Flood risk and the implications for New Zealand’s infrastructure

Topic: Flood risk and the implications for New Zealand’s infrastructure

Description: The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, has published its National Infrastructure Plan which sets out a practical, affordable pathway to deliver the infrastructure New Zealanders need to thrive over the next 30 years. One of these priorities is cost-effective flood risk infrastructure. To understand this challenge, the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission worked with Earth Sciences New Zealand on the risk of natural hazards to infrastructure and private buildings. This talk will cover the main results of that research, including the scale and regional variability of this risk, as well as the expected impacts of climate change.

Speakers:

Nick Horspool, Earth Sciences New Zealand

Nick is a Senior Natural Hazard Risk Scientist with Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly GNS Science), a Crown Research Institute in New Zealand. He researches the impacts of natural hazards on communities and uses this knowledge to develop natural hazard risk models for a range of applications, from disaster management planning to the (re)insurance industry, with a particular focus on earthquake and tsunami perils. He has a MSc in Seismology for Victoria University of Wellington and a PhD in Engineering from the University of Auckland.

Talosaga Talosaga, New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga

Talosaga Talosaga, New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga Talosaga is a Principal Advisor in the Economics and Research team at Te Waihanga. Previously, he was Principal Advisor at the Treasury advising Ministers on housing policy issues. He has worked in a variety of policy, economics and data analytics roles across the Treasury, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. He has a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration with First Class Honours from Victoria University of Wellington.

Graham Campbell, New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga

Graham is the Director Economics and Research at Te Waihanga. He has a background in macroeconomics, fiscal policy, and forecasting, having worked for the Bank of Canada, International Monetary Fund, and State of Vermont Legislative Fiscal Office. At the Commission, Graham’s work has focused on forecasting future infrastructure needs and providing advice around infrastructure funding and financing, local government issues, and the links between economic growth and infrastructure investment. He holds a master’s degree in public affairs with an economics concentration from Princeton University and an undergraduate degree in economics from Centre College (Kentucky, USA).