Welcome to your fresh and inspiring industry magazine - designed to motivate and support you every step of the way along the road to success.
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Council Update: Navigating change, building continuity. The S+SNZ Council continues to govern the affairs of our Institute with dedication and care.
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A coast in motion, mapping New Zealand’s living edge: LINZ’s 3D Coastal Mapping Programme is more than just a boundary between land and sea.
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Broadening our horizons: Diversity in surveying. A continuing challenge for usHow do we, as an industry, increase the diversity of our membership?
Rachel Harris, Editor
This edition we are debuting a new look and a new name for the magazine, The Measure, to reflect the rapidly evolving survey and spatial industries in New Zealand today. The new-look magazine will still include many of our regular articles, as well as a few new ones, profiling our survey and spatial professionals, their work and aspirations within the industry.
This year’s Survey and Spatial NZ conference theme in Christchurch is Transforming the Landscape Christchurch is a city that really exemplifies the theme of this year’s conference, both conceptually and tangibly, with a new CBD rapidly transforming what was an earthquake scarred landscape.
Christchurch is currently experiencing a period of economic growth, as investment in the city begins to regenerate alongside some key infrastructure developments such as Te Kaha Stadium and the Parakiore Recreation Centre, which will become the largest aquatic and recreational facility of its kind in New Zealand. The city’s renewed optimism is certainly being reflected in the community with property growth and facilities planned in the near future.
In this first edition of The Measure, we’re showcasing some of our survey and spatial professionals who are helping to shape the industry.
In our feature story, 3D Coastal Mapping Programme Lead Stuart Caie examines the 3D Coastal Mapping (3DCM) programme. Launched by Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) two years ago, this pioneering programme is utilising LiDAR technology to gather high resolution data that will help inform coastal hazard information for New Zealand’s communities.
Geotechnical specialist James Russell takes a look at disaster resilience and what we can learn from Australia as increasing climate events overexert our infrastructure assets and resilience costs.
Richard Hemi discusses increasing diversity within the survey and spatial industries in our Uni Happenings column this edition.
And in our legal column, Stephanie Harris and Hope Horrocks explore the challenges of land boundaries, slips and ground movement with some important considerations for surveyors.
The Measure Issue 120 Spring 2025
A publication of Survey and Spatial New Zealand Tatai Whenua.
ISSN 2382-1604 surveyspatialnz.nz.org
EDITOR Rachel Harris surveyingspatial@gmail.com
All rights reserved. Abstracts and brief quotations may be made, providing reference is credited to The Measure. Complete papers or large extracts of text may not be printed or reproduced without the permission of the editor.
Any correspondence relating to literary items in The Measure may be addressed to the editor. Papers, articles and letters to the editor, suitable for publication, are always welcome.
Papers published in The Measure are not refereed. All correspondence relating to business aspects, including subscriptions, should be addressed to:
The Chief Executive Surveying and Spatial New Zealand PO Box 5304 Lambton Quay Wellington 6140 New Zealand
+64 4 471 1774
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To Advertise admin@surveyspatialnz.org
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In this edition of The Measure we present a range of interesting and useful articles for the benefit of S+SNZ members. From an inside look at the workings of your Council, to some really smart ideas coming out of the University of Otago. There’s something in The Measure for everyone. Enjoy.
1 Editorial Rachel Harris.
6 CEO update
Ashley Church discusses the energy of a profession that’s on the move.
8 Council update
Navigating change, building continuityThe S+SNZ Council continues to govern the affairs of our Institute with dedication and care.
12 What lies beneath?
Hydrographic Professional Stream Profile dedicated to supporting members engaged in, or interested in, hydrographic surveying and marine geospatial work.
14 Professional profile
We’re profiling survey and spatial professionals who are engaged in a diverse range of work practices and activities across the industry.
16 A coast in motion
Mapping New Zealand’s living edge: LINZ’s 3D Coastal Mapping Programme.
22 Beyond face value
A deeper look at city resilience and the subject of sub-surface.
26 Disaster resilience in New Zealand
What we can learn from Australia.
28 When the ground moves
We explore the legal framework that surveyors need to consider when dealing with slips and their impact on land boundaries and titles.
30 Five big marketing tips for small businesses with limited budgets
Our marketing tips for small businesses are sure to get you noticed without blowing the budget.
32 Broadening our horizons
How do we, as an industry, increase the diversity of our membership?
34 Eyes in the sky
Using drones to safeguard our forests.
36 Smart Ideas projects set to benefit NZ University of Otago.
Get in touch with the team at 84 Recruitment for a confidential chat.
A fresh Measure of who we are
Welcome to the relaunch of our members magazine - rebranded as The Measure.
Ashley Church, CEO
S+SNZ
I’m proud of this new look - not just because it’s sharp, but because it represents the energy of a profession that’s on the move. Over the past two to three years, we’ve put our shoulders into improving the member experience, and the results are starting to show. Membership has now passed 1,600, and that growth isn’t accidental - it’s the product of focus, delivery, and a lot of healthy ambition by some very committed people.
Over that same period, we’ve launched our Certification programme to recognise real world competence and give clients confidence in the Survey and Spatial badge and massively expanded CPDwebinars, workshops, and everything in between - and you’ve shown up in record numbers. Our conferences have lifted in quality and relevance (no filler, just the good stuff), and our commitment to excellence is front and centre through the Annual Awards Program and the Spatial Excellence Awards.
We also kicked off the Emerging Leaders programme to back the next generation, because a strong pipeline isn’t a nice-tohave; it’s survival.
With that in mind, careers have also become a major focus for us: telling our story to schools, universities, and
career changers so that the surveyors and spatial professionals of tomorrow can see themselves in this work. We’re also promoting the industry with world class videos, cutting edge comms, and a revamped members’ website that makes it easier to find what you need. Add to that a deliberate lift in good old fashioned people contact, with Branches and Streams, because nothing beats a conversation with someone who has a genuine interest in what you’re doing. On a personal note, this role has been deeply fulfilling. The best part? Our people. Members who care, volunteers who give, and an exceptional team that turns ideas into outcomes. We’re about ongoing improvement, so keep expecting more: more relevance, more value, more ways to connect and grow.
Your part in that is simple: get involved. Put your hand up for the Emerging Leaders Program. Come to a conference. Have your say on the issues that affect our professions. And help make The Measure the shop window for our profession by popping it in your reception or staff lounge, or sending us the stories only you can tell. If you’re working on something interesting, big or small, get in touch. This is your magazine - and your momentum.
Let’s keep moving.
