Five smart ideas to respond better to natural disasters
15 October 2026
The Natural Hazards Commission has funded University researchers to explore how we can respond better to quakes, floods, and storms.
How to manage retreat for flood-prone communities, ensuring homes can be more easily re-occupied following quakes, floods and storms and ways to retrofit ageing concrete buildings to handle seismic risk are among the projects University researchers will take on with funding from the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake.
The Commission is funding a total of eight university research programmes nationally. Five are led by researchers at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. Underlying each programme is the need to protect homes, support decision making about where and how people live and reduce the future costs of damage caused by natural hazards.
Every programme funded includes opportunities for postgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers and early-career scientists.
The University Research Programmes begin in early 2027 and will run for three years. They are funded through NHC Toka Tū Ake's research programme, which invests in research that benefits homeowners and communities and helps reduce the future cost of natural hazard losses.
The NHC Toka Tū Ake University Research Programme (URP) is a competitive funding round held every three years, supporting programmes valued at up to $450,000.
Smarter earthquake retrofits for apartments
Dr Alex Shegay, Faculty of Engineering and Design
Earthquake strengthening can be expensive and disruptive, making it difficult for many apartment owners to act. This programme will investigate whether older apartment buildings can be made safer through smaller, lower-cost retrofits that cause less disruption to residents. The findings will help building owners make more practical strengthening decisions and improve earthquake resilience.
When to stay and when to move
Dr James Miller, Faculty of Engineering and Design
As flood risk increases, communities face difficult decisions about whether to stay, adapt or relocate. Working with Māori and Pacific communities in Auckland and Northland, this programme will develop new tools to help weigh up the long-term costs and impacts of these choices. The findings will support fairer and more informed decisions about adapting to a changing climate.
Homes that recover fast from disasters
Dr Alice Chang-Richards, Faculty of Engineering and Design
After a major disaster, some families are back in their homes within days while others face months of disruption. This programme will investigate what makes the difference and identify practical ways to make homes easier to repair and reoccupy after natural hazard events. The findings will help reduce displacement, support faster recovery, and improve the resilience of New Zealand's housing stock.
Understanding how homes respond to hazards
Professor Liam Wotherspoon, Faculty of Engineering and Design
New Zealand homes face different risks from earthquakes, floods, landslides and other natural hazards, but we don't always have a clear picture of which homes are most vulnerable. This programme will improve understanding of how different types of houses, including Māori housing and papakāinga, are likely to perform during natural hazards. The findings will help improve risk assessments and support better decisions about reducing risk and building resilience.
Predicting coastal cliff collapse
Professor Mark Dickson, Faculty of Science
Thousands of homes around New Zealand sit close to coastal cliffs, but it can be difficult to tell which areas are most at risk of collapse. This programme will use drones, imaging technology and computer modelling to identify the conditions that make cliffs unstable and improve how coastal cliff hazards are assessed. The findings will help homeowners, councils and planners make better decisions about development and risk on cliff-top land.
Media contact: mediateam@auckland.ac.nz