title: Restraints of change : limits to 'managed retreats' in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Hanna, Christina Jane

subjects: managed retreat

abstract: Managed retreat is an important strategy for natural hazard risk reduction and climate change adaptation, but its operationalisation brings many challenges, even when it is compelling. With significant built, cultural and infrastructural assets sited on low lying coastal land, and settlements traversing fault lines, flood plains, volcanic fields, and debris flow fans, remedying unsustainable land use patterns is essential to building societal resilience. To progress managed retreat from rhetoric to reality, however, New Zealand’s governance framework must be fit for purpose.
The decision-making challenge for managed retreat in New Zealand rests predominantly with environmental planning and the mandated promotion of sustainable management of natural and physical resources. The focus of this research is to examine the role of environmental planning in enabling managed retreat in New Zealand, identify and analyse the potential mechanisms available, and consider opportunities to improve practice. Quantitative and qualitative methods are applied to investigate the function and effect of the various instruments able to influence the practice of managed retreat, identify significant barriers and enablers, ascertain public perceptions towards policy, and consider governance constraints and the prospects to build institutional capacity. 
The research finds that the term ‘managed retreat’ incorporates a broad array of regulatory and financial mechanisms, with the potential to reduce exposure to a range of natural hazards and disruptive environmental changes across space and time. Although the current institutional framework has elements that can address future managed retreat of new development, instruments and support for managing legacy land uses are weak. Policy learning is occurring nationwide, but fragmentation and a lack of strong and consistent direction hinders effective management of risk. Important contributions of the research include a detailed interrogation of managed retreat in policy, analysis of the significant constraints hindering its application and acceptance in New Zealand, and the development of new opportunities to pursue managed retreat in a more effective, equitable, responsive, and robust manner. A governance framework provides a foundation to better examine and consider the various types of ‘managed retreats’ which align to the nature of the problem. It also helps shed light on the areas where research, law, and policy is currently lacking, in order to continue to answer the difficult questions of managed retreat by whom, how, when, and who pays?
Overall, this research exposes the complexities inherent in a diverse array of managed retreats, which at present are constrained by a range of socio-political-cultural, economic, and institutional barriers, requiring new arrangements of the law, planning, and funding mechanisms, and potentially, alternative governance modes. Retreat is inevitable in certain local and global environs—how it is delivered will determine the success of its outcomes and ultimately, the resilience of current and future generations. Bridging the gap between managed retreat theory and practice to increase resilience is essential.

text: Restraints of change : limits to 'managed retreats' in Aotearoa New Zealand Managed retreat is an important strategy for natural hazard risk reduction and climate change adaptation, but its operationalisation brings many challenges, even when it is compelling. With significant built, cultural and infrastructural assets sited on low lying coastal land, and settlements traversing fault lines, flood plains, volcanic fields, and debris flow fans, remedying unsustainable land use patterns is essential to building societal resilience. To progress managed retreat from rhetoric to reality, however, New Zealand’s governance framework must be fit for purpose.
The decision-making challenge for managed retreat in New Zealand rests predominantly with environmental planning and the mandated promotion of sustainable management of natural and physical resources. The focus of this research is to examine the role of environmental planning in enabling managed retreat in New Zealand, identify and analyse the potential mechanisms available, and consider opportunities to improve practice. Quantitative and qualitative methods are applied to investigate the function and effect of the various instruments able to influence the practice of managed retreat, identify significant barriers and enablers, ascertain public perceptions towards policy, and consider governance constraints and the prospects to build institutional capacity. 
The research finds that the term ‘managed retreat’ incorporates a broad array of regulatory and financial mechanisms, with the potential to reduce exposure to a range of natural hazards and disruptive environmental changes across space and time. Although the current institutional framework has elements that can address future managed retreat of new development, instruments and support for managing legacy land uses are weak. Policy learning is occurring nationwide, but fragmentation and a lack of strong and consistent direction hinders effective management of risk. Important contributions of the research include a detailed interrogation of managed retreat in policy, analysis of the significant constraints hindering its application and acceptance in New Zealand, and the development of new opportunities to pursue managed retreat in a more effective, equitable, responsive, and robust manner. A governance framework provides a foundation to better examine and consider the various types of ‘managed retreats’ which align to the nature of the problem. It also helps shed light on the areas where research, law, and policy is currently lacking, in order to continue to answer the difficult questions of managed retreat by whom, how, when, and who pays?
Overall, this research exposes the complexities inherent in a diverse array of managed retreats, which at present are constrained by a range of socio-political-cultural, economic, and institutional barriers, requiring new arrangements of the law, planning, and funding mechanisms, and potentially, alternative governance modes. Retreat is inevitable in certain local and global environs—how it is delivered will determine the success of its outcomes and ultimately, the resilience of current and future generations. Bridging the gap between managed retreat theory and practice to increase resilience is essential.