Left Ashley Church CEO S+SNZ
Council update: Navigating change, building continuity
The S+SNZ Council continues to govern the affairs of our Institute with dedication and care. It is a large and diverse group of representatives, and that breadth of experience allows us to chart the best possible course for all members. Council exists to listen, to guide, and to ensure that Survey and Spatial New Zealand remains strong, relevant, and responsive.
Andrew Blackman, President S+SNZ Council
Since our last AGM in Napier, a number of new Councillors have joined us to represent their Streams and Divisions. This renewal process is one of the strengths of our governance modelit ensures fresh thinking while staying rooted in professional expertise.
Devon Allen has stepped in as the Young Professional’s representative, succeeding Nicki Shaw. Paul Turner has replaced Mike Stott as the CSNZ representative. Darrell Wymer has taken over from Sam Williams for the Engineering Surveying Stream. Ashley Jelley now represents the Positioning & Measurement Stream, following Bruce Robinson. Sam Smith has succeeded Sarah Hodgson for the Spatial Stream. James Ball has taken over from Bruce Walker for the Technician’s Division.
In addition, Chris Walker and Bruce Robinson were elected to the two General Councillor roles vacated by Erin Cameron and myself at the AGM. Each of these appointments strengthens the Council by bringing a mix of continuity and innovation.
Steady Hands and Familiar Voices
Equally important are those who remain, providing valuable continuity across the year. Kirsty Mackie (Women in Spatial & Surveying Division), Declan Stubbing (Hydrographic Stream), Karl Wilton (Cadastral Stream), Carl Salmons (Land Development Stream), Richard Hemi (Tertiary Division), Erin Cameron (Vice President), Andrew Perry (Immediate Past President), and myself as President all continue to serve. Together, the balance of new and experienced Councillors is what allows Council to move forward with confidence while respecting the wisdom of the past.
This rotation, new voices alongside established ones, has already begun to pay dividends. Fresh ideas are being tested, new perspectives offered, and longstanding challenges revisited with renewed energy. To all current and past Councillors, I extend sincere thanks. Your commitment and contribution are the heartbeat of the organisation.
Clockwise this page
Carl Salmons and Bruce Robinson enjoy a session of council. Kirsty Mackie (Women in Spatial & Surveying Division).
Darrell Wymer is the new voice for the Engineering Surveying Stream.
This rotation, new voices alongside established ones, has already begun to pay dividends. Fresh ideas are being tested, new perspectives offered, and longstanding challenges revisited with renewed energy.
Andrew Blackman, President S+SNZ Council
Leadership Transitions
Change has also come at Board level. This AGM marks the well earned retirement of Mike Benning as Chair of the S+SNZ Board. Mike’s service has been extraordinary. Over many years, first as a Board member and more recently as Chair, he has provided steady leadership, sound judgement, and a deep commitment to our profession. On behalf of the Council and membership, I thank him wholeheartedly and wish him every success in his next chapter.
Earlier this year, the Council elected Andrew Perry to the Board, and recently the Board itself has chosen him as the new Chair, effective upon Mike’s retirement. Andrew brings with him not only extensive governance experience from the private sector, but also the insights of a Past President who knows this organisation inside and out.
We are confident that under his guidance the Board will continue to thrive, ensuring robust governance and alignment with our long term goals.
Looking Ahead
What does all of this mean for members? It means stability in governance, new energy for innovation, and a continuing commitment to serve you. Council is made up of your colleagues, peers, and representatives who care about the future of surveying and spatial professions. We want to make sure your voice is heard, your work is recognised, and your career has the best possible environment to grow.
The next year will bring challenges, as it always does, but we face them with a Council that is both refreshed and grounded, and a Board well-placed to provide clear direction. Together, we are building on strong foundations and setting our sights firmly on the future.
On a personal note, it is a privilege to serve alongside such committed people. I encourage you to stay connected with your Councillors, share your ideas, and take part in shaping the direction of the Institute. After all, this is your organisation and your momentum helps carry us all forward. Clockwise this page Declan Stubbing, (Hydrographic Stream), Vice President, Erin Cameron. Ashley Church, Kayleigh Fontaine and Andrew enjoy the camaraderie.
What lies beneath?
Hydrographic Professional Stream Profile
The Hydrography Professional Stream (HPS) is a specialist stream within Survey and Spatial New Zealand (S+SNZ), dedicated to supporting members engaged in, or interested in, hydrographic surveying and marine geospatial work. Its membership includes professionals involved in measuring and mapping freshwater, coastal and offshore environments, producing nautical charts, and managing marine spatial data.
The HPS provides value to S+SNZ members through professional development, industry advocacy, and by assisting surveyors in attaining specialist hydrographic certification.
Hydrographic certification formally recognises that an individual possesses
the knowledge, skills, and experience required to carry out hydrographic surveying tasks across a range of disciplines. Professional assessment and certification are administered by the Australasian Hydrographic Surveyors Certification Panel (AHSCP), jointly sponsored by Survey + Spatial NZ and the Geospatial Council of Australia (GCA).
The HPS leadership team can support members through the application process, offering guidance, mentoring, and advice to help candidates meet the International Board on Standards of Competence (IBSC) requirements.
This certification is widely regarded as a mark of professional competence and is valued both within New Zealand and
Certified Hydrographic Surveyors Hayes Ballantyne and Dillon Shields.
Australia with mutual recognition in other international regions.
Strengthening pathways
The HPS continues to play a key advocacy and support role within New Zealand’s hydrographic community.
The leadership team continues to meet regularly to address current issues, progress initiatives, and encourage participation in the stream’s activities, with a strong focus on developing emerging leaders and strengthening pathways into the profession.
For further information and details about the Hydrography Professional Stream, simply email: hydrography@surveyspatialnz.org
The HPS provides value to S+SNZ members through professional development, industry advocacy, and by assisting surveyors in attaining specialist hydrographic certification.
Devon Allen, Graduate Surveyor
In this first edition of The Measure
we’re profiling survey and spatial professionals who are engaged in a diverse range of work practices and activities across the industry.
We begin this series with a profile of S +SNZ’s Young Professionals Chair, Devon Allen.
A student at the University of Otago, Devon graduated with a Bachelor of Surveying with Honours in 2022 and has been actively involved with Survey and Spatial New Zealand for several years, as a member of the Women in Spatial and Surveying committee and Secretary of the Wellington Branch.
Devon started her career in Taupo as a graduate surveyor and currently works for Wellington-based consultancy Orogen where she provides specialised technical advice on a range of survey projects and works out in the field in the Wellington region.
What is your current role?
I am a graduate surveyor at Orogen in Wellington.
What does your role entail?
