Climate adaption planning

In 2022 the Government implemented its first National Adaptation Plan (NAP) which seeks to put in place measures for New Zealand to adapt to the impacts of climate change and address the risks identified in the National Climate Change Risk Assessment (NCCRA).

National Adaption Plan

How 3DCM supports climate adaptation

3DCM contributes to 4 key focus areas in the National Adaptation Plan.

  1. Better risk-informed decisions.
    • Improves awareness of climate hazards.
    • Enhances hazard data in property reports (e.g. LIMs).
    • Supports smarter planning and building decisions.
  2. Climate-resilient development.
    • Helps identify safe locations for future development.
    • Reduces exposure to climate risks.
  3. Adaptation options (for example managed retreat).
    • Provides accurate data for assessing long-term risks.
    • Supports planning for relocation or protection of assets.
  4. Embedding climate resilience across government.
    • Enables consistent national and regional risk assessments.
    • Supports climate, biodiversity, and environmental outcomes.

Role of 3DCM in climate legislation

3DCM provides essential baseline data on sea level and seabed topography. This supports risk assessments and adaptation planning under the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019.

Impact of sea-level rise

Sea-level monitoring and data

Tide gauges have recorded sea levels around New Zealand since the late 1800s. New Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensors at tide gauge sites now track land movement, helping measure true sea-level rise. 

This data supports decisions on flood protection, managed retreat, and safe development locations.

Rising risk from sea-level rise

Sea levels are rising faster now than in the past. In 2023, over 282,000 homes (worth $213 billion) were in flood-prone areas. $14 billion of council-owned infrastructure is also at risk—likely more today.

Sea level rise will bring major costs: 

  • repairs
  • relocation
  • business disruption
  • ecosystem loss
  • new infrastructure needs.

Projected impacts of sea-level rise

Diagram showing the impacts on infrastructure and people categorised by the amount of sea-level rise (SLR).

Impacts of sea-level rise (SLR) on infrastructure and people.  

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The amount of impacted infrastructure and people based on sea-level rise (SLR) are as follows.

At 0.6 SLR:

  • 2,273 km of roads.
  • 5,572 km of pipes.
  • 142 km of railway.
  • 2,036 km2 of land.
  • $26.2 billion building replacement value.
  • 93,891 buildings.
  • 132,650 people impacted.

At 1.2m SLR:

  • 3,134 km of roads.
  • 7,965 km of pipes.
  • 212 km of railway.
  • 2,868 km2 of land.
  • $43.8 billion building replacement value.
  • 140,244 buildings.
  • 198,576 people impacted.

Māori impacts and adaptation needs

Sea-level rise threatens Māori identity, language, and cultural practices, for example:

  • displacement from coastal areas affects marae, urupā, and community cohesion
  • climate extremes (floods, fires, droughts) disrupt cultural events and festivals.

Māori communities also need flexible adaptation strategies to protect:

  • cultural infrastructure
  • customary lore
  • social and cultural wellbeing.

Changing coast

We know the sea around New Zealand is rising and that our coastal communities must adapt; our seas have risen by 21cm since 1900, and sea-level rise is projected to accelerate. 

At the same time, more frequent and severe extreme weather events are impacting our coasts, estuaries and harbours increasing the risk of damage to homes, infrastructure and cultural sites.

A key focus of the Te Ao Hurihuri: Te Ao Hou—Our Changing Coast programme is on improving the models currently used to understand the effects of sea-level rise, such as coastal flooding and groundwater salination, and risks to key infrastructure and cultural sites. 

Programme co-leader Professor Tim Naish notes that “we know the sea around New Zealand is rising but we don’t yet know enough about how coastal regions will be affected to ensure our adaptation measures will be effective and appropriate”.

View more information on the Te Ao Hurihuri: Te Ao Hou—Our Changing Coast programme.

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