Kelly, S.D.; Tang, X.; Buxton, R.B. 2023 Review and stocktake of planning and policy guidance for natural hazards. Lower Hutt, NZ: GNS Science. GNS Science report 2023/36. 53 p.; doi: 10.21420/1BMP-FC20
Abstract
Non-statutory guidance is a crucial element of the resource management system that enables practitioners to draw on specialised expertise on a particular issue and apply it to their local context. For natural hazard risk, there is a multitude of guidance available for a wide range of matters. This report provides a stocktake of that guidance, and a review of six peril/hazard-specific pieces of guidance against established qualities of good guidance. These address active faults, flooding, coastal hazards, liquefaction, tsunami and landslides. Appendix 1 contains a stocktake of existing guidance identified as part of this project. Established qualities of good guidance were identified based on Kilvington and Saunders (2013), which specifically addresses scientific guidance for land-use planning, and Turk and Kirkman (1989), which covers scientific communication more generally. A total of 19 qualities of good guidance were identified. Of the 19 qualities, some do not apply to every piece of guidance. Landslide guidance met 14.5 of 16 assessable qualities, coastal guidance met 17.5 of 19, liquefaction met 15 of 19, active faults met 14 of 18, flooding met 12.5 of 19, and tsunami met 12 of 19. Half marks were given for partially meeting the good guidance qualities. Updates to the flood and active fault guidance updates should be prioritised due to them being broadly unfit for purpose, as well as scientific understanding and resource management practice advancing. While the active fault guidance has not been assessed as the most lacking when evaluated alongside the good guidance criteria, alongside the flooding guidance, it is considered the most in need of review and update. This update is needed due to the advancements in paleoseismology (active fault science), understanding of how active fault rupture affects the built environment and how this impacts achievement of life-safety objectives. The flooding guidance covers key concepts relating to risk assessment and flood risk that are grounded in international standards; however, it was found to be unfit for land-use planning applications. In relation to land-use planning it partially meets several (6) criteria owing to touching on these topics. However, it lacks specific guidance for planning, instead providing a high-level overview of the options for managing flood risk via land-use planning. Beyond active fault and flooding guidance, key findings and recommendations include:There is considerable overlap across the guidance documents. Consideration should be given to a comprehensive integrated suite of guidance where each document addresses a specific high-level topic. All guidance will require a review and update resource management reform / amendment or the gazettal of national natural hazard direction. All guidance should be regularly and independently reviewed. Future guidance writers should consider all factors in the good guidance criteria, but it is accepted that trade-offs may be necessary. Accessibility and visibility of natural hazards guidance documents could be improved by centralising their location and whether they were endorsed by key organisations (namely, the Ministry for the Environment and the New Zealand Planning Institute).
