Sea levels are rising about 1.5mm higher each year and the speed of the rise will gradually increase, reports the North Shore Times in Stuff New Zealand. According to the report, by next century the Government of New Zealand is advising planners to look at 1cm increases a year.
Guidelines and advice to help coastal communities adapt to climate change are being developed by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Niwa, the North Shore further reports. Among Niwa's projects is a four-year study to come up with a plan to help communities understand the uncertainties and the risks, which aims to help residents and their councils develop "best practice" planning for at-risk areas. Niwa resource management consultant Helen Rouse says that proactive strategic planning is the key.
Niwa has identified several information needs including a national profile on coastal sensitivities and access to good quality nationwide information in order to gauge how big the impacts in any given area will be.