Risk and vulnerability assessments

This five-year NIWA-led research programme is developing a system to map flood hazard consistently across the whole country. It will reveal how our flood risk might change over the next 100 years because of changes to rainfall and sea level from climate change, as well as due to land-use changes.

Researchers created national sea-level risk profiles for populations, buildings, croplands & infrastructure under present & future climate scenarios.

NIWA is using updated climate projections to help New Zealanders better understand climate-related risks.

Mia Blyth talks to an environmental hazard specialist who feels a very personal connection to his work.

When high winds on the Auckland Harbour Bridge last September caused two trucks to topple over, one into a load-bearing strut, NIWA scientists began thinking about what role they could play in preventing it from happening again.

Inhabitants of the Marshall Islands may not be able to avoid drought, but thanks to a new tool co-developed by NIWA they can now plan ahead to better manage water resources when the big dry looms.

Floods are not unusual in New Zealand, but those that hit us early this winter broke records. Why did they occur? Should we expect more? Can we predict future floods?

Understanding how hazards impact people and the environment provides the foundation for informed decision making for a resilient Pacific.

To prepare for changes in climate, our freshwater and oceans decision-makers need information on species vulnerability to climate change.