year: 2019

title: Variation in nitrate sources and delivery in space and time within the 389 ha Lake Okaro catchment

authors: Eyberg, Claire Elizabeth

subjects: Nitrate

abstract: The eutrophication of surface water is a global issue, with excessive nitrate 
concentrations reducing water quality and affecting water supplies, 
ecosystem health and its recreational use. In New Zealand, the degradation 
of freshwater quality has largely been attributed to nitrate leaching from 
intensive landuse, in particular from intensively grazed pastoral systems.   
As agricultural activity in catchments can contribute a large proportion of the 
nutrient pollution in surface waters, an understanding of nitrogen dynamics 
is therefore vital in managing the downstream effects of diffuse nitrogen 
inputs. Nitrate isotopes (δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O) have been increasingly used for 
determining nitrate cycling and source identification. Together with water 
isotopes (δ²H, δ¹⁸O), these conservative tracers can provide the necessary 
tools for determining the transport mechanisms of nitrate.   
    
Lake Okaro has suffered from water quality degradation for several decades, 
and has been the focus of intense lake restoration projects focused on 
nutrient management. The 389 ha agriculture-dominated catchment 
exemplifies New Zealand’s complex physiographic landscape.   

Results from high-resolution monitoring of streamflow during storm events 
demonstrates the potential to capture dynamic shifts in distinct water 
sources, but can be limited by insufficient monitoring of ancillary parameters, 
or a lack of pre-event characterisation of streamflow. Spatial sampling 
indicated characteristic fractionation processes for sites of similar 
environments, likely due to enhanced plant and microbial processing of 
carbon and nitrogen. This spatial sampling demonstrates that even in small 
catchments, there may be a significant degree of heterogeneity in water and 
nitrate flows, in both space and time.   
    
Nitrate contributions were much lower in summer relative to autumn and 
winter during baseflow or non-storm flow. Storm events contributed a 
disproportionate amount of nitrate, but the effect was most notable in winter.   

During baseflow, or non-stormflow, in the main inflow stream in the Lake 
Okaro catchment, nitrate had δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O values indicative of a soil 
nitrogen origin (+5.8 ‰ to +7.3 ‰, and -0.5 ‰ to +1.7 ‰, respectively).    

The dominant nitrate sources shifted during rain events, with streamflow in 
the winter event having δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O values indicative of urine, whereas 
the summer event observed δ¹⁸O-enriched baseflow signatures. Water 
isotope ratios indicated the winter event was dominated by event water. The 
differing seasonal responses to rainfall suggest nitrate inputs during storms 
in this catchment are strongly linked to seasonal nitrate availability in water 
flow paths.    

Patterns observed in temporal and spatial data collected require more 
investigation around potential reasons or mechanisms of fractionation. 
Further refinement of the Okaro catchment flows and cycling of nitrogen will 
help create more catered management techniques.

text: Variation in nitrate sources and delivery in space and time within the 389 ha Lake Okaro catchment The eutrophication of surface water is a global issue, with excessive nitrate 
concentrations reducing water quality and affecting water supplies, 
ecosystem health and its recreational use. In New Zealand, the degradation 
of freshwater quality has largely been attributed to nitrate leaching from 
intensive landuse, in particular from intensively grazed pastoral systems.   
As agricultural activity in catchments can contribute a large proportion of the 
nutrient pollution in surface waters, an understanding of nitrogen dynamics 
is therefore vital in managing the downstream effects of diffuse nitrogen 
inputs. Nitrate isotopes (δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O) have been increasingly used for 
determining nitrate cycling and source identification. Together with water 
isotopes (δ²H, δ¹⁸O), these conservative tracers can provide the necessary 
tools for determining the transport mechanisms of nitrate.   
    
Lake Okaro has suffered from water quality degradation for several decades, 
and has been the focus of intense lake restoration projects focused on 
nutrient management. The 389 ha agriculture-dominated catchment 
exemplifies New Zealand’s complex physiographic landscape.   

