Climate resilience stories
Heavy rain has forced a temporary closure of the rail link between Blenheim and Christchurch after 31 slips damaged track and road access.
A 220-metre timber tower could clean contaminated reservoir water while opening one-eighth of Central Park to swimming and sailing.
Lower-cost pipe repairs are helping cities cut sewage leaks and avoid roadworks as ageing sewer networks come under pressure.
Fuel shortages could be eased by better storage and contingency planning after the Marsden to Wiri rupture, Infrastructure New Zealand says.
Freight services are easing pressure on the alternate road, with up to 2000 trucks a month expected to be taken off it during the rebuild.
Broader criteria could help irrigation spending support jobs, freshwater quality and climate resilience, not just land productivity.
Pacific islands face more floods and droughts as extreme El Niño events are expected to double, even if warming stays at 1.5C.
Businesses will get more certainty over carbon pricing as ministers move to reshape the emissions scheme ahead of New Zealand’s 2030 target.
Rising log volumes are pushing the port towards a £70 million overhaul to avoid bottlenecks and support future coastal shipping.
Housing shortages, leaky homes and soaring land costs are forcing New Zealand to rethink design, building methods and quality.
Claims from the November Kaikōura quake are mounting, with insurers and the Earthquake Commission still handling thousands of residential and commercial cases.
Seventeen council projects have made the cut for LGNZ's Excellence Awards, highlighting work that is already improving services, the environment and jobs.
Rural communities could gain jobs and stronger exports if the government’s NZD $90 million irrigation package is backed by equity rather than loans.
Unexpectedly hot water at depth could make Westland a significant clean energy source, with temperatures rivaling volcanic zones despite no volcanoes.
Thousands of coastal homes could become uninsurable as sea levels rise, shifting climate costs on to homeowners and government.
Safer sites and faster project delivery could follow if new technology cuts errors and lifts productivity across New Zealand construction.
A red-zone recovery plan for quake-hit Waimakariri has won New Zealand’s top planning prize after balancing housing, heritage and infrastructure needs.
Wellington’s future growth could be slowed by quake risk and a funding model that makes new housing increasingly unviable, says Property Council Chief Executive Connal Townsend.
Planning reforms will face scrutiny in Wellington, with more than 600 delegates set to quiz parties on housing, growth and resilience.
Urban planners say rising heat, driverless cars and the shared economy are reshaping New Zealand cities and infrastructure.
