So Close Yet So Far Apart: Contrasting Climate Change Perceptions in Two “Neighboring” Coastal Communities on Aotearoa New Zealand’s Coromandel Peninsula

Schneider, Paul; Glavovic, Bruce; Farrelly, Trisia

doi:10.3390/environments4030065

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Fifth, we present findings from key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Sixth, we discuss these findings according to emergent key themes in relation to insights from the literature review, and in the light of recent studies on adaptation in Aotearoa-New Zealand (Lawrence et al, 2015;Manning et al, 2015;Reisinger, Lawrence, Hart, & Chapman, 2015;Rouse et al, 2017;Schneider & Glavovic, 2019;Schneider, Glavovic, & Farrelly, 2017). The final section presents conclusions Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…Insights from the interviews show that the process of proactively addressing adaptation barriers began in the Hawke's Bay with the initiation of the Strategy process in 2014. In contrast, at that time, there was no evidence of proactive long-term adaptation action by the TCDC, other than reliance on structural protection; coastal hazard risk was framed as a 'coastal erosion problem' and some local leaders were apparently in denial about the reality of climate change (Schneider et al, 2017). This situation may, however, have changed in only a few years, as signalled by the development of the Coastal Management Strategy, which was initiated in 2018-2019.…”

Section: Reflections On Comparative Experience In the Two Regionsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Furthermore, both regions have long-standing contestation related to demands to protect valuable at-risk private property investments and critical infrastructure (e.g. coastal roads) with seemingly irreconcilable views and expectations about how to adapt and secure public safety and coastal sustainability (Komar, 2010;Schneider et al, 2017). The proximity of the Coromandel to the main centres of Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga, coupled with the region's outstanding scenic beauty are key attractions for absentee property ownership which has contributed to rapidly increasing property values.…”

Section: Regional Settingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Seventy percent of the Coromandel region's beach areas and dunes are developed within 100 m of the sea (ARC, 2004), in areas identified to be at risk from coastal hazards (TCDC, 2015). The legacy of historical development decisions, ongoing development pressures, high increases in property values, and the development of new coastal areas (greenfield development), have hindered long-term proactive adaptation action in this region (Schneider et al, 2017). Historically, there has been strong reliance on structural protection for at-risk infrastructure assets and properties (Schneider et al, 2017).…”

Section: Coromandelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The legacy of historical development decisions, ongoing development pressures, high increases in property values, and the development of new coastal areas (greenfield development), have hindered long-term proactive adaptation action in this region (Schneider et al, 2017). Historically, there has been strong reliance on structural protection for at-risk infrastructure assets and properties (Schneider et al, 2017). A major storm event in January 2018 caused devastation along large stretches of the coast of the Coromandel.…”

Section: Coromandelmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A rising tide of adaptation action: Comparing two coastal regions of Aotearoa-New Zealand

Schneider¹,

Lawrence²,

Glavovic³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Diverse and contested local interests and the complexity of climate change make adaptation to climate change risks at the coast challenging. Even in similar settings, adaptation experiences and prospects can differ markedly. Why? This paper provides empirical evidence of comparative adaptation experiences in two regions of Aotearoa-New Zealand - the Coromandel Peninsula and the Hawke's Bay coast. We critically examine how local barriers and enablers influence the trajectory of adaptation in two regions that face similar risks, have essentially the same institutional architecture, and yet have had very different adaptation experiences. We investigate the situational differences and similarities, and their implications for adaptation in each region. We found that the evolution of adaptation is shaped by the perceptions of the actors, especially local authority leaders, and opportunities that arise at a context-specific point in time. Such perceptions and opportunities can amount to barriers in one location and enablers in another. Growing concern about coastal hazard risk, improving levels of trust and legitimacy, community engagement, and collaborative governance were key to innovative long-term adaptation planning in the Hawke's Bay but their absence has led to short-term business as usual practices in the Coromandel. Yet even in the latter case, change is underway and longer-term adaptation planning is commencing. We conclude that there is a ‘rising tide’ of adaptation action in the face of escalating climate risk – with long-term planning and local action triggered by cumulative hazard experience and / or extreme events that raise public concern and make climate change salient to local community members and leaders. Both local and regional interests and concerns shape local response appetites. Proactive, local authority-led engagement and long-term strategic planning are foundational for mobilizing effective adaptation responses. Enabling national policy, guidance and institutional provisions are key to prompting and sustaining such efforts, and to facilitating broad consistency in locally appropriate responses. Notwithstanding efforts to foster locally appropriate but nationally aligned adaptation responses, our research shows that coastal communities and their local authorities follow pathways consistent with local risk appetites, understanding about climate change, and the political will and capacity of local government to mobilize key governance actors around long-term strategic planning.

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