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Proposed Scope: Recent flooding impacts, implications, improvements
Te take mō te pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1.
To whakaae / approve the proposed scope to investigate the flooding impacts, implications
and improvements to public policy and infrastructure settings so that: Auckland and its
communities are more resilient to water related hazards.
Whakarāpopototanga matua
Executive summary
2.
The Planning, Environment and Parks Committee, has delegated you as the Mayor, Chair,
Deputy Chair, and Independent Māori Statutory Board member to approve a scope of work
to:
investigate the regional and localised impacts of flooding, and the implications for land
use planning, regulatory, current plan changes to the Auckland Unitary Plan (including
Plan Change 78), infrastructure and other policy settings’
3.
Staff propose a scope of work to investigate the flooding impacts, implications and
improvements to public policy and infrastructure settings so that: Auckland and its
communities are more resilient to water related hazards.
4.
A set of questions wil guide a current state/ future state assessment, identifying gaps and
improvements. The scope of work wil be delivered between March 2023 and June 2024.
The timeframes for delivery wil vary significantly. Actions that can be implemented quickly
wil be. Al statutory planning and regulatory settings wil include required statutory
consultation processes.
5.
Once a scope of work has been approved as delegated by the Planning, Environment and
Parks Committee, staff wil report back to the committee on the scope and start
implementation.
Ngā tūtohunga
Recommendation/s
That the group delegated by the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee:
a) tuhi / note that on 9 February 2023 the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee
delegated the Mayor, Chair and Deputy Chair and an Independent Māori Statutory Board
member to approve the proposed scope of work to ‘investigate the regional and localised
impacts of flooding, and the implications for land use planning, regulatory, current plan
changes to the Auckland Unitary Plan (including Plan Change 78), infrastructure and other
policy settings’ to by 17 February 2023 (PEPCC/2023/6)
b) whakaae / approve the scope outlined in paragraphs 18-65, to investigate the flooding
impacts, implications and improvements to public policy and infrastructure settings so that:
Auckland and its communities are more resilient to water related hazards.
c) tuhi/note that a report back on the agreed scope wil be provided to the Planning,
Environment and Parks Committee meeting on 2 March 2023.
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Horopaki
Context
Extreme weather events prompts re-look at settings to manage community impact
6.
Extreme rainfal during Auckland Anniversary weekend caused significant flooding and
landslides with devastating impact on Aucklanders, public infrastructure, and homes across
the region.
7.
Cyclone Gabriel e quickly fol owed bringing further rain and high winds, adding to the impact
on the community and infrastructure.
8.
On 9 February 2023 the committee requested that staff urgently prepare a scope of work to
‘investigate the regional and localised impacts of flooding, and the implications for land use
planning, regulatory, current plan changes to the Auckland Unitary Plan (including Plan
Change 78), infrastructure and other policy settings’ and to agree this scope of work with the
Mayor, Chair and Deputy Chair and an Independent Māori Statutory Board member by 17
February 2023 [refer PEPCC/2023/6].
9.
Staff were also requested to report back to the 2 March 2023 meeting on the agreed scope
of work and next steps.
10. Auckland Council as a Unitary Authority has a range of regulatory responsibilities. Key
legislative responsibilities are outlined below:
National legislation
Council must ensure that the current and future needs of the community for good-quality local
Local Government
infrastructure, local public services and performance of regulatory functions are provided for in a cost-
Act 2002
effective manner. This includes managing natural hazards risks when providing infrastructure that
enables growth, such as stormwater infrastructure.
Resource
Council must manage our natural and built environment. Council has a range of tools at its disposal that
Management Act
can reduce risk (like land use planning) and increase resilience to a natural hazard event (for example,
1991
by ensuring that the environment is protected and managed to provide natural buffers.)
Building Act 2004
Council acts as a regulatory authority and must ensure that buildings and structures are safe and
and Building Code
sanitary.
Council must plan and provide for civil defence emergency management within its district, including
CD EM Act 2002
natural hazards. This task is undertaken by Auckland Emergency Management.
The council acts in dual capacities as a regional council and territorial authority
Maintain records of river flows, lake levels, rainfal s and past floods.
