News

In the first of our Deep South Challenge seminars for 2019, we hear from Lisa Ellis and Catherine Iorns, researchers from different fields, both looking at the question of who should fund climate adaptation.

New Zealanders are increasingly confronted with the obvious climate impacts like flooding, drought, heat stress and coastal flooding. We’re also now asking whether we should build sea walls or retreat to higher ground, or what we should do when insurance become unavailable for our coastal homes.

Last last year, we indicated our plan to release a Vision Mātauranga funding round early in 2019. This funding round supports research within the Māori Domain of the Deep South Challenge: Changing with our Climate. We want to let you know that this funding round will now open in July 2019. 

We're on the lookout for a new Challenge Manager! This is an exciting opportunity to apply your scientific background and management abilities to a critical challenge facing our nation.

Kia hiwa rā! We are holding our 2nd Deep South Challenge conference on the Auckland Viaduct, May 6-8, 2019. 

One of our key team members is wrapping up her work with us and moving on to a new challenge (this time with a lower case 'c'). Lucy Jacob, manager of the Deep South Challenge for the past two and a half years, has secured a role as Oceans Specialist with the World Wildlife Foundation. In this Q&A, we asked Lucy about her time in the Challenge and her plans for the future.

Kia hiwa rā! We're now seeking funding proposals for climate modelling and observations to support model development. This RfP builds on our Research Strategy, for projects that will begin in our second phase of research, from July 1, 2019:

Facing the faraway threat of sea-level rise, responses range from, “Your place, your problem!”, to “Don’t worry, the government will take care of it.” But unless we consider the issue and respond ethically, it’s very likely that the risks of sea-level rise will not be shouldered fairly.

In the specialised world of New Zealand climate modelling, contributing to the Unified Model, run by the UK Met Office, is the ultimate success story.