As a graduate surveyor, I help play a part in delivering surveying solutions to Orogen projects across the Wellington region. I regularly undertake cadastral, engineering and construction surveying across a wide range of projects. One day I might be undertaking a legalisation survey in Featherston, and the next day a tiny house setout and topographic survey on the Kapiti Coast.
My role offers an excellent balance of fieldwork and other tasks, which has allowed me to grow my technical expertise. I collaborate with Orogen project managers, engineers and planners on different projects. This has helped me to gain experience in different facets of land development, and contributed towards planning and civil engineering experience for a cadastral license.
How long have you been involved with S+SNZ?
Having been a member of S+SNZ since I was a student at the University of Otago, my first involvement with S+SNZ came as a graduate through the Bay of Plenty Branch. I joined the Emerging Leaders Program in 2023 through Women in Spatial and Surveying, which heavily influenced my decision to relocate to Wellington.
I have been at Orogen since early 2024, and have continued my involvement with S+SNZ.
“Getting outdoors, getting my boots dirty, and travelling around the beautiful Wellington region is also a huge perk of being at this stage in my career!”
Devon Allen
What are some of the rewards and benefits in what you do?
I have loved contributing to different projects that shape our region - there is a lot of satisfaction that comes with providing successful services for a client, whether that be a Mum and Dad client, or a large developer. As a graduate, my involvement is very hands on and I take a lot of pride in undertaking technically excellent fieldwork and producing meaningful data outputs for our clients and other professionals. Getting outdoors, getting my boots dirty, and travelling around the beautiful Wellington region is also a huge perk of being at this stage in my career! Orogen has been a fantastic place to work - I have had tailored support towards becoming a Licensed Cadastral surveyor, with mentoring from experienced professionals and ample opportunities to progress my technical skills through a variety of projects. Orogen highly values professional development and has been very supportive of my leadership journey within S+SNZ, which has been beneficial not just professionally but personally.
My confidence has skyrocketed and I have loved volunteering my time towards initiatives that help young professionals excel in this industry.
What are some of the challenges and learning experiences you’ve had?
Like many young professionals I have experienced a variety of challenges across the short span of my career so far – steep learning curves, client conflicts, time management, and navigating a change in job role. I have found the mentoring component of the Emerging Leaders Program to have been incredibly beneficial working through the challenges associated with being a graduate. I would encourage all young professionals to engage in mentoring with a more experienced professional.
Working towards the requirements to become a Licensed Cadastral surveyor has been challenging and requires a significant commitment. It is enjoyable undertaking complex projects towards my license, especially under the boundary definition competencies and I’m anticipating the professional challenge and interviews soon.
Navigating the new competency assessment framework is something that many S+SNZ Young Professionals will need to undertake in the near future, but the support of the Cadastral Surveyors Licensing Board and Survey + Spatial NZ will make the process a very rewarding one.
What are some your plans and goals for the near future?
I am currently undertaking the competency assessment framework for cadastral licensing and hope to become a Licensed Cadastral Surveyor in the near future. It’s great being involved in Survey + Spatial as an organisation through my role as Chair of the Young Professionals and hope to continue to contribute positively in the future, especially through my involvement in Women in Spatial and Surveying.
Above Devon brings her energetic & bubbly personality to her ongoing training.
A coast in motion
Mapping New Zealand’s living edge: LINZ’s 3D Coastal Mapping Programme
Stuart Caie, Programme Lead for 3D Coastal Mapping, Linz
New Zealand’s coastline is more than just a boundary between land and sea. It’s a dynamic tapestry shaped by tides, storms, earthquakes, and the threat of future sea level rise.
Recognising the urgent need for a baseline dataset to understand these processes, Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) launched the 3D Coastal Mapping (3DCM) programme in 2023. This groundbreaking initiative, which runs to June 2027, harnesses cutting-edge Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to capture the shape of our shores and shallow seabed in unprecedented detail. As climate change accelerates and coastal hazards grow, this high resolution data will become a vital baseline for safeguarding communities and ecosystems.
Coastal zones host around 65 percent of New Zealand’s population (within 5 kilometres of the coast) and supports critical infrastructure, from ports and roads to powerlines and railways. Rising seas, storm surges, tsunami and earthquakes all conspire to reshape our shores, often with devastating effects. By mapping up to 40 percent of the nation’s coastline, approximately 10,000 square kilometres, with LiDAR and other mapping technologies, LINZ is equipping decisionmakers, scientists, and local communities with the data they need to anticipate hazards and plan resilient futures.
Scope of the Programme
The 3DCM programme will deliver seamless coverage from 200 metres inland of the coast extending out to
Below
Stylised rendering of Tuhua (Mayor Island) in the Bay of Plenty.
Coastal zones host around 65 percent of New Zealand’s population (within 5 kilometres of the coast) and supports critical infrastructure, from ports and roads, to powerlines and railways.
25 metres below the waterline. This zone overlaps with existing topographic LiDAR mapping conducted by regional councils and LINZ’s National Elevation Programme, which together cover over 80 percent of the country’s land area. By extending the mapping offshore, the initiative fills in a critical data gap: the shallow nearshore environment where conventional bathymetric surveying, often limited to depths of 5 to 10 metres, is challenging and often dangerous. In selecting target areas, LINZ prioritised densely populated coasts, key infrastructure corridors, and regions at high risk of inundation, ensuring that the greatest vulnerabilities are mapped.
From busy harbours to fragile estuaries, the coastline varies dramatically. Urban beaches sit alongside rural stretches of collapsible cliffs and shifting sand dunes. Offshore, submerged reefs and sands host vibrant ecosystems that support aquaculture and tourism. By capturing both terrain and seafloor at high resolution, the programme provides a complete view of our complex coastal environment. This comprehensive dataset will serve as a reference point for measuring future
changes driven by extreme weather events, seismic uplift or subsidence, and gradual sea-level rise.
Building the Foundation: Tide Gauges and Vertical Monitoring
Long standing tide gauges around New Zealand record the rhythmic rise and fall of the sea, creating valuable time series of water levels. However, sea-level changes alone tell only half the story. Coastal land can move vertically through tectonic processes, sediment deposition or erosion, or human activities. To capture these shifts, the programme has installed new or upgraded existing Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers at nine tide gauge sites around New Zealand to track the vertical movement of the land to millimetre precision.
Coupling GNSS and tide gauge datasets enable scientists to calculate ‘relative sea-level change’, a critical metric for coastal risk assessment. For example, in areas experiencing tectonic uplift, a local sea-level rise may be less severe than the global average, whereas subsiding regions face amplified threats.
