New Zealand’s Natural Hazards Commission says more than $NZ10 million ($9 million) was invested last year in research, advocacy and public education, including the launch of Design Resilience NZ.

Its annual Research and Resilience Highlights Report also outlines efforts to tackle the country’s costliest natural hazard, landslides, including work with GNS Science on 3D modelling and funding for new guidance for geotechnical practitioners. 

The commission has also marked one year of its Natural Hazards Portal, which more than 80,000 people visited for claims information and where nearly 30,000 reports were downloaded.

NHC chief research and resilience officer Jo Horrocks says the report shows the “incredible depth and breadth of the work we do to reduce the impact of natural hazards in New Zealand   

“Every year we invest in research that answers important questions about New Zealand’s natural hazard risks, and how best to reduce or manage them. 

“We use our funded science and modelling to inform our other activities, like supporting and advocating for natural hazards resilience, as well as in public communications, education and outreach.”  

Dr Horrocks says the work is “paying off”, with more New Zealanders than ever taking action to prevent natural hazard damage to their properties.

She says prevention is crucial.  

“We were the first [nation] in the world to develop a natural hazards insurance risk pool scheme, which means risk is spread and insurance is more affordable, leading to extremely high levels of coverage. But we can’t insure our way out of every disaster. Our scheme is remarkable in that we invest heavily in preventing and preparing for natural hazards, which is the work highlighted in this report.” 

Design Resilience NZ is an online, open-access platform containing non-regulatory building documents to help people looking to build or repair properties above code minimum standards.