Dynamic is perhaps the most understated and least understood of all the terms used to describe New Zealand. Straddling an active plate boundary and surrounded by ocean, New Zealand has a spectacular and dynamic landscape formed by geological and meteorological events, but the management of the risk to people, property and infrastructure from natural hazard events associated with this environment is a challenging area of public sector management. Events of recent years, both here and overseas, present a timely reminder that risk does not stand still.

This article looks at the risks associated with infrastructure in New Zealand and offers some thoughts on strategic risk management that could be used to mitigate against them.

This paper was submitted prior to the November 14, 2016 Kaikoura earthquake.