Climate change adaptation

Introduction

Climate change is increasing the risks posed by natural hazards such as flooding and drought and creating new risks, such as sea level rise.

It is vital we consider the changing climate and adapt our land transport system. Improving resilience will help manage climate risks and minimise disruption to communities and minimise the risk of climate impacts.

Transport transition
Adaptation system-level change

National adaptation plan

Aotearoa New Zealand’s first national adaptation plan (NAP) was released in August 2022.

Urutau, ka taurikura: kia tū pakari a Aotearoa i ngā huringa āhuarangi Adapt and thrive: building a climate-resilient New Zealand – New Zealand's first national adaptation plan(external link)

Its goals are to reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, enhance adaptive capacity and consider climate change in decisions at all levels, and strengthen resilience to climate change.

As an infrastructure asset owner, the NAP is relevant to all our work, particularly the objectives to:

• reduce the vulnerability of assets exposed to climate change (INF1)
• ensure all new infrastructure is fit for a changing climate (INF2)
• use renewal programmes to improve adaptive capacity (INF3)

The NAP includes six transport sector-led actions that require our involvement as lead, co-lead or as a close partner with the Ministry of Transport, and there are many other actions that will require significant input from us.

One of the transport sector-led actions is a critical action for Waka Kotahi to create our own adaptation plan (Action 8.1) – Tiro Rangi. 

Tiro Rangi – our climate adaptation plan

Tiro Rangi – our climate adaptation plan was published in December 2022.

This is our Waka Kotahi long-term plan for adapting the land transport system to our changing climate.

Tiro Rangi – our climate adaptation plan 2022–2024

Our policy

Our operational policy on climate change adaptation can be found in:

• Climate Change Policy for Land Transport Infrastructure Activities [PDF, 178 KB]

We are currently developing additional guidance to support implementation of this policy. This page will be updated once this is available. For further information contact environment@nzta.govt.nz