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FAQs
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You may have questions about the area, natural hazards, recent reports, and findings.
The questions and answers on this page aim to answer your questions.
For the Clutha Delta Natural Hazards Adaptation Programme, ORC’s role is to support community resilience in the face of natural hazards and climate change. We are also responsible for investigating natural hazards and engaging with communities about them. We also operate and manage the Lower Clutha Flood Protection and Drainage Scheme.
The best way to manage natural hazards in the Clutha Delta area is to look at the big picture - all of the hazards in the area and take a long-term adaptation view, working with the community to be resilient.
The programme will be in partnership with the Clutha District Council, Emergency Management Otago, and iwi, and in collaboration with the community and stakeholders.
The Clutha Delta is exposed to a range of natural hazards, including, coastal inundation, tsunami, limited drainage, earthquakes, coastal erosion and flooding from rivers and heavy rainfall.
Over time, some existing natural hazards are expected to worsen due to ongoing changes in the landscape and climate.
The ORC is undertaking various natural hazard investigations to improve our understanding of natural hazard risks.
Detailed information and reports on the natural hazards of the Clutha Delta are available on the information and reports page.
Further information about natural hazards can be found on our Natural Hazards Database, which contains natural hazard mapping information, technical reports and photographs.
The complex natural hazards of the Clutha Delta pose risks for the community, their social and economic activities, and critical infrastructure in the area. With a changing landscape and climate, these challenges are expected to intensify. While there are no simple solutions, taking adaptation actions now will lay the groundwork for stronger, more resilient communities in Clutha — now and in the future.
ORC is using the ‘Adaptation Pathways’ approach developed by the Ministry for the Environment, as outlined in the Coastal Hazards and Climate Change Guidance 2024, as a blueprint for community-led decision making in areas affected by natural hazards and climate change. ORC is also using this approach in other places around the region affected by natural hazards and climate change including the Head of Lake Whakatipu and South Dunedin.
The approach will help plan and adapt to situations where the future is uncertain. It allows for flexible and adaptive decision-making, and for planning under conditions of uncertainty on the rate, timeframes and extent of future changes.
The Adaptation Pathways guidance is structured as a 10-step decision cycle, which looks at:
- What is happening?
- What matters most?
- What can we do about it?
- How can we implement the strategy?
- How is it working?
In 2025, the Clutha Delta Natural Hazards Adaptation Programme is in the first phase of the process, “What is happening?” This phase involves scoping the project, planning an engagement approach, and undertaking investigations to increase understanding of the key natural hazards.
Community involvement and engagement are very important to the Adaptation Pathways approach, and it is our intention to involve and incorporate your feedback in all stages of this project.
Please see the Get Involved page for details.
We are work closely with Clutha District Council and are planning to formalise this relationship as programme partners.
