Managing Natural Hazard Risks in New Zealand

The key pieces of legislation relating to the management of natural hazard risks in New Zealand are the:

  • Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA);
  • Local Government Act 2002;
  • Building Act 2004; and
  • Civil Defence and Emergency Management Act 2002 (CDEM Act)

When viewed together as a whole they provide “a legal foundation for building sustainable, hazard-resilient communities and provide planners with a range of tools to avoid and mitigate hazard risks.” 3840  The majority of natural hazard management is delegated from central government to local authorities. Health and safety is an RMA issue under Section 5 as a matter that needs to be considered by planners.

  1. B Glavovic, W Saunders and  J Becker “Land-use planning for natural hazards in New Zealand”(2010) Nat Hazards (54) 679.

Last updated at 1:11PM on February 8, 2018