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About the Shoreline Adaptation Programme

How shoreline adaptation plans work, the coastal areas they cover, and the current status of each plan.

Shoreline adaptation plans

The Shoreline Adaptation Programme includes plans for 20 coastal areas across the region. We call these 'shoreline adaptation plans' (SAPs).

SAPs look at how we can manage council-owned assets and land across Auckland’s 3200km of shorelines (beaches, cliffs, harbours and estuaries) to respond to coastal hazards and climate change over the next 100 years.

How SAPs are developed

We develop each SAP in partnership with mana whenua and guidance from infrastructure providers, technical experts and coastal communities.

Working together in this way will help guide the way we manage our coastlines and adapt to the impacts of coastal hazards and climate change into the future.

Once completed, each SAP will outline a flexible, long-term coastal management response for council-owned land and assets in its area.

Have your say on current SAP consultations

Pākiri to Mathesons Bay, Ti Point to Sandspit and Snells Beach to Ōrewa

The Pākiri to Mathesons Bay, Ti Point to Sandspit and Snells Beach to Ōrewa SAP consultations are open from 8 April to 31 May 2024.

Visit Shoreline Adaptation Plans: Pākiri to Mathesons Bay, Ti Point to Sandspit and Snells Beach to Ōrewa to read more and have your say on these SAPs.

Kaipara Harbour

The Kaipara Harbour SAP consultation is open from 8 April to 31 May 2024.

Visit Shoreline Adaptation Plans: Kaipara Harbour to read more and have your say on this SAP.

Plans for our shorelines by area

Map of areas covered by the Shoreline Adaptation Programme

The map explained

The map uses colours and letters to show the timeline for shoreline adaptation plans by area.

2019-August 2023

Yellow - in areas W and H, SAPs were approved for:

Dark blue - in area E, a 'mini'-SAP in Waitematā Harbour West was approved for:

Yellow - in areas I and K, SAPs were approved for:

March-September 2023

Green - in areas J, P and Q, consultations are closed and SAPS are under review for:

  • Pahurehure Inlet
  • Manukau East
  • Manukau North.

The final reports for these SAPs will be available in the first half of 2024.

November 2023-April 2024

Light blue - in areas L, F and G, consultations closed and SAPs are under review for:

  • Whatipu to South Head
  • Bucklands Beach to Pine Harbour
  • Tāmaki River Inlet.

February-June 2024

Orange - in areas B, C and M, we are planning SAPs for:

  • Pākiri to Mathesons Bay
  • Ti Point to Sandspit
  • Snells Beach to Ōrewa
  • Kaipara Harbour.

June 2024-June 2025

Dark blue - in areas D,E,R,S,O and N, we are planning SAPs for:

  • Silverdale to Devonport
  • Waitematā Harbour West
  • Auckland Central
  • Ōrakei to Karaka Bay Beach
  • Hauraki Gulf islands
  • Aotea Great Barrier Island.

Stages of the shoreline adaptation plan process

Each SAP includes ongoing consultation with local iwi and several months of local community engagement. This helps us to understand how communities use and value coastal areas.

Each SAP follows a process that involves:

  • local iwi review and approval
  • community engagement through public presentations and consultations
  • strategy development based on research and feedback from local iwi, infrastructure providers, Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) and community values
  • draft and review
  • local board endorsement
  • final approval by the Governing Body.

Shoreline adaptation plan strategies

Each SAP applies four strategies to guide decisions around managing council-owned assets and land in its area:

  1. No active intervention: Let nature take its course without intervention.
  2. Hold the line: Defending council-owned assets and land from erosion and flooding, and preserving these areas (like walkways and sports fields) for their intended uses. We can do this by taking protective measures like building sea walls and planting dunes.
  3. Limited interventions: Allowing for some maintenance to existing coastal defences, and ensuring we keep assets safe while accepting that processes like wind, waves and storms will change the position of the coastline over time. This strategy also identifies that some assets or uses (like footpaths, sports fields and carparks) may need to be moved to manage potential risks.
  4. Managed realignment: Planning for changes to the coastline and managing risks by moving assets, uses and infrastructure away from the coast and hazard-prone areas.

Watch the Introduction to Shoreline Adaptation Plans video

 

Read the full transcript of this video.

Coastal Management Framework

SAPs are key to implementing the 2017 Coastal Management Framework and Te Tāuke-a-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan to help prepare Auckland and its coastal areas for ongoing environmental challenges.

Get a copy of the Coastal Management Framework

​Read the 2022 Coastal Hazard Assessment Guidance

Coastal Hazard Assessment Guidance 2022 [PDF 867KB]

Map of Auckland’s coastal erosion

Our online coastal mapping platform shows Auckland’s coastal areas that could be affected by coastal instability and erosion.

More information

Email shorelineadaptationplans@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz for further detail on this project.

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