3–4 (2024–26)
Lead agency: MBIE
Relevant portfolio: Building and Construction
Primarily supports: Objective HBP1
Status: Proposed

Developing a methodology for risk assessment based on the property resilience research (see action 5.7: Reduce and manage the impacts of climate hazards on homes and buildings), to address matters such as cultural and heritage values and seismic hazard risks, will support decision-making.

This will help owners of public buildings assess and understand climate risks and implement adaptation strategies.

Action 3.26: Produce guidance for disaster risk management for cultural heritage

Timeframe: Years 2–5 (2023–27)
Lead agency: MCH
Relevant portfolio: Culture and Heritage
Primarily supports: Objective HBP4
Status: Proposed

This action will improve disaster risk management for cultural heritage through guidance on reducing risks before, during and after disasters.

Action 3.27: Develop a framework for assessing exposure and vulnerability of taonga/cultural assets to climate change

Timeframe: Years 1–4 (2022–26)
Lead agency: MCH
Relevant portfolio: Culture and Heritage
Primarily supports: Objective HBP4
Status: Proposed

Working with partners (including iwi), the Ministry for Culture and Heritage (MCH) will identify national and local information on taonga/cultural assets, both tangible and intangible. It will identify gaps in knowledge, information needs and governance. It will develop a framework to identify valued cultural heritage and the actual and potential exposure and vulnerability of cultural heritage to climate change. The framework will take a broad and inclusive approach, recognising the ways in which different communities identify, access and participate in what is culturally important to them.

Action 3.28: Assess healthcare service resilience

Timeframe: Years 1–2 (2022–24)
Lead agency: Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand
Relevant portfolio: Health
Primarily supports: Objective C4
Status: Current

The aim of this action is to understand the healthcare service’s vulnerability to climate events, and consider physical risks to infrastructure, and changes in illness patterns and vulnerability. This will help to ensure communities can continue to access the healthcare services they need, even in the face of climate change adversity.

Action 3.29: Produce an adaptation professional development programme for key audiences

Timeframe: Years 4–5 (2025–27)
Lead agency: MfE
Relevant portfolio: Climate Change
Primarily supports: Objective SW2
Status: Proposed

This will target building capability and help circulate new tools and guidance among different audiences. It will encourage uptake and effective use by practitioners and others working on climate adaptation.