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Climate-related risks
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The changing climate presents both risks and opportunities for the region and the interactive Otago Climate Story helps you to explore them.
The story follows the path of water, ki uta ki tai | from the mountains to the sea, highlighting the impacts of a changing climate on our land, water, and communities. The story also features work underway to prepare for our region’s future climate.
The Otago Climate Story is best experienced on desktop, however there is a dedicated mobile experience as well.
Climate change is already affecting Otago’s landscapes and communities. We’ve prepared a region-wide summary that tells the story of what climate change may mean for Otago.
This summary explains how the climate across Otago is changing, the most important risks the region may face in the coming decades, and what is being done today to build resilience.
Otago is a wonderfully diverse region, featuring mountains, lakes, rivers, valleys, plains, coastlines, and estuaries. Climate impacts on the natural environment, infrastructure, communities and economies are likely to vary by location, requiring different sorts of responses.
We’ve prepared summaries by area so that you can better understand how the changing climate could impact your part of Otago, and what is being done to respond.
August 2026
PDF | 5 MB
This summary describes Clutha’s part in Otago’s climate story, including Kāi Tahu mana whenua knowledge and experiences. It explains how the climate across the Clutha area is changing; what these changes mean for Clutha’s communities, infrastructure, services and natural environments; and what is being done today to build resilience.
August 2026
PDF | 5 MB
This summary describes Queenstown Lakes’ part in Otago’s climate story, including Kāi Tahu mana whenua knowledge and experiences. It explains how the climate across Queenstown Lakes is changing; what these changes mean for local communities, infrastructure, services and natural environments; and what is being done today to build resilience.
August 2026
PDF | 5 MB
This summary describes Queenstown Lakes’ part in Otago’s climate story, including Kāi Tahu mana whenua knowledge and experiences. It explains how the climate across Queenstown Lakes is changing; what these changes mean for local communities, infrastructure, services and natural environments; and what is being done today to build resilience.
August 2026
PDF | 5 MB
This summary describes Waitaki’s part in Otago’s climate story, including Kāi Tahu mana whenua knowledge and experiences. It explains how the climate across the Waitaki plains and coast is changing, what these changes mean for local communities, infrastructure, services and natural environments, and what is being done today to build resilience.
August 2026
PDF | 5 MB
This summary describes Central Otago’s part in Otago’s climate story, including Kāi Tahu mana whenua knowledge and experiences. It explains how the climate across Central Otago is changing; what these changes mean for Central Otago communities, infrastructure, services and natural environments; and what is being done today to build resilience.
Otago’s future climate
Information, tools and reports to help understand climate change impacts and risks across Otago, including effects on communities, the environment, biodiversity and the economy.
What we're achieving in Otago
An overview of Otago Regional Council’s climate resilience work, including adaptation programmes, emissions reduction initiatives, emergency readiness and partnerships with communities and organisations.
What you can do
Ways you can take action on climate change in Otago, including household preparedness, reducing emissions, community initiatives, events and funding opportunities.
Whats happening nationally
Information linking national climate change policies and frameworks with Otago initiatives, including emissions reduction, adaptation planning, resilience research and funding programmes.
