The National Policy Statement for Natural Hazard Decision Making directs how decision-makers consider natural hazard risk in planning decisions relating to new developments.
Our feedback includes:
- Te Ao Māori and local Mātauranga should be central to the development of risk assessments and decision making at place
- Policy 5 should be strengthened to ensure that decisions “must not” allow development in high hazard areas, rather than require “avoidance”.
- ‘Tolerable’ risk or ‘intolerable’ risk, and national thresholds or trigger levels for risk tolerance should be defined.
- The NPS-NHD should specifically refer to ISO 31000:2018 which provides principles and guidelines on understanding and managing risks.
- The scope of the NPS-NHD should encompass not just new development, but all planning decisions, including for infill and greyfield development.
- Policy 6 needs to be strengthened to make nature-based solutions, such as making room for rivers, the absolute