Below left to right Areas being mapped by LiDAR.
Locations of GNSS installations with existing tide gauges.
Over time, this integration of landmovement and sea-level records will refine projections of coastal flooding, erosion, and saltwater intrusion, informing engineering designs, zoning rules, and emergency response plans.
LiDAR in Action: Mapping Land and Sea in 3D
Light Detection and Ranging, or LiDAR, lies at the heart of the coastal mapping effort. Airborne LiDAR systems emit rapid laser pulses and measure the time each pulse takes to return after bouncing off the surface. By combining these precise distances with onboard GNSS and inertial measurements, LiDAR generates dense point clouds that reveal the landscape beneath in great detail.
Two different wavelengths of light are used: topographic LiDAR employs red lasers (1064nm) to map the land, while bathymetric LiDAR uses green lasers (515532nm) capable of penetrating clear water to map the seafloor.
Since January 2025, two specialist firms, Woolpert NZ Limited in the North Island and NV5 Geospatial, Inc in the South Island, have been crisscrossing the motu with specialist equipment, both using Leica sensors; Chiroptera and/or HawkEye instruments. Flights are timed for optimal weather and light conditions, targeting both daylight windows for bathymetric work and calm seas to reduce surface glare. As of June 2025, roughly 2000 square kilometres has been successfully
mapped, with the first datasets delivered in July. During data collection, LINZ worked with the suppliers to check the data coverage, identifying gaps caused by surf-zones and high turbidity, prompting reflights where needed.
Overcoming the Turbidity Challenge: Acoustic and Satellite Bathymetry
Not all coastal waters cooperate with lasers. In areas of high turbidity, where plumes of sediment or persistent surf cloud the water, bathymetric LiDAR can’t reach the seabed. For these areas, LINZ will develop a prioritised programme of work using multi-beam echo sounders. This will ensure that significant gaps in coverage are plugged, providing a seamless dataset to support modelling routines and analysis. In addition, LINZ has been trialling the use of Satellite Derived Bathymetry (SDB) as a means to map beyond the 40 percent. By analysing the colour and brightness of satellite imagery, SDB algorithms can estimate water depth in clear, shallow areas. A successful trial in the Bay of Plenty demonstrated that where the seafloor is visible from space, SDB can augment airborne surveys. LINZ is now exploring wider SDB applications for remote stretches of coast, further enhancing coverage without additional flight hours.
A Tangible Example: The Kaikōura Earthquake Response
The value of 3D coastal data became clear after the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake.
The seismic event uplifted parts of the coast, leaving once submerged reefs exposed and reshaping marine habitats. LINZ coordinated rapid topographic and bathymetric LiDAR flights, followed by small boat acoustic surveys, to map the new shoreline and seafloor. The Ministry for Primary Industries used this data to assess paua and crayfish populations suddenly stranded above water, while Waka Kotahi NZTA leveraged the maps to plan safe road rebuilds at appropriate elevations above the new high water mark.
Below
Waipapa Bay, Canterbury: Combined topographic and bathymetric datasets.
This rapid response example underscored the need for baseline datasets against which to measure post event changes. With comprehensive 3D mapping, emergency managers and infrastructure owners gain real time insights into coastal transformations, accelerating recovery and minimising environmental impacts.
Weaving Datasets: Literally, joining land and sea
Topographic and bathymetric surveys are traditionally referenced to different vertical datums such as NZVD2016, Mean Sea Level or Lowest Astronomical Tide. Merging these datasets requires an understanding of the differences between each datum, so that elevations and depths align seamlessly. Solving this conundrum of Joining Land and Sea (JLAS) has been around for a while, but since 3DCM commenced, it has become a focus as is it pivotal to the success of the programme. As such, LINZ will be drawing on our own tidal experts and external expertise to work on components, including the creation of a
Mean Sea Surface model connected to NZVD2016. This will enable other datum surfaces eg, MHWS, LAT (produced by Earth Sciences NZ, formerly NIWA), to be connected to a common vertical datum, NZVD2016.
Once complete, JLAS will enable users to connect datasets that can support advanced floodmodelling tools, such as RiskScape and national sea-level rise scenarios, by providing continuous elevation inputs that improve the precision of inundation forecasts.
Benefits Unveiled: Safeguarding Communities and Ecosystems
By creating detailed 3D models of New Zealand’s coastal zone, LINZ empowers decision makers at every level. Local and central government can identify areas at greatest risk of flooding, tsunami inundation, and long term sea-level rise, guiding adaptation plans and emergency evacuation routes. Accurate elevation data reduces uncertainty in flood and tsunami modelling, and optimises investment in infrastructure, among many other uses. Aquaculture operations gain precise seabed maps to identify suitable locations for farms in sheltered, productive zones, reducing setup costs and environmental impacts. Road and rail planners use high resolution elevation models to design resilient transport links above projected flood lines.
Below Benefits to sectors across New Zealand.
And LINZ will use the coastal mapping data to update nautical charts with the latest bathymetry, enhancing maritime safety and supporting international shipping and trade.
As datasets mature, researchers will be able to refine sea-level rise projections, hazard maps, and seafloor habitat models. Emergency managers can run real time simulations of tsunami inundation or storm surge impacts, while regional councils can conduct long term adaptation planning.
Looking Ahead: From Data to Decision
The true measure of success will be the uptake and application of this data.
LINZ is committed to open data access, delivering Digital Elevation Models (bare earth), Digital Surface Models, classified point clouds, aerial imagery, and seafloor intensity files through the LINZ Data Service and the Registry of Open Data on AWS. Later, LINZ Basemaps will provide API access, empowering developers and planners to integrate the data into interactive tools and visualisations.
As datasets mature, researchers will be able to refine sea-level rise projections, hazard maps, and seafloor habitat models.
Emergency managers can run real time simulations of tsunami inundation or storm
surge impacts, while regional councils can conduct long term adaptation planning.
A Living Legacy for Future Generations
LINZ’s 3D Coastal Mapping programme will boost national resilience to climate change. By weaving together state of the art LiDAR, acoustic surveys, GNSS monitoring, and satellite observations, New Zealand is crafting a living record of its shores, one that will guide communities, industries, and policymakers for decades to come.
As climate change reshapes the coastline, these detailed maps will help the country adapt, protect its people, and nurture the marine and coastal ecosystems that define this island nation for a safer, more informed tomorrow.
Below Digital Elevation Models available on LINZ Data Service.
Beyond face value: A deeper look at city resilience
Robyn Francis, Regional Lead - APAC, Smart Cities Council
Conversations on the rate at which our cities are sprawling outward, upward and inward are typically surface level, guided by the known and heavily influenced by what we can see.
