Climate Change Adaptation Guideline for the Waikato Region

Report: TR 2025/26

Authors: Sophie Marsh, Lisa Armstrong, Tutahanga Douglas, Christo Rautenbach, Whitney Mills (Waikato Regional Council), Waverley Jones (Traverse Environmental)

Waikato Regional Council (WRC) is committed to making significant and long-lasting contributions to its communities, the natural environment and the region’s economy by responding to climate change in an effective and meaningful way. This Climate Change Adaptation Guideline (guideline) provides the latest
policy guidance, scientific information and frameworks on climate change adaptation relevant to the region to encourage a coordinated approach. It includes information on climate change risks to Māori and how to work with our iwi partners.

This guideline is for anyone preparing for the impacts of climate change. For WRC and territorial authorities in the Waikato region, it provides scientific and regulatory information and guidance for developing climate risk assessments, policies and plans. Community groups, iwi/hapū, and industry can use it to understand the information available to help prepare their community/sector.

This guideline is fairly technical due to the nature of the subject. It is a long document that is not intended to be read cover to cover. Instead, users may choose to read the Introduction and Key concepts (sections 1 and 2) and then pick and choose the specific sections relevant to their work to read. Further work is
required to simplify the information contained in the guideline and to focus on key users such as iwi, modellers, developers, planners and community groups.

This guideline forms part of a suite of Waikato-specific climate strategies and information and should be used in conjunction with these documents. It does not cover mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions or provide localised or site-specific information.