Critical Datasets for Adaptation of Climate-Related Natural Hazards

Aotearoa New Zealand faces growing risks from climate-related natural hazards. In order to make good decisions about how we adapt to this risk, we need good data. Te Uru Kahika has identified and prioritised a list of datasets that are critical for effective climate adaptation.

We have drawn on the collective expertise of around 700 science and technical staff in the regional sector to identify datasets across four risk dimensions - hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and mitigation. We have evaluated the data needs by urgency and cost.

This document is intended to inform national investment decisions, the development of a National Adaptation Framework, resource management reform, and emergency management improvements.

Data gaps are not just technical problems, they have real consequences for communities, infrastructure, and the environment. The most valuable datasets are those that serve multiple hazard types, support both emergency management and longer-term planning, and can be applied at local, regional and national scales.

Te Uru Kahika is calling for central government co-investment to unlock the full value of regionally held environmental data, alongside stronger national standards for data sharing and system integration. Better data means better decisions for the safety and wellbeing of our communities.