Yet growth in an urban context often overlooks a key piece of the resilience puzzle: the sub-surface. Picture communications cables, water pipes, energy conduits - layered and fragmented through decades of development as cities continue to densify.
Every year, thousands of initiatives from new connections to multibillion dollar transport projects occur in urban centres around the world. Vital for growth of urban centres and underpinning commerce and economies, maintaining rapidly aging
infrastructure to meet the basic needs of city dwellers and users, is a core part of the operation of cities.
However, a considerable challenge remains in closing the gap between the rate of infrastructure degradation and the pace of renewal. A situation that demands increased investment and innovative approaches in the coming years.
Demand for underground space in increasing, as well as activity. Without clear, accessible and accurate information about the underground, the rate of adverse impacts and the costs associated with it is likely to increase. Every day, incidents disrupt water, power, and communications beneath our cities, costing millions and putting lives at risk. With damages to
underground infrastructure rising by over 12 per cent in just two years, (according to the Common Ground Alliance annual report in 2022), and three-quarters of these incidents caused by preventable errors, the need for coordinated, data driven management has never been more pressing.
International examples show that with the right approach, cities can halve these damages in five years, cut carbon emissions, and unlock new opportunities for innovation and resilience.
In many cities, underground utilities are installed in silos. Typically, each provider builds and maintains their network independently, often with limited visibility of what others have placed before. The result?
Redundant construction, unnecessary costs, avoidable emissions, and frequent disruptions to public life.
Can we approach underground infrastructure differently?
Consider an operating model where subsurface space is treated as a coordinated opportunity domain, rather than real estate for competing utilities. But instead a coordinated, intelligent layer of the city designed for efficiency, sustainability, and resilience. The potential benefits are significant: reduced costs, lower carbon impact, improved coordination and better service delivery for communities.
In Australia and beyond, this conversation is gaining momentum. Utilities, researchers, Above
visualised.
Layers of underground data
“With damages to underground infrastructure rising by over 12 per cent in just two years, (according to the Common Ground Alliance annual report in 2022), and three-quarters of these incidents caused by preventable errors, the need for coordinated, data driven management has never been more pressing”.
and technologists are beginning to explore how data sharing, coordinated planning, and pilot projects could help shift underground infrastructure from an afterthought to a strategic asset.
The implications go far beyond technical coordination. Optimising sub-surface spatial utilisation could dramatically reduce the impact of infrastructure works on people’s lives, cut greenhouse gas emissions from repetitive construction and unlock new forms of collaboration across sectors.
The time has come to ask: Should we treat the sub-surface as a core part of city planning and innovation?
Smart Cities Council, led by our Sub-Surface Spatial Optimisation Task Force Chair, Sam Wiffen, is opening a
conversation to shape this next frontierand you’re invited.
Join the Conversation
We’re seeking expressions of interest from utilities, universities, and innovators interested in exploring this critical topic.
Whether you’re ready to contribute a case study, help shape a pilot project or simply want to stay in the loop as the thinking evolves, we want to hear from you.
Register your interest or subscribe for updates by visiting: www.smartcitiescouncil.com/task-forces
Images ( 1-2, 4-5): www.reveal.nz Image (3): NZ Herald. Thirteen metre deep sewer sinkhole in Parnell, Auckland, 2023.
Disaster resilience in New Zealand: What we can learn from Australia
James Russell, Tonkin & Taylor NZ
James Russell is the Director for Tonkin + Taylor’s Financial and Insurance Sector. With a background in geotechnical engineering and the assessment of Geohazards, he specialises in climate and natural hazard consulting. James leads initiatives that integrate risk assessment with financial resilience strategies, supporting clients in managing the impacts of climate change and natural disasters on their asset portfolios.
The Cost of Disaster: Who Foots the Bill?
As climate risks and disasters intensify and our infrastructure ages, ensuring the disaster resilience of critical infrastructure comes at a cost, but who should bear it?
Comparison with Australia
Aotearoa New Zealand has many lessons to learn from Australia, with both countries facing increasing climate-related threats, similar infrastructure challenges, and economic and social considerations. Aging infrastructure and urban growth are placing additional strain on networks, and both countries have large regional infrastructure networks with limited access to funding. Similar challenges in balancing economic growth, infrastructure
Above At Infrastructure New Zealand’s Infrastructure Resilience Conference, James Russell, Sector Director – Finance and Insurance, and Tonkin & Taylor colleague Chris Perks, Sector Director –Transport and Delivery Partners, with Sean O’Meara (BDO). The panel discussed how Australia has approached the funding, financing, and governance of infrastructure resilience, drawing lessons for New Zealand.
investment, and the cost of resilience and adaptation also arise.
Key points of difference
Before exploring Australia’s key lessons, it’s important to acknowledge some points of difference. Australia’s larger economy provides access to greater funding. The New Zealand National/Local government model doesn’t work like Australia’s Federal/ State system, which is driven by inequities in access to funding from taxation/ rates between the National and Local Government levels in Aotearoa.
Lessons from across the ditch
Despite these differences, it is still useful to consider the lessons we can learn from across the ditch and apply to the New Zealand context:
Australia has created structured funding mechanisms like the Disaster Ready Fund (DRF) that provide predictable, multi-year investment in resilience projects, separate from disaster recovery funding.
New Zealand could benefit from a dedicated national resilience fund that enables proactive planning and sustained
investment rather than relying on reactive, post-disaster allocations.
2. Strengthen multi-level government coordination
Australia’s federal system fosters strong collaboration between national, state, and local governments, with funding frameworks aligned to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework.
An example of collaboration between national, state, and local governments in Australia is the Queensland Reconstruction Authority’s (QRA) implementation of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), particularly following major flood events. With a more centralised system, New Zealand could improve resilience outcomes by enhancing coordination across agencies, local authorities, and the private sector, ensuring funding and planning are aligned nationally and regionally.
3. Incorporate betterment into recovery funding
Australia integrates betterment into disaster recovery through programmes like the QRA Betterment Fund, which rebuilds damaged infrastructure to higher, more resilient standards. Co-funded under the DRFA, over 520 projects have been delivered, reducing future damage and avoiding an estimated $390 million in repair costs.
New Zealand could embed betterment principles into recovery policies to promote long-term disaster resilience, reduce repetitive losses, and ensure infrastructure is fit for future hazards.
4. Leverage private investment and insurance incentives
Australia actively uses private investment and insurance based incentives to share risk and funding responsibility, encouraging innovation and private sector involvement in resilience investment.
