What it means to ‘adapt’

With updated information on where and when we are likely to experience coastal hazards, we can start to talk about how we might adapt. There are five main approaches but it’s likely we’ll need a combination of these:

• Maintain – we do what we’re doing now but increase our emergency response capability and raise community awareness.

Accommodate – we live with the hazard but use mechanisms like requiring higher floor levels or relocatable new buildings.

Protect – we keep the hazard away using engineering solutions such as dune planting or seawalls. Retreat – we move away from the hazard, perhaps using options such as buyouts, land swaps or leasebacks. Avoid – we don’t move into the way of the hazard in the first place e.g. through land zoning or setbacks to prevent development in that area.

Keep up to date with our coastal adaptation project at www.takutaikapiti.nz