The Ministry for the Environment is now consulting on a draft national plan to help Aotearoa New Zealand minimise damage from the future impacts of climate change.

The Ministry for the Environment is now consulting on a draft national plan to help Aotearoa New Zealand minimise damage from the future impacts of climate change.

Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is one of the agencies contributing to the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), where our main focus is to increase the resilience of our homes, buildings and places to climate change.

Through the public consultation process we’re inviting Māori partners, the housing and urban development sectors, individuals and communities to help shape the National Adaptation Plan. Your feedback is essential to identify and respond to the needs of different groups and places. Feedback on draft proposals can be submitted between now and 3 June 2022.

Visit the Ministry for the Environment website for more information on the National Adaption Plan.

Ministry for the Environment website.(external link)

Visit the Ministry for the Environment website to take part in the consultation.

Consultation on national adaptation plan and managed retreat.(external link)

The National Adaption Plan

The National Adaptation Plan will focus on supporting New Zealand to live and thrive in a very different climate to what we have now. It aims to helps all sectors and communities prepare and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Following feedback from public consultation, proposed actions will be amended and refined. The plan is expected to be published in August 2022 and will set out actions to be delivered over the next six years.

The Homes, buildings and places chapter

Homes, buildings and places are the foundation of communities in New Zealand. This chapter of the NAP has been developed by Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, with input from Kāinga Ora and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

The homes, buildings and places chapter (page 53 to 62) has strong connections to other sections of the National Adaptation Plan, especially those focussed on infrastructure (p63) and communities (p74).

As the climate changes, an increasing number of New Zealand’s homes, buildings and places are at risk of becoming less liveable, damaged or destroyed. Also at risk is culture, cultural heritage and associated mātauranga.

At a glance – key objectives for the homes, buildings and places chapter

The chapter sets out a range of proposed actions, which aim to achieve the following objectives:

  • Homes and buildings are climate resilient and meet social and cultural needs
  • New and existing places are planned and managed to minimise risks to communities from climate change
  • Māori connections to whenua and places of cultural value are strengthened through partnerships
  • Threats to cultural heritage arising from climate change are understood and impacts minimised

Homes, buildings and places also look at responding to risks from the National Climate Change Risk Assessment relating to buildings, Māori wellbeing, and cultural heritage.

National Climate Change Risk Assessment (external link)

Supporting mahi

The proposed actions will also support and build upon work already underway, such as:

How we partner in communities and places(external link)