National adaptation plan

Last updated: 6 January 2026 On this page you’ll find information about our contributions to the national adaption plan, led by the Ministry for the Environment.

About the national adaptation plan

As the climate changes, an increasing number of homes, buildings and places are at risk of becoming damaged, destroyed or less liveable. Culture, cultural heritage and associated mātauranga are also at risk.

The national adaption plan aims to help Aotearoa New Zealand minimise damage from the changing climate. It’s the first step in a long-term strategy of how we’ll adapt to the irreversible impacts of climate change, bringing together in one place our current efforts and proposed future work to help build New Zealand’s climate resilience.

The national adaption plan published in August 2022, sets out an initial six-year work programme to help all sectors and communities prepare and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

See the national climate change risk assessment(external link)

See more about the national adaptation plan(external link)

See the adaption framework(external link)

Our contribution

We lead or work together with other agencies on seven actions within the national adaptation plan, all aimed at making homes, buildings and places more resilient to climate impacts.

These actions were developed in consultation with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, where appropriate.

Work with community housing providers to enable effective climate hazard response
Embed adaptation in funding models for housing and urban development, including Māori housing
Reduce and manage impacts of climate hazards on homes and buildings
Identify integration of nature-based solutions into urban form
Partner with Māori land owners to boost resilience of Māori owned land, homes and cultural sites
Partner with Māori to support Māori-led adaptation planning
Update housing and urban settings

Other climate work

The national adaptation plan focuses on adapting to the effects of climate change, but we also need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. These are addressed in the emissions reduction plans.

See more about emissions reduction plans