New Zealand: Will Aucklanders walk on water?

Climate change adaptation architect and urban designer Bernd Gundermann envisions an Auckland waterfront dotted with plant covered artificial islands and towers, living artificial reefs of mussels and oysters to take the energy out of storm surges, reports Stuff. Coastal wetlands that people could use for recreation, roof gardens and lawns to help soak up heavier downpours. Other areas might have clusters of homes built to float in calm waters, rising and falling with the tide.

Sea walls may be appropriate in some places, but Gundermann believes resilience means living with encroaching water rather than trying to keep it out. This will be much cheaper in the long run, but will also help communities build resilience, he said.