Regional council
Model water flows so they can warn of future flooding.
duties
Manage rivers and catchments and control land-use activities.
Issue flood warnings and provide emergency management.
Col ect information on flooding.
Territorial authority
duties
Responsible for control ing buildings and the effects of land use to reduce flood risk.
Key tools in the Building Act 2004 and Resource Management Act 1991.
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11. The council currently uses a wide range of public policy (statutory planning, regulatory
planning and policy, other policy) and infrastructure settings to prepare for and respond to
Auckland’s water related hazards.
12. Statutory Plans such as the Auckland Plan 2050 set the overal direction for Auckland, in
particular identifying that Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland needs to:
proactively adapt to a changing water future, develop long-term solutions, and improve
our ability to manage and respond to the water-related impacts of climate change.
13. It is underpinned by statutory requirements for a 30-year Infrastructure Strategy, Future
Development Strategy, asset strategy and management plans, bylaws, and codes of
practice.
14. Resilient Auckland – Auckland Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group Plan 2016
meets the statutory requirement to provide strategic guidance for CDEM in Auckland.
15. Te Mahere Whakakotahi I Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s Unitary Plan, is the regulatory
foundation for managing subdivision, use and development in Auckland, including where
related to natural hazards, risks to people, property, infrastructure, and the environment.
16. Policy settings include Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan and the Water
Strategy that set long-term direction about:
mitigation and adaption to climate change
ensuring climate change is a key consideration in decisions that lock the council into
long-term outcomes and investment
addressing immediate, known risks that affect Aucklanders today
equity and affordability.
17. Strategic direction is implemented through other policy and planning programmes such as:
Te Ara Urutau: Waikino-100-year adaptation approach
Natural Hazards Risk Management Action Plan
Coastal Management Framework 2017
Shoreline Adaptation Plans.
“Planning for the next thirty to
“Clear policy enables communities to
“Redevelopment and
one hundred years needs to
know what they need to do to future
intensification will only
be addressed today.”
proof.”
work if the
infrastructure can
support this.”
Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu
Analysis and advice
Helping Auckland prepare for the impacts of climate change like flooding and sea level rise
Scope problem definition
18. Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland has 3200km of coast made up of a diverse mix of beaches,
cliffs, islands, and estuaries, fed by thousands of rivers and streams in 233 catchments.
19. Climate change projections predict that Auckland wil :
experience stronger ex-tropical cyclones, more extreme rainfal events, ongoing sea
level rise.
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20. Extreme rainfal and rising sea levels are predicted to lead to increased river flooding,
surface water flooding, groundwater flooding and coastal erosion and land instability.
21. Severe weather events as recently experienced across Auckland generate “too much water”
and put Aucklanders at risk, causing large scale disruption to people, property, communities,
assets, and services.
22. Aucklanders clearly see a role for Auckland Council to take climate action. Eighty-nine per
cent of Aucklanders believe Auckland Council has a role in helping Auckland prepare for the
impacts of climate change such as flooding, heatwaves, droughts, and sea-level rise. 1
Warm, tropical air and a marine heatwave primed the atmosphere for heavy rainfall
23. This summer, La Niña conditions in the Pacific and a marine heatwave around New Zealand
encouraged moist, tropical winds to affect the North Island, leading to repeated rainfal
events.
24. Leading up to 27 January 2023, an atmospheric river extended from the tropics to northern
New Zealand, bringing a warm, moisture-packed subtropical low-pressure system towards
Auckland.
25. On 27 January 2023, this storm stal ed over Auckland as it was blocked by a high-pressure
system to the southeast. A unique phenomenon cal ed a low-level jet funnel ed in yet more
warmth and tropical moisture into the storm.
26. Al these factors contributed to the atmosphere above Auckland being completely saturated,
leading to the bouts of high intensity rainfal that saw much of the urban area receive an
entire summer’s worth of rain in less than a day.
27. It is important to note that weather situations causing extremely heavy rainfal and flooding
are not unprecedented for Auckland, as seen recently in events such as the like the 2017
Tasman Tempest and 2021 Kumeu floods. However, the impact of the 27 January 2023
storm was particularly severe due to the extreme atmospheric moisture content combined
with the location of the heaviest rainfal over urban areas.