For example, Suncorp, a major insurer in Australia, has actively supported government and community investment in flood levees, cyclone shelters, and resilient homes to reduce future claims.
New Zealand could adopt similar models to attract private capital, spread costs, and build stronger financial incentives for resilient design in both public and private infrastructure.
The New Zealand government has a strong appetite for private investment, as demonstrated by the International Investment Summit.
So, how can we apply these lessons? Firstly, New Zealand should consider a more structured approach to disaster preparedness, like Australia’s Disaster Ready Fund. Another key step is exploring the private sector’s role (particularly financiers and insurers) in financing infrastructure resilience in New Zealand.
As a country, Aotearoa must also ensure that resilient investments are equitable and benefit all communities, especially those outside the main centres.
Finally, legislative changes are essential to improve how New Zealand prepares for and responds to the increasing number of natural disasters.
THE NZ MANUFACTURED PLASTIC BOUNDARY PEG
• Improved & Strengthened Peg
• Drill Auger for hard surfaces
• NZ’s Original Plastic Boundary Peg
• Be aware of an inferior imported SURPEG copy
When the ground moves
Stephanie Harris & Hope Horrocks, Glaister Keegan
In New Zealand, the land doesn’t always stay where the survey plan says it should. Heavy rain, saturated soils, and the relentless work of rivers can cause the ground to shift, sometimes subtly, sometimes catastrophically.
For surveyors, this presents a unique set of challenges. This article explores the legal framework that surveyors need to consider when dealing with slips and their impact on land boundaries and titles, drawing on recent case law.
Du V Youn
In Du v Youn [2025] NZHC 62, Mr Du (represented by our firm, Glaister Keegan) sought the return of a NZD $1,063,000 deposit after cancelling an Agreement for Sale and Purchase (ASP) for 149A Arney Road, Remuera, following a large slip occurring at the front of the property on Auckland Anniversary Day weekend in 2023. Mr Du argued the damage made the property ‘untenantable’ and therefore entitled him to cancel under the ASP; he sought repayment of the deposit with interest and costs. The High Court concluded the settlement date under the ASP remained 31 January 2023, no valid mutual variation was shown, and crucially the property was untenantable on that date (a red placard barred occupation). The purchaser was therefore entitled to cancel and recover the deposit.
Du v Youn shows the court will assess habitability or ‘tenantability’ as at an agreement’s settlement date and will give weight to contemporaneous official measures such as Council Placards. Therefore, factual timestamping matters for survey evidence: what you document and when you document can be determinative in these situations. If a property is physically damaged but officially accessible weeks later, the court will still look to the state on the settlement date when a contract specifies that date as the testing point.
Why this case matters for surveyors
For surveyors that means when called after storms or river swells, treat your brief as time sensitive. Rapid, precise surveying and contemporaneous reporting including photos, timestamps, council correspondence and evidence of placards or emergency orders is vital to help lawyers and courts determine legal consequences.
Surveyors and geotechnical engineers are often the first professionals on site after a slip or flood event. Your observations, particularly about the timeframe and nature of the land movement, can make or break a legal argument about the extent of the damage to the land.
The 2023 Auckland Anniversary weekend rain produced widespread slips, inundation and building damage; many properties were red or yellow placarded, displacing purchasers, tenants and owners. But this is no longer an uncommon event. The recent Motueka River and Nelson-Tasman events have shown how quickly rivers can change courses, deposit silt, and undermine banks with consequential slips, access loss and structural damage. These events highlight the scale of damage surveyors may encounter and the urgent need to coordinate with geotechnical engineers and lawyers particularly with these following considerations:
1. tenantability and occupation safety, 2. physical vs legal boundaries, and 3. the need to consider title and cadastral consequences where ground movement is significant.
From a lawyer’s perspective, the key inputs surveyors can provide include:
• Records of placards and emergency orders issued by Council or Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM).
• Determination of type of slip (erosion, landslide, riverbank retreat, alluvial deposit).
• Historical survey data and aerial photography comparisons.
• Evidence of the rate of change over time.
• Geotechnical or engineering reports confirming the cause and nature of movement.
• Precise measurement of lost or gained land.
• Relevant Cadastral information in respect of changing land.
• Assessment of potential risk of any additional slippage, retaining wall, drainage, or engineering issues that could escalate.
• Assumptions and limitations in your survey report.
This technical information allows lawyers to apply the correct legal test with confidence and answer the following:
1. Is the land still tenantable?
From a legal perspective the relevant question is whether the property is fit for the intended use at the relevant date (for sale and purchase agreement this is usually settlement). Lawyers need to know, can the prospective occupier reasonably use the property for the purpose they contracted for? In Du v Youn the presence of a Red Placard on the property at settlement was decisive - occupation was legally prohibited. Courts will compare contemporary expert reports and the state of official controls (placards, emergency orders) to form an opinion. In these situations, you can assist your client’s lawyer on tenantability by:
• On attendance, record placard status, council notices, police/CDEM access restrictions and any building regulator communications. Photographs, GPSed survey marks, and metadata are essential.
• Providing clear contemporaneous advice to clients about practical habitability indicators (access, services, immediate geotechnical risk), but avoid giving legal conclusions.
• Where partial access is possible (e.g. decks excluded), clearly document what areas are restricted and why - courts value specificity.
2. Does the boundary need to be adjusted?
Whether you redraw a boundary depends on legal and practical factors: the nature of the change (gradual v sudden), the recorded boundary evidence (pegs, plans, fences), the presence of water boundaries, and in some circumstances whether the owners want and consent to an amendment. The Cadastral Survey Rules and LINZ guidance describe technical procedures and acceptable evidence for areas affected by ground movement; surveyors must apply those rules precisely.
3. Does the legal description / Land transfer plan need to change?
A boundary adjustment will also likely prompt a change to the legal description and the Land Transfer title plan for the property. A sudden slip (avulsion) does not automatically change the registered boundary: New Zealand’s title system, and relevant rules (Land Transfer Act 2017; Cadastral Survey Rules 2021), require formal survey work and often owner consent or Registrar action to amend the register. If the change is gradual (accretion/erosion), there may be a common
law basis for boundary movement over time, but those situations are fact sensitive. LINZ guidance on ground movement and the Cadastral Survey Rules provides the technical route for addressing changed ground conditions — but legal title changes are not automatic and must be processed separately and with care.
The surveyor’s documentation will be the primary evidence for any register alteration and enable lawyer to discuss with owners the options available to them to maintain the pre-event boundary on the register (often preferable) or seek a redefinition.
