Community asked how coastal hazard risks should be funded

Published: 2 March 2026

Hawke’s Bay’s coastline faces real and growing risks from coastal erosion and coastal flooding. A new survey is asking people how the work needed to respond to these hazards should be funded.

The survey is part of the proposed Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazards Strategy 2120, developed by representatives from Tamatea Pōkai Whenua, Hastings District Council, Mana Ahuriri Trust, Napier City Council, Maungaharuru-Tangitu Trust, and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. A pre-Christmas survey found coastal planning matters to the wider community. This survey asks who should pay for that work, and how.

Regional Council Deputy Chair Jerf van Beek says: “The coast matters deeply to people across Napier and Hastings, especially those living near the coast. Homes, roads, services, and business that communities depend on are all affected by changing risks from sea level rise, storms, and ongoing coastal processes. People have told us they want decisions that are transparent, community-wide, and sustainable over time. That is exactly what this process is designed to deliver.”

The survey is open to all residents, including those who live away from the coast.

The Strategy uses adaptive planning, a trigger-based approach that allows decisions to be revisited as conditions change, keeping options open while enabling practical action now.

“Acting in a staged, considered way is the responsible choice. Adaptive planning gives communities and councils the tools to respond wisely to changing conditions and as we learn more,” says Councillor van Beek.

On Tuesday 3 March at 7pm, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council will host a Facebook Live Q&A on adaptive planning and the proposed Strategy. Themes gathered through surveys, drop-in sessions, webinars, and focus groups will then be considered by the Community Reference Group before recommendations go to councils, informing decisions for the 2027 Long Term Plan.

“Every voice adds to the picture. By hearing from communities now, the council can move into formal decision-making with a clear sense of what people want and what approaches will be workable and enduring,” says Councillor van Beek.

Take the survey here 

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