Rainfall intensities were extremely high
28. The storm caused persistent rainfal for more than 24 hours. Rainfal totals exceeded 230
mm at many locations across urban Auckland during the period from midnight 27 January
2023 to 7am 28 January 2023, with the maximum recorded total for this period being 318
mm.
29. Most of the rain fel over four hours between 4-8pm on 27 January 2023. Some astonishing
rainfal amounts were recorded during this period. For example, the Onehunga @
Harbourside rain gauge measured 146 mm in two hours; this is twice the average January
rainfal total for this site (73.8 mm).
30. It was the wettest day on record for many Auckland sites, some with records going back to
the 1960s.
Climate change increases extreme rainfall intensity
31. The rainfal intensity on 27 January 2023 was increased due to the influence of climate
change. The Earth has warmed by about 1.1°C. This warming has been accelerated by
human activity. This extra heat gives more power to extreme rainfal .
32. It is estimated that climate change contributed 10-20% more rain in the most intense part of
the 27 January 2023 storm2.
33. Climate change projections for Auckland show that the intensity of extreme rainfal events is
likely to continue to increase in a warmer future.
1 Climate Action and Public Perceptions Research Report December 2019
2 https://niwa.co.nz/news/auckland-suffers-wettest-month-in-history
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34. NIWA’s research suggests that for rare, short duration events (less than 6 hours), rainfal
amounts may increase by 12-14% per degree of warming3. Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s
Climate Plan outlines an extreme future scenario where Auckland is 3.5°C warmer by 2110
– indicating that rare, short duration rainfal amounts may increase oi the order of 48% if this
level of warming is reached.
Impacts were felt across Auckland, particularly in urban areas
35. Intense rainfal on already saturated ground caused widespread surface flooding across
urban areas and the roading network, causing major disruptions. Flash flooding forced
evacuations from many low-lying homes and businesses as overland flow paths were
activated and floodplains inundated. Auckland Airport was flooded and forced to close.
36. The rainfal caused thousands of landslides across the region, mostly in rural areas.
However, many hundreds of slips affected homes and businesses as wel as road and rail
infrastructure.
37. Five deaths are attributed to the Auckland Anniversary storm. Further heavy rain on 1
February 2023 caused flooding in some central and northern areas of Auckland, likely
exacerbated by the saturated ground fol owing the 27 January 2023 storm.
38. Auckland’s harbours were affected by the outflow of contaminated flood waters, with
beaches around the urban areas closed for more than a week due to sewage contamination.
Auckland’s estuaries and harbours were affected by considerable sedimentation fol owing
the storm. Significant coastal erosion was recorded along many of Auckland’s coastal cliffs.
39. Marae and Māori communities were impacted including loss of access to marae and
papakāinga, flooding and erosion to urupa and resulting surfacing of koiwi, and damage to
wahi tapu in coastal areas.
40. As of 1 pm on 14 February 2023, 297 red, 1724 yel ow, and 2724 white placards had been
issued by building assessment teams4, indicating the significance of the damage to property.
41. The insurance industry has indicated that the Auckland Anniversary storm is likely to be the
most costly weather event in New Zealand’s history5. However, it is worth noting that those
statements were made before Cyclone Gabriel e caused widespread devastation across the
North Island on 13-14 February 2023, with early indications that it would be more costly.
3 https://knowledgeauckland.org.nz/publications/auckland-region-climate-change-projections-and-
impacts-revised-september-2020
4 https://www.aucklandemergencymanagement.org.nz/major-incident/flooding-2023#Building
5 https://www.insurancenews.com.au/local/wake-up-call-auckland-floods-must-spur-resilience-debate
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In scope
The scope includes
water related events and
impacts which are
increasing in magnitude
and frequency with
climate change:
coastal inundation
coastal erosion
river/stream
flooding/erosion
surface water
flooding
landslides
groundwater
flooding
social, cultural,
environmental, and
economic impacts
Out of scope
42. The scope of work wil be informed by but does not include the Auckland Civil Defence and
Emergency Management Group Auckland Anniversary response. This is the subject of a
separate review.
