Progress on climate adaptation too slow as risks grow

Our 2026 national adaptation plan progress assessment has just been released.
Nationwide action to adapt is not keeping pace with growing climate risks, leaving Aotearoa New Zealand inadequately prepared.
Two years after the Commission's first independent assessment, too many of the key gaps it identified remain unresolved. Some positive action has occurred, but New Zealand is still not adapting at the pace and scale climate risks demand.
Because progress has been too slow, the Commission has gone further this time, identifying six essential areas for urgent action and the Ministers responsible for driving progress.
Without faster action, the country faces greater damage, disruption and costs as climate risks continue to grow.
The next two years are a critical opportunity to close these gaps before the costs of delay become even greater. Better preparation can reduce future harm, disruption and costs while building a more resilient New Zealand.

Progress isn't keeping pace with growing climate risks

He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission's latest report finds that adaptation in New Zealand is still not keeping pace with growing climate risks. Two years after its first independent assessment, the Commission has found that while there has been some progress, persistent gaps in funding, governance, planning and climate-risk information continue. This leaves communities exposed to greater damage, disruption and costs.

"In 2024, our first progress assessment found that New Zealand's adaptation system was still in its early stages, with many of the key building blocks still missing," says Chief Executive Jo Hendy.

"Two years on, our second assessment finds progress in some areas, but overall action has been too slow, too uneven and too poorly coordinated. Too many of the key gaps identified in our first assessment remain unresolved. That's why this report goes further, identifying six essential areas for urgent action and the ministers responsible for driving progress.

"Preparing for climate change is complex and requires difficult decisions across all levels of government, communities, businesses and households. With growing climate risks, the pace of action and the scale of effort need to increase significantly to avoid greater damage, disruption and costs."

Significant gaps remain

The Commission found progress in some important areas, such as the proposed new requirement for local adaptation planning and action to strengthen councils' ability to manage natural hazard risk for new developments, but many of the gaps identified in 2024 remain.

"The New Zealand Flood Map, for example, is a step in the right direction for improving climate-risk information – but its long-term value depends on more than simply creating the map. Information needs to be accurate, accessible, regularly updated and supported by clear guidance, strong governance and ongoing investment. And that same level of commitment will be needed to build robust information for other climate hazards.

"Our assessment finds that not enough progress is being made in key areas. For example, we assessed 11 barriers to effective adaptation in 2024. Since then, there has been meaningful progress on only three of them, while seven have seen no significant improvement and one has gone backwards.

"Delays in decisions about funding and cost-sharing, gaps in governance and coordination, and a lack of clear tools and processes in key areas are holding up action and increasing costs. The time between assessment reports has only increased the gap between what is in place and what is needed.

"Many communities, including local councils and iwi/Māori, are taking action but face barriers that need government action to overcome," says Hendy.

Six essential areas for urgent action

The Commission has identified six essential areas where urgent action is needed.

"These six essential areas are the foundations of an effective adaptation system. They are not a pick-and-mix of recommendations and must be addressed together.

"Urgent action is needed to clarify how adaptation will be funded, strengthen local adaptation planning, improve climate-risk information, embed adaptation in legislation and support iwi/Māori-led adaptation.

"The next national adaptation plan must be a much stronger driver of action, but progress in these areas cannot wait. To accelerate adaptation at the pace and scale required, these foundations need to be in place before the next national adaptation plan.

"Effective adaptation action requires leadership across Government. The Minister of Climate Change holds accountability for making progress in these areas, along with the Minister of Finance, Minister of Local Government, Minister Responsible for Resource Management Act Reform, Minister for Building and Construction, Minister for Infrastructure, and the Minister for Māori Development."

Delayed action increases costs

"New Zealand is already paying for the impacts of climate change and other natural hazards,” says Hendy. "As we've seen this year, damaging storms are becoming more frequent and unpredictable, affecting homes, businesses, infrastructure and communities.

"Natural hazards, including climate change, are costing central government and insurers over $4 billion a year – and that's just the direct costs. 97% of the central government's spend has gone into response and recovery, while just 3% goes towards reducing future risk.

"Delaying action doesn't avoid costs – it increases them, leading to higher recovery, rebuilding and disruption costs later. Investing now can reduce future harm and avoid larger costs later, with every $1 invested potentially delivering up to $10 in benefits.

"The next two years are a critical opportunity to close these gaps before the costs of delay grow even higher. The longer key gaps remain unresolved, the harder and more expensive it will be to protect communities, infrastructure and businesses from growing climate risks."

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