Climate change engagement

The impacts of climate change affect all New Zealanders. 

We are seeking feedback from various sectors and communities on the draft national adaptation plan.

We are running workshops and webinars from 2 May to:

• provide information on the draft national adaptation plan
• find out how climate change is affecting you.

We’ve partnered with Ihirangi to facilitate discussions in our iwi/Māori focused events. Ihirangi is the operational arm of the National Iwi Chairs Forum Pou Take Āhuarangi climate group.

Webinars for the general public

The impacts of climate change affect all New Zealanders. This webinar will provide information on the consultation and how you can make a submission. We welcome feedback on the draft national adaptation plan from people across all sectors and communities, so we can make sure the draft plan meets the needs of everyone.

Workshops for local government

Local government is on the front line of climate change. Many councils are already working with communities and with iwi and Māori to address the impacts and risks from our changing climate.

This summary gives an overview of what the national adaptation plan means for local government.

The workshops build on feedback received from local government throughout the draft national adaptation plan’s pre-public consultation period. They provide an open forum for discussion on the priorities of the draft plan, early concepts for managed retreat, and any further tools needed to address climate risk.

For any further information or questions on local government engagement email adaptation@mfe.govt.nz

Workshops with iwi and Māori

Climate change and its impacts raise a distinct set of issues for Māori in relation to natural resources, the environment, land, and spiritual and cultural identities. This summary gives an overview.

The hui build on the feedback we received during the draft national adaptation plan’s pre-public consultation period and from online workshops on managed retreat. They’ll introduce other aspects of the draft plan for discussion, and be an open forum for discussion on priorities, early concepts for managed retreat, and any further tools needed to address climate risk.

We’ve partnered with Ihirangi (the operational arm of the National Iwi Chair’s Forum Pou Take Āhuarangi climate group) to facilitate these discussions, which will aim to help us to:   

• test the overall national adaptation plan direction  
• understand the extent to which specific actions meet Māori priorities for adaptation and future climate action  
• understand views on actions government should take to minimise impacts without worsening existing inequities
• understand potential opportunities and gaps in the current draft plan.   

For any further information or questions on Māori engagement contact Chris.Brankin@mfe.govt.nz. 

Draft national adaptation plan

We are consulting on a draft national adaptation plan for how we can adapt to and minimise the harmful impacts of our changing climate.

Everyone is affected by climate change. But some people are more vulnerable to the damaging effects than others. We must make sure the national adaptation plan meets the needs of all groups and communities.

Find out more

• Climate change and disabled people
• Climate change and younger New Zealanders
• Climate change and older New Zealanders
• Climate change and rural communities
• Climate change and Pacific people  

Managed retreat

One of the actions in the draft national adaptation plan is development of new legislation to support managed retreat.

Managed retreat is the carefully planned and managed movement away from areas, such as coastal or riverside sites, that are at high risk of natural hazard and climate change impacts. The relocation can be of buildings, activities, and sites of cultural significance such as urupa. 

To date, managed retreat has largely been the responsibility of local government. It is a highly complex area, with many technical, funding and finance issues involved in its implementation.

To address the issues around managed retreat, one of the actions in the national adaptation plan is development of a new Climate Adaptation Act. This is one of three new Acts to be created as part of reform of the resource management system.  

We want feedback from New Zealanders, especially those in communities at high risk of impacts of climate change, on high-level policy issues for a managed retreat system. This is an important part of our consultation on the draft national plan.  

Have your say

We’re asking for feedback from all New Zealanders on the draft plan. We want to understand how climate change impacts you and make sure the final plan, due to be published in August, has your input.

Find out more and have your say 

Consultation will run for five weeks from 28 April and ending on 3 June. The final plan will be published in August. 

• He Waka Eke Noa - Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership

He Waka Eke Noa Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership brings together the agriculture sector, government and Māori to develop practical solutions to reduce Aotearoa’s agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. This programme will develop an appropriate on-farm emissions pricing system and equip all farmers and growers with plans to measure and manage emissions on-farm. 

The Federation of Māori Authorities (FOMA) is leading the partnership’s Māori Agribusiness workstream, Te Aukaha. Te Aukaha is providing a Māori perspective and supporting the integration of te ao Māori in the development of the partnership’s recommendations. 

The industry partners to He Waka Eke Noa are engaging with their members to hear their thoughts on possible emissions pricing options. The partnership will deliver its final recommendations to Ministers in April 2022. From mid-2022, the Government will need to respond to the partnership’s recommendations and put in place the legislation and regulations needed to establish the scheme from 2025. 

We would like to work with our iwi and Māori partners throughout this process to ensure that emissions pricing policy decisions work for Māori landowners. We will update this page with more detail on engagement opportunities in coming months. 

Please contact Agriculture.Emissions@mfe.govt.nz if you have any questions or require further information.

• Summary of submissions report for designing a Governance Framework

Reforms to the Emissions Trading Scheme – consultation on a governance framework and reforms to industrial allocation closed on 17 September 2021.

The summary of submissions report for designing a governance framework is available and industrial allocation's summary of submissions will be published in early 2022.

The results from these consultations, alongside further policy analysis, will inform advice to Ministers.

Consultation on the emissions reduction plan discussion document Te hau mārohi ki anamata Transitioning to a low-emissions and climate-resilient future occurred from Wednesday 13 October 2021 - 24 November 2021. 

Analysis of submissions will inform the final drafting of the Emissions Reduction Plan in early 2022, with the plan due to be published by 31 May 2022.  

Each webinar ran for one hour and included a presentation on each topic and opportunity to ask questions.  

As part of this process, we want to have a meaningful conversation with Māori, so we understand their perspectives and aspirations as we draft these plans. 

We have a list of upcoming online events which will provide an opportunity for you to provide perspectives and ask questions on areas of interest.

Resources