Investigating what it will take to be more resilient to Auckland’s water related hazards
Scope purpose
43. The purpose of the scope of work proposed is to undertake a current state and future state
assessment based on the committee resolution as fol ows:
Current state assessment: investigate the causes and impacts of recent weather events
such as flooding, landslides and the implications for public policy and infrastructure
settings
Future state assessment: identify improvements across our public policy and
infrastructure settings so that Auckland and its communities are more resilient to water
related hazards.
44. The overriding objective of the scope is to identify the lessons we can learn from the recent
weather events and what we can to do to build a region more resilient to water related
hazards. The guiding investigation questions for the proposed scope help set the narrative
for the council and Aucklanders to understand:
what happened during recent extreme weather events
what was the social, cultural, environmental, and economic impact
how did Auckland get here and how did past approaches shape the region today (for
example draining of wetlands, piping of streams, large sections-smal houses to smal
sections -large houses)
what is changing for Auckland (using Mātauranga Māori, climate factors and
development patterns), how quickly, and what is the level of certainty for Auckland
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what might the future look like and what might happen-short, medium, and long-term
(climate change scenario, maramataka and tohu)
what matters most to Aucklanders, and what do Aucklander’s value
what matters most to hapū/iwi, and what do hapū/iwi value
what can we do, what would it take, what are the costs and trade- offs, to be resilient to
Auckland’s water related hazards
how can statutory, regulatory, policy and infrastructure settings help us col ectively adapt
to Auckland’s water related hazards
what are we doing now or planning to do that we need to stop or reassess (like
investment decisions and reassesses a review underway on the Unitary Plan controls for
natural hazards including flooding).
45. The investigation questions wil guide the work programme and ensure the deliverables
continue to iteratively question assumptions and provide a cohesive narrative and focus for
work delivered across diverse teams, communities, and knowledge.
Scope to help build trust and confidence in our future resilience to water related hazards
46. About half of Aucklanders feel some level of confidence that the council is taking effective
action to reduce the impacts of climate change on the region in the future:
39 per cent were moderately confident
8 per cent were very confident
2 per cent were extremely confident.6
47. This confidence and trust wil be further eroded by the experiences Aucklanders endure due
to the recent severe weather. The scope wil need to help build Aucklanders’ trust and
confidence in our future resilience to water related hazards.
“These events are just getting
“Support significant increased budget in the area of
more and more severe and
adaptation. Need strong policy guidance from the
more and more frequent, and
council as to how we are going to plan for sea level
it's absolutely terrifying”
rise and flooding. This is sorely lacking.”
High level work programme phases and timeline
48. Staff anticipate the scope work programme wil include four phases of work:
responsive action
evidence and insights
design solutions/refine/decide
deliver.
49. Al phases of the work programme tasks wil draw on, existing work and knowledge, new
work and accelerating improvement initiatives already underway.
6 Climate Action and Public Perceptions Research Report December 2019
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50. It wil be important that opportunities to address the key investigation question: what we are
doing now or planning to do that we need to stop or reassess are pursued and iterated
throughout the eight–twelve-week responsive phase and work programme phases.
Phase One: Responsive action and advice
51. The responsive actions focus on what can be delivered over the next eight – twelve weeks
and include some of the questions the committee raised at the 9 February 2023 meeting.
52. The information and advice provided wil be fit for purpose and drive towards early insights
that are easily communicated. Independent peer review wil strengthen the advice provided.
53. The responsive actions are:
review the council’s approach to Proposed Plan Change 78 to inform recommendations
to the Independent Hearings Panel
review the scope of the coastal hazards plan change work discussed with the Planning
Committee during the previous council term
summary of council communications material available to Aucklanders general y, and
residents in floodplains specifical y, regarding water-related hazard risk
summary of the legislative and strategic framework that applies to council’s role in
identifying and managing water-related natural hazard risk. Presentation to include:
– legal briefing on council’s liability as relates to flooding risk and decisions made
under the Resource Management Act
– briefing on council’s approach to consenting inside known hazard zones, including
summary of ‘live’ Central Government Housing developments in known hazard zones
– briefing on council requirements and guidance related to detention tanks.
