Overview
Across New Zealand, institutions and organisations are continually making choices about how to manage hazard risks. Whether it is how to manage the risk of tsunami in Milford Sound, how to manage seismic risk in buildings, how to plan for climate change, or deciding what land is suitable for development, the concept of risk tolerance, our willingness and capacity to bear a risk, is implicit in the natural hazard and climate risk decisions we make.
A critical input into assessing risk tolerance is the elicitation and interpretation of community perspectives on risk tolerance. Alongside technical/expert input, this provides a basis for risk tolerance assessments and subsequent risk management decisions, whether for an imminent risk management decision or to inform enduring policy/planning.
Despite the important role of incorporating community perspectives in risk management decisions, there is very limited guidance on how to elicit and interpret community perspectives. In 2024, NHC engaged the Let’s Talk about Risk (LTAR) team to develop this guidance to support those engaging communities on their risk tolerance.
Natural hazard and climate change risk tolerance
conversations Guidance to aid design
This guidance document focuses on bringing a diversity of voices into decisions about risk tolerance and adaptation at a range of scales. It draws on examples from practice around the country. It offers explanations of key concepts to support communities, agencies, and local government political representatives.
Risk tolerance engagement case studies
Wharekawa Coast
Gorge Road
Amberley Beach
Advice for elected members
Advice for communities
Project team
- Charlotte Brown, ResOrgs
- Cara Ross-Donald, ResOrgs
- Dr Margaret Kilvington, Independent Social Research, Evaluation & Facilitation
- Chrys Horn, CH & Associates
This project has been funded by Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake.
If you are a part of these risk conversations and would like to be involved, please get in touch:
Charlotte Brown
+64 (0)21 142 5420
charlotte.brown@resorgs.org.nz
National natural hazard and climate change risk tolerance workshop
In November 2024, the LTAR team facilitated a national workshop with organisations and agencies to discuss the application of risk tolerance at a national level. The workshop report provides a summary of the workshop, the case studies presented and the challenges and priorities identified by participants.