We also acknowledge the importance of your preliminary advice as it’s often the first piece of advice to owners informing them to notify insurers, and that they may need legal and other expert advice for title amendments, retaining structures or reinstatement.
Key Takeaways
When a landowner engages you regarding a slip, it is important to, in a timely manner, co-ordinate with relevant parties such as Council, LINZ and CDEM and assemble evidence packages (site photos, survey plans, expert reports) usable by lawyers and insurers.
Utilise your surveying expertise and all the tools at your disposal. Du v Youn demonstrates courts will rely on technical evidence to decide contract disputes; your records carry weight. Du v Youn is a cautionary case: when weather events render a property unsafe, the legal and commercial consequences are immediate and substantial. For surveyors and geotechnical engineers, timeliness, methodology and precise record keeping are the tools you can use to make sure legal processes (whether for title correction, boundary redefinition or contract disputes) rest on robust, defensible technical foundations. Recent major rain and river events in New Zealand reinforce that the surveyor and geotechnical engineering professions must be ready to provide technical evidence and coordinate with lawyers and councils so that landowners and buyers get clear, lawful outcomes. If you have a client who may need legal assistance after a slip, please contact us, we can help.
Five big marketing tips for small businesses with limited budgets
Don’t have mega bucks to spend on marketing? Never fear, our marketing tips for small businesses are sure to get you noticed without blowing the budget.
Edward O’Leary, Abtrac
1. Engaging Blogs and Compelling Content Blogging has now become an integral part to your online marketing. Regular posts not only drive traffic to your website but gives you the opportunity to generate business leads with your well written, interesting and relevant articles for your target market.
Below are the Best Blog topics for Small Businesses:
• Make a list of the most frequently asked questions, these become your titles for your new blog posts.
• Come up with negative searches that your potential customers would type into Google.
• Make sure you write blog articles all about the consumer (useful tips, ideas etc) and not about how wonderful your company is.
Be sure to include some relevant pictures in there, everyone enjoys something nice
to look at. If writing doesn’t come naturally, share the load. Get each team member to contribute one post a week and use AI tools to help draft or refine content. Start by publishing one blog weekly, then work up to three posts a week for optimal marketing performance.
2. Master the Art of Social Networking Sharing content with thousands of followers is not only a powerful way to remind people who you are and what you offer, it also allows you to target specific audiences based on age, interests, industries, or location, helping you attract new customers and grow your business. Create business accounts on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Google+ and don’t forget Instagram and Pinterest for those with visually driven businesses like architecture. Add AI tools to the mix to optimize your content strategy. Automate posting schedules, analyse audience engagement, and tailor your messaging for maximum impact.
3. Did Someone Say “WIN”?
Everyone loves something for nothing, so why not offer a giveaway to draw people in?
A case of wine for the office, a magazine subscription, or perhaps even a night away! Yes, you will need to fork out for the prize, but the number of participants and potential new leads will make it a worthy investment. Make sure you share the promotion on social media to generate even more of a following.
4. Effective Video Content
I know what you’re thinking, creating a video or ad can cost a fortune. But the answer is simple: film student.
They’re looking for experience and you’re looking to create an instructional video of the product/service you offer, or perhaps an ad to showcase your work and rave reviews. Videos now appear in search results so upload them to YouTube and share them on your blog as well as social media platforms for more exposure.
5. Collaborative Customer Engagement
Keep in mind that word of mouth is an invaluable marketing asset.
To encourage conversations, consider offering current customers a commission or a complimentary month of service for each new customer they refer. It’s mutually beneficial!
Above
Smart strategies, creative tools, and collaboration. Small businesses can achieve big results without a big budget.
Broadening our horizons: Diversity in surveying
How do we, as an industry, increase the diversity of our membership? This question continues to challenge us, and one that the School of Surveying has highlighted recently by hosting two student events in support of the School’s diversity objections.
Richard Hemi, University
of Otago Survey School
The first of these was a Women in Surveying and Spatial (WISS) luncheon, held in Dunedin. The event brought together several prominent women from across the industry to share their personal experiences and professional journeys with our female students.
The candid insights provided were both inspiring and practical, providing positive role models and offering students some insight into their own pathways within the profession. The overwhelmingly positive response reinforced the value of such initiatives, and while similar events have been held before, we now intend to establish this luncheon as a regular feature, whether annually or even each semester. We are grateful to the S+SNZ Women for their support in making this event possible.
The second event, a Māori and Pacific Students Hui, was generously sponsored by Ruru, a Māori owned and culturally focused engineering, surveying and planning company based in Auckland, and again, was well received. This gathering created a space for Māori and Pacific students to meet with one another, academic staff, and mentors to discuss both challenges and opportunities. Topics ranged from the desire for dedicated meeting spaces, to the importance of mentoring and pastoral support. Staff from Te Huka Mātauraka, the University of Otago’s Māori Centre, also provided valued guidance and encouragement.
According to Universities New Zealand –
Te Pōkai Tara, Māori students comprised 13 percent of all domestic enrolments at the University of Otago in 2023. At the School of Surveying, Māori students represent approximately 14 percent of our 2025 school cohort, closely aligned with the university’s profile. By contrast, gender representation tells a different story. While women make up around 60 percent of all students across the University of Otago, female student numbers within the School of Surveying, perhaps unsurprisingly remain far below that benchmark.
As I have previously highlighted, female enrolments in the school, and participation within the profession at large, remain stubbornly low. This is not for want of effort. Over recent years, WISS, the School of Surveying, S+SNZ, and other stakeholders have worked consistently to improve representation. In 2019, S+SNZ considered joining Engineering NZ, the Association of Consulting Engineers NZ, and the NZ Institute of Architects in endorsing the 2020 Diversity Agenda, which set a goal of achieving 20 percent female participation in skilled roles by 2020. Although that target was not met in surveying, the initiative has since evolved into the larger Diversity Agenda Accord, with a focus on inclusion and diversity in a broader range of areas. It is noteworthy that the Accord’s current steering committee chair, Josie Fitzgerald, is an alumna of the school.
Within the School itself, female enrolments in the Bachelor of Surveying programme have averaged 15 percent
However, the question remains: what more can both the school and the profession do to improve gender balance, while also addressing the ongoing challenge of student recruitment?
over the past seven years. Among teaching staff, representation is slightly higher, with five women on the academic team of seventeen. Encouragingly, this semester we believe we reached a new milestone: for the first time, a paper, Hydrographic Surveying 1, enrolled more women than men. Interestingly, the course is taught by one of our female lecturers, Emily Tidey, with her teaching the likely reason for the strong female enrolment.
