CSF is pleased to see the Minister of Climate Change announce an Adaptation Framework that moves towards managing risks from climate change, enabling a consistent approach to decision making and spreading the costs of adapting over time.
The framework includes sixteen actions under four pillars: risks and response information sharing; roles and responsibilities; investment in risk reduction; and cost-sharing pre- and post-event.
Key actions in the framework include:
- Information about the risks from natural hazards like floods and storms will be readily available, regularly updated and nationally consistent, starting with a National Flood Map for New Zealand which will be available to the public in 2026.
- Amend the Climate Change Response Act to require local government to develop adaptation plans in priority areas.
- Spending shifts towards reducing risk before climate-related events happen by regulating to ensure councils weigh up the costs and benefits of adaptation options for their communities, and the provision of a $1.2 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund.
- Expected costs from natural hazards, and the costs of adapting to them, are shared across society and over time.
This announcement represents a constructive step forward. Requiring adaptation planning in priority areas is sensible and will help to identify and mitigate key risks to people, property, and infrastructure, which carry significant financial implications. However, further clarity is needed on cost-sharing arrangements and timeframes to ensure these plans can be implemented effectively. The Government’s signal that it cannot remain the insurer of last resort is an important one.
Background to these developments
In May 2023, the Minister of Climate Change invited CSF to convene a public-private round table discussion on reducing risk and embedding resilience into the economy, following the Auckland Anniversary Floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.
In 2024, the Government announced its bipartisan inquiry into climate adaptation, aiming to develop objectives and principles for a national adaptation framework, and that an Independent Reference Group would be established. The group was chaired by Matt Whineray.
In July 2025, the Ministry for the Environment released the reference group’s report, A proposed approach for New Zealand’s adaptation framework, which provides independent advice and recommendations for what an adaptation framework could look like. Several of these recommendations have been adopted in today’s announcement.
You can view our webinar on this report here.
