Our changing city

As the climate changes, how could our city change?

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A wind turbine stands on Wellington’s hills at sunset, representing Manaaki Whenua—caring for the land through renewable energy and climate adaptation. Haere Whakamua, embracing a resilient future.

Manaaki whenua
Care for the land

A group of people gathers on a grassy hillside overlooking the ocean at sunset, embodying Manaaki Tangata—community care and resilience in the face of climate change. Haere Whakamua, strengthening connections to people and place.

Manaaki tangata
Care for the people

A golden sunset over Wellington Harbor, with a wind turbine in the foreground, symbolizing Haere Whakamua—moving forward with climate adaptation, renewable energy, and environmental stewardship.

Haere whakamua
Let's go forward together!

In Te Upoko o te Ika

The Head of the Fish, the story of climate change is the story of water.

Water and land are bound together in this dynamic landscape of hills, valleys, and coastline. Climate change is disrupting the natural environment we are all part of - from the streams that flow to the harbour, to the plants and creatures we share this place with. As sea levels rise and rain becomes more intense, our communities and daily lives will be challenged. More water means preparing for more floods, coastal inundation, and slips.

The coast, slopes, and low-lying land of Pōneke | Wellington are home to many people, communities, and activities. As the climate changes, there are changes we can make to create a thriving city for generations to come. Seasonal tohu (indicators), along with knowledge of local maramataka (lunar calendars), have always supported Māori to live in tune with nature and to plan for the seasons ahead. But because of modern greenhouse gas emissions, our past climate is no longer a reliable predictor of our future.

While many people in Pōneke | Wellington and around the world are working hard to slow down climate disruption, a certain amount of change has already been locked in.

Our changing landscape and developing city

The impacts of colonisation and rapid urbanisation that followed the arrival of European settlers in Te Whanganui-a-Tara changed the landscape in many ways and significantly damaged the connection between people and the land and waterways of this area. This, leading to several of the hazards we face today. As people built homes, roads, and businesses, they altered natural features like rivers and wetlands, which affected the local environment.

Urban development has increased the risk of flooding and landslides, while deforestation has made it harder for the area to cope with heavy rainfall. These changes mean that we now have to deal with various challenges, and it’s important for us to understand this context as we work to create safer and more resilient communities.

Many people in Pōneke | Wellington live near the sea, near steep hills, or on land that is not much higher than sea level. In the early 1900s, settlers flattened the dunes to create spaces where Wellingtonians still live and work today. This led to the loss of the dunes’ ecological functions and weakened the connection between people and the natural features of the land.

By restoring a closer connection between people and land and through working with nature, we can help keep our coastlines healthy and resilient for the future.

Climate change will affect our people and places

The coasts, low-lying land, and steep hills of Pōneke | Wellington make the city vulnerable to a range of natural hazards. Flooding, coastal inundation, and landslides are three main hazards that shape how we live in Wellington, challenging our communities and environments today while also guiding how we plan for a resilient future.