However, the question remains: what more can both the school and the profession do to improve gender balance, while also addressing the ongoing challenge of student recruitment? This year S+SNZ has invested heavily in marketing, with new careers materials, banners, promotional videos, and school outreach initiatives, including a drone competition giveaway, and a focus on Careers event attendance. It will be important to measure the effectiveness of this marketing in the future to understand if this is money well spent, and that these marketing resources have made a difference in terms of diversity, and recruitment numbers overall.
Yet despite these efforts, other barriers remain. Careers advisors, working in a profession largely dominated by women, play a pivotal role in advising and shaping student pathways.
Alarmingly, some of our female students report a lack of encouragement, or even discouragement, when they were considering surveying and spatial sciences. We hope this reflects a lack of
awareness rather than systemic bias. Encouragingly, those who do pursue this pathway often gain access to excellent scholarships and valuable work experience opportunities. Many of these opportunities were highlighted recently during midsemester, when several of our female students returned to their old schools to promote surveying as a career. But diversity is not simply a matter of numbers. It is about broadening the perspectives, voices, and talents that shape our profession. The future health and vitality of surveying will depend on our ability to attract, support, and retain a diverse membership. Through initiatives such as these, and by continuing to champion and promote positive role models, we may be able to take meaningful steps toward that goal.
Below female enrolments in the school, and participation within the profession at large, remain stubbornly low.
Eyes in the sky
Using drones to safeguard our forests
University of Canterbury UC researchers are using drones and satellite remote sensing to track the health of eucalyptus trees from above and protect the future of New Zealand’s plantation forests. Originally from Nepal, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) PhD candidate Shiva Pariyar is breaking new ground with remote sensing research that could help reduce economic and environmental losses caused by pest damage in non-native eucalyptus species.
“In New Zealand, plantation forestry is dominated by Pinus radiata (pine), which needs chemical treatment to make the timber durable,” Pariyar explains. “To avoid the environmental risks of chemicals leaching into the soil and water, New Zealand Dryland Forest Innovation (NZDFI) has introduced naturally durable eucalyptus species as a more sustainable alternative.”
However, these eucalyptus trees, imported from Australia, are vulnerable to paropsine beetles, also known as leaf chewing beetles, and other pests.
Leaves are the most important part of the tree. Damage or defoliation significantly reduces the tree’s ability to photosynthesise, affecting their growth and
forest productivity.” One of his supervisors, Associate Professor Steve Pawson, says New Zealand cultivates over 15,000 hectares of eucalyptus, with the impact of paropsine beetles varying widely depending on the severity of the attack and the type of eucalypt production system. “Potential yield loss is estimated at $10 million per year, with control costs currently estimated at $1 to $2.6 million,” he says.
Using drone mounted light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and multispectral sensors, and high resolution satellite imagery from trial sites across Marlborough and North Canterbury, he is developing a new model to detect and quantify the spatial extent, intensity, frequency and timing of eucalyptus defoliation both at the individual tree level and across entire landscapes.
“Human eyes can’t always pick up subtle changes in canopy greenness or stress levels, but the technology we use can. Ground based measurements are costly, time consuming, labour intensive and often impractical in remote or dangerous environments. Without timely and accurate information, forest managers are unable to respond to insect outbreaks effectively that may cause long term ecological and
economic damage. My research outcome supports forest managers and policy makers to take both proactive and reactive measures to improve forest health and vitality of eucalyptus plantation.”
His research supports the expansion of targeted plantations of 100,000 hectares of naturally durable eucalyptus in New Zealand by 2050.
“If the trial is successful,” says Pariyar, “this model could be used not just here but globally - wherever eucalyptus is planted. I wanted to build on my skills in the field of remote sensing and technology.
And luckily, I found this opportunity at UC to explore and expand my theoretical knowledge and practical understanding including recent technologies.
UC has given me all the facilities that I need, including learning how to operate drones. Now I can prepare flight plans, fly drones and analyse data for future use.”
Pariyar is currently participating in the Research Student Showcase, an annual event for postgraduate
students that offers valuable training workshops, great prizes, and the opportunity to present their research to a broader audience.
His project is supported by the UC Doctoral Scholarship, NZDFI, and the School of Forestry, with supervision from Dr Vega Xu, Associate Professor Steve Pawson, Professor Justin Morgenroth, and Dr Ning Ye at UC’s School of Forestry.
Credit University of Canterbury
Smart Ideas projects set to benefit NZ
University of Otago
An Otago project on natural hazards is among 46 early stage research initiatives which has received funding in the 2025 Endeavour Fund Smart Ideas investment round from the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment. Each project, worth about $1 million, has been selected for its potential to deliver significant scientific, environmental, and economic benefits for Aotearoa New Zealand.
Professor Tony Moore, of the School of Surveying, will be looking at climate stress testing to improve the resilience of New Zealand’s real estate market in the face of natural hazards.
Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise) Dr Martin Gagnon congratulated all the recipients on their funding. “Each of these projects is uniquely placed to be of significant benefit to not only the economy, but everyday New Zealanders. I look forward to following them with interest.”
Professor Tony Moore, School of Surveying Financial stability and improved policies through spatio-temporal hybrid climate stress tests.
Flooding is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s costliest natural hazards, and risk of flooding will increase with climate change to 2100 and beyond. To prepare for this, we need better ways of predicting and understanding the impacts and implications of elevated flooding risk to households, insurers/banks, and the broader economy. We can achieve this with climate stress-testing across geographic space and through time.
Our project is to integrate bottom-up and top-down approaches of stresstesting the resilience of New Zealand’s real estate market and financial system to climate related flooding risks, such that
behavioural, macro economic, and social criteria can be incorporated to expand the range of influences beyond what have previously been considered.
This hybridised model will be built upon the foundational blue skies research in the Marsden funded STRAND project (20212024), leveraging and expanding the skilled and highly multidisciplinary research team from five research institutions and numerous research partners (including the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, CoreLogic) and world leading experts.
Specifically, this expanded team will improve the physical multi hazard analysis using site specific climate and groundwater datasets; factor behavioural responses of market participants (homeowners, banking and insurance firms) and explore how this may affect the pricing of flooding risk; develop better ways to estimate risks to mortgage lending including repayment and defaults; capture the wider effects of flooding risk on the broader economy and financial stability; and go beyond financial impacts and consider social, physical, and cultural factors with a spatial multicriteria risk index.
Successfully achieving these goals will result in more accurate, applicable, and relevant climate risk estimates that better serve the needs of climate risk pricing and adaptation policies.
Each project, worth about $1 million, has been selected for its potential to deliver significant scientific, environmental, and economic benefits for Aotearoa New Zealand.
