What does Premature Evacuation mean?
Premature Evacuation may sound provocative but sadly this is what local and central Government are proposing for many Kapiti residents: Managed Retreat before it’s a reality. Compulsory property title cancellations with unfair, or little or no compensation, driven by flawed science predictions from Jacobs Consulting and recommended by the Coastal Adaptation Panel (CAP).
Did you know that KCDC put a GENERAL climate hazard on your LIM’s without telling ratepayers over a year ago?
General LIM notifications were based on extreme Jacob’s modelling (using RCP 8.5 sea level rise criteria), incorporated in the CAP Recommendations which cost ratepayers over $5 million. The LIM statement “Coastal Erosion and Inundation” is already impacting Kapiti property values, housing sales, insurance premiums, and causing community harm, as it informs buyers, banks, and insurers.
Did you know the Council ignored a peer-reviewed report from Waikato scientist Dr de Lange, which identified only 49 homes at risk.
Until served with a Judicial Review, after which they updated our LIM’s to:
Did you know that this is the second time they have tried to put PERSONAL hazards on our LIM’s?
A personal hazard on your LIM poses greater risks than a general notification. In 2012, KCDC placed hazards 200m from the coast, impacting 1,800+ residents, until $2M later, the SHAND report was deemed unfit for planning. Now, 13 years on, KCDC proposes a 2,000m hazard line affecting 20,000+ residents, again based on a flawed report (Jacobs). Councillors vote in April 2025.
Likely effects of CAP Report being accepted by KCDC in April 2025 leading to PERSONAL HAZARDS on your LIM!!
Insurance
- Personal Hazards on LIM’s equals higher premiums.
- Possible decline in coverage, or exclusion of hazards.
- Claims may be declined if property has a Section 72 notice (NZ Natural Hazards Insurance Act 2023).
Mortgage Finance
- No insurance = no mortgage.
- Likely reduction in buyer pool and severe property value decline.
Legislation & Managed Retreat
- May trigger managed retreat legislation, with pre-legislation suggesting insurance loss as a trigger, leading to premature evacuation without appeal rights. See EWGMT* below.
Compensation
- None for secondary homes/part for business premises.
- Unfair and limited for primary homes, with demolition costs payable by owners.
- However, Māori land will be exempt.
Rates
- KCDC rates already high (2025 increase: 17% average).
- Costs (e.g. $5M+ spent so far) and more costs to implement Managed Retreat
- Potential rating base decline due to property devaluation.
Building Consents for Renovations and New Builds
- Section 71: Consents cannot be issued for hazard-prone land (NZ Building Act 2004).
- Section 72: Consents granted with conditions, including Section 72 notices on titles.
- Section 73: Notification on titles protects authorities from liability but affects you.
Impact on Development
- Most residential, commercial properties, and council assets deemed hazard zones under Jacobs’ RCP 8.5 criteria.
- Potential for blanket Section 72 Notices, restricting property insurance and resale.
Background References
- Costal Advisory Panel (CAP) Report: read here
- Jacobs Report: read here
- Dr de Lange report & supporting documents: read here
- Climate Science Validity: Refer “Demise of the Paris Agreement” (Dr. Muriel Newman, 4 March 2025) – read here
- Climate Misinformation: Refer “Climate misinformation from the United Nations” (Swedish Radio, 6 March 2025) – read here
- The Expert Working Group on Managed Retreat (EWGMT)* – read here
- Justin Wong Post Article 10.03.25 – read here
- “The Managed Retreat Resilience Racket” – read here
KAPITI C.A.L.M. 