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February 11, 2026
Blue-Green Infrastructure: Dr Shaun Awatere Calls for Nature-Based Climate Resilience
Dale Husband
Posted On February 11, 2026
Download AudioAs extreme rainfall, flooding and coastal erosion intensify across Aotearoa, leading Māori researcher Dr Shaun Awatere is urging a fundamental rethink of how New Zealand prepares for climate change.
Dr Awatere, a senior researcher at Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, has long advocated for blue-green, nature-based infrastructure as a core solution to protecting communities – particularly Māori communities – from escalating climate risks.
Blue-green infrastructure refers to the strategic use of natural systems – rivers, wetlands, forests, floodplains, dunes and coastal margins – to absorb, filter and manage environmental pressures.
Rather than relying solely on engineered “grey” solutions such as concrete stopbanks and hard drainage systems, blue-green infrastructure works with natural processes. Wetlands can store excess floodwater. Native planting stabilises slopes and reduces landslides. Restored floodplains allow rivers space to move safely. Coastal dune systems buffer storm surges.
These systems provide multiple benefits at once: flood mitigation, water filtration, biodiversity protection, carbon sequestration and cultural reconnection with whenua.
For Māori communities, these approaches align closely with tikanga-based environmental stewardship.
New Zealand’s disaster response model remains heavily reactive. Billions are spent repairing roads, bridges and assets after cyclones and major rain events. In many regions, infrastructure is restored to its previous state rather than redesigned for a changing climate.
Dr Awatere’s research suggests that central and local government must shift from emergency recovery cycles toward sustained investment in preventative, nature-based systems.
The argument is not simply environmental. It is economic. Long-term blue-green investment can reduce downstream damage costs, protect housing and agriculture, and lower the social burden of repeated displacement.
With climate projections indicating more frequent and severe weather events, the urgency of this transition is increasing.
Despite growing recognition of nature-based solutions, significant barriers remain.
Funding structures often prioritise short-term repair over long-term resilience. Planning frameworks can be fragmented, with responsibilities split across multiple agencies. Access to capital remains uneven for iwi and hapū seeking to lead regional adaptation initiatives.
In regions like Te Tairāwhiti – repeatedly hit by cyclones and landslides – locally driven adaptation strategies exist, but scaling them nationally requires sustained investment and policy alignment.
Another barrier lies in the undervaluation of mātauranga Māori within formal planning processes. While co-governance and partnership models are emerging, they are not yet fully embedded across all sectors.
Traditional infrastructure planning often measures risk primarily in financial terms. However, Māori communities face layered impacts – cultural, social and economic.
Damage to wāhi tapu, urupā or mahinga kai sites carries consequences that extend beyond insurance claims. Disruption to marae access or isolation of rural communities can weaken social cohesion and wellbeing.
Policy makers are increasingly being challenged to integrate cultural and social risk metrics into climate planning frameworks, ensuring that decisions reflect the lived realities of vulnerable communities.
Without that integration, Māori communities remain disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards.
Blue-green infrastructure also presents economic opportunity.
Large-scale wetland restoration and regenerative planting can improve water quality and enhance biodiversity. Bioremediation projects can stabilise land damaged by erosion while supporting employment in regional areas.
Emerging carbon markets offer potential revenue streams for iwi and landowners investing in native forest regeneration and ecosystem restoration. However, accessing those markets requires technical capacity, upfront investment and supportive regulatory settings.
Unlocking these opportunities at scale would require coordinated national policy, streamlined funding pathways and clear recognition of Māori land governance structures.
As climate impacts intensify, the conversation is shifting from whether adaptation is necessary to how it should be delivered.
Dr Awatere’s work places blue-green infrastructure at the centre of that discussion, framing it not as a niche environmental option but as core public service delivery.
The challenge for government now is whether it will move beyond reactive disaster recovery and embed nature-based solutions into mainstream infrastructure investment.
For many Māori communities already bearing the brunt of repeated climate events, the need for durable, culturally grounded resilience is no longer theoretical.
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