8. Natural Hazards
Natural hazards are events which affect or may affect people, property or the environment. They include earthquakes, landslides, avalanches, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, floods, storms and fires, and are natural processes that are part of New Zealand's natural environment. Human ability to restrain such natural forces is limited, and even when there is the technical ability to do so, natural processes in public conservation lands and waters should, where practicable, continue to function unhampered.
Understanding the risks from natural hazards and employing appropriate management tools to mitigate risks where necessary is the key to effective management of risks from natural hazards.
POLICIES
8 Natural Hazards
8 (a) Management for natural hazards on public conservation lands and waters:
- i. should be undertaken with minimal interference to natural processes, natural resources, and historical and cultural heritage;
- ii. should be consistent with the purpose for which the land is held; and
- iii. will include an assessment of the risks to people, places and property.
8 (b) When a high level of risk to people, places or property from a natural hazard on public conservation lands and waters has been identified, a hazard and risk management plan should be developed by the Department, identifying options to address risks, and interested people and organisations will be informed of any proposed actions.
8 (c) The Department should provide information to enable people to assess the risks from natural hazards that may occur on public conservation lands and waters.
8 (d) People will be responsible for their own decisions on the risks that they are prepared to take arising from natural hazards on public conservation lands and waters.
8 (e) The Department may notify the closure of any part of public conservation lands and waters to public entry when it considers there to be imminent danger to people and property that cannot be reasonably avoided by other means.
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