Climate change, natural hazards and the Auckland Unitary Plan : too little too late?

Abstract

Natural hazards remain a substantial risk for the people of Auckland, its property and its infrastructure. With over 3100 km of coastline and extensive urbanization, Auckland remains vulnerable to hazardous coastal erosion and accretion processes. This new city, which from the first of November 2010 became a new Unitary Authority through the amalgamation of 7 Territorial Authorities and 1 Regional Council, is required by law to instigate a new Auckland Unitary Plan. The final form of this Unitary Plan, particularly the section on natural hazards, will have long-term consequences for Auckland and its ability to mitigate the effects climate change will have on these coastal erosion processes.

This paper will outline the background to the proposed Auckland Unitary Plan, analyze the public submissions in the section devoted to natural hazards, and comment on its intention (a first for a Unitary Plan in New Zealand) to include mapping of predicted coastal inundation and sea level rise across the Auckland isthmus. The writer will examine the effect the “new” policy approach to mitigating coastal hazards will have on the existing and future make up of urban settlements in low lying coastal areas. A case study will be presented.