EDS 2026 Conference Session Spotlight: Surviving Climate Breakdown

Wednesday, 6 May 2026, 12:00 pm
Press Release: Environmental Defence Society

During the past year the country has been battered by almost one storm per week on average, with increasing intensity. Weather-related insurance claims have consequently risen 256% from the previous year.

These events are just a precursor to the weather-event impacts of future climate change. As the atmosphere warms, it holds more moisture, so we will see more rain during storms. In some parts of the country, coastal flooding events that were a 1-in-100-year event in 2020 are projected to occur every year by 2040.

A key question is how can individuals and communities best respond to these rapidly increasing risks and how can national policy support this? The Government’s current National Adaptation Framework is sparse. At just two pages long it puts emphasis on developing a National Flood Map and updating the Natural Hazards Portal so people are better informed about hazard risk.

It also foreshadows regional spatial planning under the new Planning Act to identify areas with natural hazard risk, and an amendment to the Climate Change Response Act to require councils to prepare adaptation plans in “priority areas”.

However, when it comes to who will pay to implement the adaptation plans, or move people out of areas of intolerable risk, the Framework simply says costs for natural hazards and adapting to them “will be shared across society and over time”. This provides little comfort for those who are being repeatedly impacted by our stormier weather, many of whom do not have the resources to effectively respond.

There is potentially money in the Regional Infrastructure Fund to pay for hard protection works like stop banks. Although these can provide greater protection for communities in the short term, they can also create catastrophic residual risks. If stop banks are overwhelmed the damage is often much greater than if they had never been built. Flash flooding, as water pours through a breach, can leave little time for people to seek safety. More development typically occurs behind stop banks on the basis that the hazard has been addressed. We’ve seen this play out in Hawkes Bay where tragically people lost their lives. Making room for rivers is a safer response.

Land use also has a major impact on the severity of downstream impacts of weather events. Mature and healthy native forest provides the best protection for the country’s erodible soils and also retains water during high rainfall. Flooding in Auckland’s Milford became noticeably worse once the catchment was urbanised. In Tairāwhiti, forestry harvesting on very steep and erodible soils has been devastating for downstream communities and the environment.

The country needs to grapple with these challenges and come up with robust national adaptation policy that is effective and fair. If we don’t, recovery costs after each weather event will cripple the country economically, and many people will be trapped in places where they fear for their lives every time there is heavy rain or wind.

Session 4: Surviving climate breakdown
Wednesday 24 June 2026, 2pm

This session explores the policies required to build better resilience in the face of a rapidly changing climate including a case study from West Auckland.

Chair: Daran Ponter, Chair, Greater Wellington Regional Council

From climate change to climate breakdown: What the future climate means for Aotearoa
Nava Fedaeff, Manager - Climate, Atmosphere & Hazards, Earth Sciences NZ

Lessons we can learn (if we listen) from past natural hazard disasters
Nick Rogers, Independent Geotechnical and Natural Hazards Specialist

Insights from Māori-led adaptation to natural hazards and climate change
Akuhata Bailey-Winiata, Climate and Hazards Scientist, Pattle Delamore Partners

From streams to pipes to streams: Building flood resilience in West Auckland
Tony Miguel, Director, SAMI Engineers

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Environmental Defence Society

EDS speaks for the environment. It has influence.

Since 1971, EDS has been driving environmental protection in Aotearoa New Zealand through law and policy change. That's why it's one of this country's most influential non- profit organisations when it comes to achieving better environmental outcomes.

EDS has expertise in key disciplines including law, planning, landscape and science. It operates as a policy think-tank, a litigation advocate, and a collaborator – bringing together the private and public sectors for constructive engagement.

EDS runs conferences and seminars on topical issues, including an annual Environmental Summit and the Climate Change and Business Conference.

EDS is a registered charity and donations to it are tax-deductible.

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