Major weather events are becoming more frequent and severe, as a region we need to be well prepared, be willing to make changes about where we live and support those who don’t have the option to move quickly and easily. Industry, land use, healthcare, education and transport are all being disrupted – we need just transition plans that everyone helps develop and implement.
There are 600,000 hectares currently used for pasture and exotic tree plantations in Tairāwhiti. What happens on this land has huge consequences for local jobs, indigenous biodiversity and income for landowners.
Te Weu Charitable Trust is involved in a range of climate resilience research projects and we’ve supported residents to initiate changes in land use policy and plans via Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti.
Here’s our latest report (July 2024), on the impacts of extreme weather events on health and wellbeing in Tairāwhiti and Hawkes Bay.
We’ve also created some resources (videos, posters, dashboard, plans) to help local conversations about climate change and land use – and have started collating a range of opportunities for creating employment based around indigenous forests and plants.