Ōpōtiki District Council has made it clear to central Government that it will require funding if it is to be expected to manage retreat from areas impacted by climate change.

A submission to the Ministry for the Environment's draft National Adaptation Plan was tabled at last week's council meeting for approval by councillors.

The adaptation plan is part of the resource management reforms being worked through by the Government and will form policy about this country's response to climate change, in particular managed retreat. A consultation document on the plan cites the 2005 debris flow in Matatā as an experience that highlighted the need for a national framework on how to manage such retreats. The document states that the managed retreat of Matatā came at a total cost of $16.8 million and years of stress and uncertainty for the community. Consultation on the plan closed on June 3.

The council's submission was in support of the plan but drew attention to its lack of 'regulatory tools or a consistent methodology” for regional and district councils to implement it.

'Managed retreat is a hugely costly exercise that ought to be funded nationally, rather than by communities that cannot afford to meet these costs,” a report summarising the submission said.

It also pointed out that insurance companies had a huge role to play and must be involved in the conversation of meeting the cost of managed retreat, alongside central and local government and property owners.

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