Councils have been warned not to build on parts of the Wairarapa coastline after areas at high risk of flooding and erosion have been identified in reports released by Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Senior hazards analyst Iain Dawe said the two reports researched the rate of sea-level rise and the likelihood of coastal flooding in the Wellington region.
The reports show that sea levels are rising at over 2 millimetres per year and the Wellington region is tracking towards 1 metre of sea level rise over the next 100 years.
Areas in Wairarapa which will be affected in future include Lake Onoke, the coast road to Mataikona and along Tora coast, Castlepoint Beach, Riversdale, and low lying land around river mouths such as Whakataki.
During a storm, there is the potential for sea levels to increase temporarily by up to 80cm, an effect known as storm-tide.