As communities across the country face a clean-up job after battling severe rain and wild winds, the Ministry for the Environment is piecing together a map showing the extent of the country’s flood risks.
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says the first version of a nationally consistent flood map is expected to be available by the end of the year, to inform people and businesses alike on the hazards they may face.
Watts has said while it is an “extreme” option, managed retreat, or moving people and communities away from areas predicted to be severely impacted by climate-charged weather events, remains a consideration.
The Ministry for the Environment is developing the country’s first nationwide flood map to give risk information across New Zealand – one of more than a dozen actions under a national adaptation framework.
The project, deemed one of the key actions under the framework, aims to bring together local, regional and nationwide data on flooding.
In an interview with Newstalk ZB, Watts reiterated concerns the country was under “growing risks” around the threat of floods, storms and other natural hazards.
“We’re making good progress on the flood map. We’re looking to have the first version of the map delivered by the end of this year,” he said.
In a statement, the Ministry for the Environment said it was working towards having the first generation of the map up and running in the next year.
It’s expected to have selected a company to produce the map by March. The cost is subject to commercial sensitivity as the process is yet to conclude.
Watts said a nationwide map was significant, as citizens are currently reliant on pieces of the puzzle, rather than a consistent picture: “One of the major benefits of having a national-scale flood map means that we have a comprehensive and consistent view of the flood risks across the country.
“It’s really important that the map includes information that is consistent and high quality so New Zealanders have trust in the information about those flood risks.”
The minister expects local councils, Government agencies and organisations including businesses and households to all reap the benefits of the mapping programme.
On responding to climate change and severe weather events, Watts noted there were a “range of options”, which included the potential of managed retreat, something he said was “at the extreme end of that spectrum”.
“It’s really important for us to think about what is the lowest-cost decision that will achieve and mitigate the risk. At the end of the day, we want to make sure that Kiwi households and businesses have really good information that they can trust to make informed decisions around where they buy, where they live and where they rent their home.”
Watts added a growing risk across the country from flooding, cyclones, storms and other natural hazards was “the reality of the country in which we live in” and that as a result, the Government recognises people need to be more resilient and well-prepared.
Speaking to media on Tuesday, Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell said successive Governments have been working on adaptation.
“Those are really difficult, complex conversations to have because you’re talking about managed retreat. Local government has got a very big part to play in that, and having tough conversations with communities,” Mitchell said.
Speaking to media prior to Labour’s caucus meeting, leader Chris Hipkins discussed his desire to see a “proper plan” on how to support communities impacted by ongoing severe weather events “where there is a need for managed retreat”.
“We have to look at some of the underlying vulnerabilities that we have,” Hipkins added.
The Ministry for the Environment expects the flood map to be improved and expanded upon over time, as new science and technology become available.
Any gaps or uncertainties are expected to be highlighted and filled in with future data.
Azaria Howell is a multimedia reporter working from Parliament’s press gallery. She joined NZME in 2022 and became a Newstalk ZB political reporter in late 2024, with a keen interest in public service agency reform and government spending.