Resilience to Nature's challenges | Kia manawaroa - Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa

The Resilience to Nature’s Challenges National Science Challenge is enhancing New Zealand’s ability to anticipate, adapt and thrive in the face of ever-changing natural hazards.

Launched: 30June 2015

Funding: Up to $59.4 million over 10 years

Host: Institute of Geological and Nuclear Science (GNS)

Summary

The Resilience to Nature’s Challenges National Science Challenge is enhancing New Zealand’s ability to anticipate, adapt and thrive in the face of ever-changing natural hazards.

Working closely with research users, the Challenge is developing technical resilience solutions and applying them in high-priority geographic and economic settings. This includes developing Māori-specific tools and business strategies to make communal assets more resilient and enhance kaitiakitanga.

In rural economies, work is aimed at strengthening value chains, and using future scenarios to identify effective interventions.

In cities, the Challenge looks to build-in resilience in growing populations, housing, and transport systems.

For our vulnerable coastlines, the Challenge will integrate community and governance views to design innovative pathways that balance our desire to live near the sea with resilience to the hazards brought about by sea level rise and climate change.

Challenge objective

To enhance New Zealand’s resilience to natural disasters.

Title translation

Kia manawaroa - (modifier) stamina, doggedness, grit, staying power, endurance, resilience, fortitude

Ngā āki (-na) - (verb) to challenge, challenges

[o Te] Ao Tūroa - (noun) [of the] light of day, world, earth, nature, enduring world

Listen to the Māori title [MP3, 226 KB]

Collaboration partners

  • National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
  • Scion
  • Auckland University
  • Massey University
  • Victoria University of Wellington
  • University of Canterbury
  • Lincoln University
  • University of Otago
  • BRANZ
  • Opus International Consultants.