Results from high-resolution monitoring of streamflow during storm events 
demonstrates the potential to capture dynamic shifts in distinct water 
sources, but can be limited by insufficient monitoring of ancillary parameters, 
or a lack of pre-event characterisation of streamflow. Spatial sampling 
indicated characteristic fractionation processes for sites of similar 
environments, likely due to enhanced plant and microbial processing of 
carbon and nitrogen. This spatial sampling demonstrates that even in small 
catchments, there may be a significant degree of heterogeneity in water and 
nitrate flows, in both space and time.   
    
Nitrate contributions were much lower in summer relative to autumn and 
winter during baseflow or non-storm flow. Storm events contributed a 
disproportionate amount of nitrate, but the effect was most notable in winter.   

During baseflow, or non-stormflow, in the main inflow stream in the Lake 
Okaro catchment, nitrate had δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O values indicative of a soil 
nitrogen origin (+5.8 ‰ to +7.3 ‰, and -0.5 ‰ to +1.7 ‰, respectively).    

The dominant nitrate sources shifted during rain events, with streamflow in 
the winter event having δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O values indicative of urine, whereas 
the summer event observed δ¹⁸O-enriched baseflow signatures. Water 
isotope ratios indicated the winter event was dominated by event water. The 
differing seasonal responses to rainfall suggest nitrate inputs during storms 
in this catchment are strongly linked to seasonal nitrate availability in water 
flow paths.    

Patterns observed in temporal and spatial data collected require more 
investigation around potential reasons or mechanisms of fractionation. 
Further refinement of the Okaro catchment flows and cycling of nitrogen will 
help create more catered management techniques.

year: 2020

title: Health equity and wellbeing among older people's caregivers in New Zealand during COVID-19: Protocol for a qualitative study.

authors: Burholt, Vanessa

subjects: Aged

abstract: BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the challenges unpaid caregivers faced providing care to older people during the COVID-19 pandemic is limited. Challenges may be especially pronounced for those experiencing inequitable access to health and social care. This participatory action research study, located in New Zealand, has four main objectives, (i) to understand the challenges and rewards associated with caregiving to older care recipients during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions; (ii) to map and collate resources developed (or mobilised) by organisations during the pandemic; (iii) to co-produce policy recommendations, identify useful caregiver resources and practices, prioritise unmet needs (challenges); and, (iv) to use project results in knowledge translation, in order to improve caregivers access to resources, and raise the profile and recognition of caregivers contribution to society. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Māori, Pacific and rural-dwelling caregivers to 30 older care-recipients, and 30 representatives from organisations supporting caregivers in New Zealand will be interviewed. Combining data from the interviews and caregivers letters (from an archive of older people's pandemic experiences), framework analysis will be used to examine the interrelated systems of the human ecological model and the impact on caregiving experiences during the pandemic. Resources that service providers had created or used for caregivers and older people will be collated and categorised. Through co-production with caregivers and community partners we will produce three short films describing caregivers' pandemic experiences; identify a suite of resources for caregivers to use in future events requiring self-isolation, and in everyday life; and generate ideas to address unresolved issues.

text: Health equity and wellbeing among older people's caregivers in New Zealand during COVID-19: Protocol for a qualitative study. BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the challenges unpaid caregivers faced providing care to older people during the COVID-19 pandemic is limited. Challenges may be especially pronounced for those experiencing inequitable access to health and social care. This participatory action research study, located in New Zealand, has four main objectives, (i) to understand the challenges and rewards associated with caregiving to older care recipients during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions; (ii) to map and collate resources developed (or mobilised) by organisations during the pandemic; (iii) to co-produce policy recommendations, identify useful caregiver resources and practices, prioritise unmet needs (challenges); and, (iv) to use project results in knowledge translation, in order to improve caregivers access to resources, and raise the profile and recognition of caregivers contribution to society. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Māori, Pacific and rural-dwelling caregivers to 30 older care-recipients, and 30 representatives from organisations supporting caregivers in New Zealand will be interviewed. Combining data from the interviews and caregivers letters (from an archive of older people's pandemic experiences), framework analysis will be used to examine the interrelated systems of the human ecological model and the impact on caregiving experiences during the pandemic. Resources that service providers had created or used for caregivers and older people will be collated and categorised. Through co-production with caregivers and community partners we will produce three short films describing caregivers' pandemic experiences; identify a suite of resources for caregivers to use in future events requiring self-isolation, and in everyday life; and generate ideas to address unresolved issues.

year: 2022