summary of planned physical works for water-related hazards
indicative investigation into social -economic impact of events on Aucklanders
key trade-offs, (e.g., climate adaptation, climate mitigation, social, economic, and
environmental), framework and examples to help guide staff advice and decision-making
(Phases two and three)
briefing on climate change scenarios, projections, and potential impacts for the Auckland
region, including understanding of how impacts could have been more severe through
risk factors like high tide and storm surges
54. Other questions the committee and mana whenua may have wil continue to be col ated and
used to further refine and adapt the broader work programme, for example:
are there mātauranga Māori perspectives that can be acknowledged. How can this
inform our col ective understanding of risk and resilience?
what is the current risk profile of the Unitary Plan for water related hazards, is it stil fit for
purpose given recent storm events, are we applying our regulatory framework in
appropriate ways to limit flood risk (e.g., risk tolerance with respect to over land flow
paths and if change is required, what are the options, impacts and trade-offs?
what legislative change might be required to better manage water related hazards, what
advocacy have we done in the past, what legislative change may be required to effect
change for the future?
what about managed retreat such as the red zones from Christchurch earthquakes?
are our communication standards fit for purpose to enable our communities to
understand the risks and prepare? For example, ‘1 in 100/200’, ‘return periods’,
‘unexpected.’
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Phase Two: Evidence and Insights
55. Current State: investigate the causes and impacts recent of weather events such as
flooding, landslides and the implications for public policy and infrastructure settings:
gather evidence and research, take stock, assess the current state, produce briefings,
and complete findings, insight, and improvement reports with the objective to answer the
investigation questions about causes, impact and to identify:
– how our statutory and infrastructure plans shaped how Auckland communities were
impacted by the flooding, and landslides, how they are positioned to manage the impact
of recent water related hazards in the future and what improvements might be made
– the regulatory chal enges, and lessons arising from the impacts of recent water related
hazards and how we can future proof our regulatory settings, particularly land use
planning in the Unitary Plan
– how can we strengthen our regional and local policy settings and approach to adaptation
pathways and adaptation options like: avoid, accommodate, protect, retreat
develop findings report (s) – that consider existing, and future risks of water related
hazards and identify gaps, constraints, improvements actions, implications and
recommended next steps
consider findings report(s) with committee decision -making and next steps approved.
Phase Three: Design, Refine and Decide
56. Future State: identify what could be done across our public policy and infrastructure settings
so that: Auckland and its communities are more resilient to water related hazards:
refine improvement actions, and clarify implementation requirements and implications
design the change options including more detailed implications around cost, feasibility,
affordability, and trade-offs
refine, test, and validate options for change with mana whenua, internal and external
experts, Aucklanders, and the council whanau
options considered by appropriately delegated decision-makers and preferred option(s)
approved for service design and delivery.
Phase Four: Deliver
57. The timeframes for delivery wil vary significantly. Actions that can be implemented quickly
wil be. Al statutory planning and regulatory settings wil include required statutory
consultation processes.
58. Other changes wil require decisions by other bodies such as government or CCOs. Any
funding needed to improve infrastructure setting outside of budgeted expenditure is subject
to Annual Plan and/or Long-term plan consultation and decision-making process.
Phase: 2:
Phase: 23 Design,
Phase 1: Responsive
Deliver
Evidence/Insight
Refine, Decide
March-June 2023
March 2023-November
June 2024 onwards
December 2023-June
2023
2024
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Contribution across the council whanau critical- needs to be flexible and actively managed
Work Programme Planning and Col aboration
59. A whole of council whanau integrated work programme is needed to deliver the proposed
scope. It is important that duplication of effort or advice is avoided and actively managed.
60. Not al the settings for the scope are within the decision-making power of the committee or
the council. However, many of the solutions for our communities sit across the council
whanau, including with Auckland Transport and Watercare Services Limited.
61. A centralised information and clearing house wil be established to actively manage and co-
ordinate work programme inputs and outputs across the council whanau.
62. The existing al of council whanau Chief Executive Group and General Managers Housing
and Growth Group wil manage the work programme effort and the interface of management
and decision-making responsibilities of Governing Body and CCO boards.
63. The contribution of scientists, researchers, planners, engineers, technicians, kaihautū,
project managers, land managers, technology specialists, and community connectors is
critical.
