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guidance, while others describe models or approaches
for estimating impacts and dealing with uncertainty.
Wherever possible, worked-through examples are
provided as well as critical sections on data needs,
model assumptions and limitations.
Overview and Linkage tools have been included
throughout the toolbox, to provide higher level
summaries and ‘where-to-from-here’ guidance, respec-
tively. Furthermore, the authors of every tool have
been identified and can be contacted directly for more
information, particularly regarding the use of models
and other analytical methods.
Types of tool
There are two types of tool available in the toolbox;
guidance and decision tools. The guidance tools come
in three forms:
• General information and reference tools provide
background knowledge and complement other
existing sources of information such as the
Ministry for the Environment guidance manuals
• Models and methodology descriptions with
examples detail the models and methods that
can be used to assess climate change effects,
with sections on data needs, assumptions and
limitations as well as linkages to other tools,
including decision tools
• Messages for improving practice are found in
the fifth tray and provide information on how to
integrate climate change assessments into council
planning and operations.
Who should use the toolbox?
The toolbox is primarily designed to help planners, engineers, asset
managers and hazard analysts working in councils in New Zealand
understand and evaluate the potential impacts of climate change in
their cities. Thus, the principal end-users are New Zealand council
staff with the following roles and responsibilities:
• Infrastructure management
• Asset management
• Consents
• Transport
• Urban development
• Strategic planning
• Emergency management.
How is the toolbox structured?
The central purpose of the toolbox is as a fundamental reference
for councils that are undertaking analyses of the potential effects
of climate change on their city. It describes an end-to-end evalu-
ation process of:
• Understanding the issues
• Assessing the likely hazard (or change in the hazard)
• Identifying the risks
• Evaluating options and their costs and benefits
• Using the tools and improving practice.
The toolbox structure follows these five stages of the evaluation
process. Consistent with the toolbox concept, each of these stages
can be considered a ‘tray’ in the box. Users can choose tools from
any tray, depending upon their information needs. Each tool is a
standalone document, designed to help the user with a specific
task in the evaluation process. Some tools provide information and
Flooding in Westport on 5 November 1926: situated on the floodplain between the Buller River and the Orowaiti Estuary
Image: Buller District Council