64. Limited engagement on the scope was possible within reporting timeframes and due to key
staff being involved in the wider response to the weather events.
65. The scope of work and the timeframes for delivery wil need to be flexible to take this into
account. Some work may need to progress out of sequence or be iterated and developed as
new information and contributions by others become possible. External sources of expertise
can also assist delivery timeframes when internal knowledge specialists are unavailable.
Work Programme Delivery Approach
66. The approach to guide the delivery of the work programme is as fol ows:
Whakawhanaungatanga
Relationships and connection wil be at the heart of the mahi, respect and actively seek a
range of knowledge and experience, sense check and build connections.
Te tūhura (discover)
Use qualitative and quantitative research methods to col ect data, evidence, views, needs
operational, external, expert, community knowledge and lived experience to contribute to
observations, insights, and results.
Learn from and consider international and national guidance documents: e.g., Sendai
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, Preparing for Coastal Change 2017,
Water Sensitive Benchmarking.
Learn from others: Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas- Christchurch, Nelson,
Coromandel, Northland. Hawkes Bay, New South Wales, UK, USA.
Te tātari (analyse)
Undertake robust analysis of data, information, knowledge, and views using different
analytical tools to contribute to insights, about problems and solutions.
Te auaha (create)
Identify and create opportunities for change (improvements, solutions, and options)
Me mahi tahi tātou
We wil work closely with communities and ideas designed, tested and validated; A process
of future proofing is used
Te tohutohu (advise)
Produce advice about the ‘so what’ and the ‘what next’, costs and trade -offs, advocacy, and
improvement for decision-makers
Te whakawhiti kōrero
Be responsive, convey information, answer questions, build a common knowledge base,
(communicate)
provide briefings, and verbal advice in a way that is objective and transparent and builds
trust and confidence of Aucklanders and decision-makers
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Te ara urutau
Move forward and be able to learn, interactive, flexi, and adapt the approach.
Adapt to government plans, collaborate, and advocate for change
67. Central government is reviewing legislation to adapt and build resilience to climate change.
This includes the Three Waters Reform, repealing and replacing the Resource Management
Act 1991 with three new pieces of legislation, including the Climate Adaptation Act. Auckland
Council will need to adapt to these legislative changes if or when enacted
68. In addition, advocacy to government on issues is anticipated. The proposed scope work
programme may need to col aborate with any future government plans in response to the
weather events specifical y for Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, or as part of a wider response to
the nature and scale of damage experienced across Aotearoa New Zealand this summer.
69. On 21 February 2023 a new Cabinet committee was established chaired by Grant
Robertson as the new Cyclone Recovery Minister with Barbara Edmonds as associate
minister. A Cyclone Recovery taskforce was also established headed by Sir Brian Roche
and with regional groups and a regional minister. This may have implications for the scope
and wil be better understood when more information is released.
Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi
Climate impact statement
70. Climate change wil bring more extreme weather events to Auckland, amplifying the natural
dangers from too much water. Both the Auckland Plan 2050 and Te Tāruke-Ā-Tāwhiri:
Auckland’s Climate Plan direct greater resilience to such events.
71. There are no climate impacts arising from this scoping report. Rather this report addresses
aspects of climate change to assist in making Aucklanders better prepared and more able to
respond to adverse weather events.
Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera
Council group impacts and views
72. Limited internal engagement was possible within the scope development timeframe. The
work programme envisaged by the scope wil impact groups and knowledge specialist
across the council whanau.
73. Where timing and resources do not align, work programme deliverables may need be
flexible to take this into account.
74. Some work may need to progress out of sequence or be iterated and developed as new
information and contributions by others become possible. External sources of expertise can
also assist delivery timeframes when internal knowledge specialists are unavailable.
Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe
Local impacts and local board views
75. Staff wil engage local boards in in accordance with the ‘Local Board involvement in
Regional Policy, Plan and Bylaws: Agreed Principles and Processes 2019’.
76. The implications of the work programme on specific regional policies is unknown at this
stage. The assessment of local board interest and impact required by the guidelines will be
undertaken on a case-by-case basis to identify and undertake the agree level of local board
involvement required.
Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori
Māori impact statement
77. The proposed scope and resulting work programme wil be delivered within the wider
national direction “Te Mana o te Wai’. The council public policy settings implementing Te
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Mana o te Wai’ are the Water Strategy and Te Mahere Whakakotahi i Tāmaki Makaurau
Auckland’s Unitary Plan which sets the regulatory approach for Auckland.
78. A holistic response to climate change with a whakapapa-centred approach has been
identified as critical by mana whenua through both iwi management plans and feedback
across a range of public policy settings.
79. Water related hazards can compound issues of equity, social, cultural and physical
wel being for Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Cultural heritage sites such as marae
and urupā are places deeply connected to mana whenua, through whakapapa and ahi kaa,
are particularly exposed to water-related hazards.
80. Key actions identified in the Water Strategy and Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri i Auckland’s Climate
Plan include:
develop marae community resilience plans
assess potential impacts of climate change scenarios on Auckland’s population and
establish targeted programmes for affected communities and individuals to support
climate migrants and the current needs of our growing population
identify how mana whenua communities and their places can be more resilient
resource mana whenua to develop guidance and assessment methods for mauri-
enhancing infrastructure.
81. The cal has been for the need to act now to limit the effects of climate change upon our
environment and protect the environment so it can continue to support healthy Aucklanders.
“Oranga taiao, oranga tangata: a healthy and connected natural environment supports
healthy and connected Aucklanders. The mauri (life essence) of Tāmaki Makaurau is
restored’ is a representative statement from engagement.
82. Mana whenua wil have the opportunity to participate and share perspectives based on their
view on how we do this mahi together.
83. As a basis for engagement, staff have started a te ao Māori stocktake that pul s together a
range of outcomes, values, statements, and actions from key mana whenua and council
documents as wel as feedback that has been received from mana whenua and mataawaka
that relate to water, climate change, community, and the environment
Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea
Financial implications
84. The scope development timeframe did not al ow for meaningful costings. The proposed
scope wil be delivered within existing budgets and staff resource to 30 June 2023.
85. Resourcing needs and the impact on the pace or quality of the work after June 30, 2023, wil
be defined in May 2023 relative to the budget available subject to the decision-making
processes of the 2023-2024 Annual Plan.
86. Any financial implications that may result from staff advice and recommendations resulting
from the proposed scope wil be included in future decision-making reports.
87. These financial decisions can be considered through the appropriate Annual Plan and Long-
term Plan decision making processes or through unbudgeted expenditure decisions
delegated to the Governing Body.
Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga
Risks and mitigations
If
Then
Mitigations
There is a moderate risk
The scope of potential
The scope timeframe duration reflects time built
that a whole of council
improvements reduces,
in to mitigate the resource demands across
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: Delegated Decision
22 February 2023
approach to the scope
and/or the timeframes are
council involvement in the emergency
and/or timeframes cannot
extended
management response, the big clean up and
be achieved
future big fix up. A process to accommodate the
impact of annual budget decisions have also
been provided. An independent
review/taskforce could be used for the scope of
work which can reduce inputs required across
the council whanau and would be able to be
delivered within the scope timeframes.
The programme of work is
It appears the work is not
The timeframes for delivery wil vary significantly.
viewed as a whole it
urgent and important
Actions that can be implemented quickly wil be.
appears that delivery wil
All statutory planning and regulatory settings wil
start in June 2024
include required statutory consultation
processes.
Solutions are imposed
Resources are wasted,
The phases of work described in this paper wil
without exploring the
problems wil not be
be undertaken as expressed with flexibility to
issues and options
addressed.
adapt as needed.
A moderate risk the
Phases underway wil need
Committee engagement with central
government’s policy
to be rescoped
government is important to ensure the crown
settings change
and council are working together.
Ngā koringa ā-muri
Next steps
88. If the scope is approved by the delegated subgroup, staff wil start implementation and report
back to the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee at the 2 March 2023 meeting.
89. Regular updates, information and advice wil be provided to the Planning, Environment and
Parks Committee through memo, briefings, presentations, and agenda reports when
decisions are required.
Ngā kaihaina
Signatories
Authoriser
Megan Tyler - Chief of Strategy
Recent flooding impacts, implications, improvements
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