Living Labs - CITIES, SETTLEMENTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Resilient Christchurch City Tour

Location: A circuit around Christchurch City
Time: 9.30am- 4.30pm
Details: Depart Te Pae at 9.30am for a bus tour through the red zone visiting Otakaro Orchard & Climate Action Campus, the waterways and wetlands of the river, New Brighton, Lyttelton and the Port Hills. You will return to Te Pae by 4.30pm. A packed lunch will be provided.

Enjoy a bus tour of eastern Christchurch and the neighbouring Lyttelton Harbour and Port Hills to explore a diversity of community and council climate resilience activities. This full day study tour will visit Otakaro Orchard to understand how this urban food hub and the Food Resilience Network are supporting urban food security. Visit the Climate Action Campus to see how practical climate education is empowering students and teachers from 50 schools. Get a taste of the Ōtākaro Avon River Regeneration Programme growing climate resilience and enhancing social and economic opportunities by restoring waterways and wetlands (a more in-depth tour of this area is also available). Discover how the council is working with the community to restore natural buffers along the coast such as sand dunes and coastal plantings. Visit Lyttelton Township to see how the Project Lyttelton community group are delivering on their vision of a sustainable and resilient community. Rise over the spectacular volcanic crater rim of the Port Hills to discover how the council is working with landowners to eliminate pests and manage drought and fire risks on these hillsides including fire resistant planting and the use of technology to provide a network of early warning fire detection. 

Please bring a water bottle, warm clothing, a wind breaker, sturdy footwear, sun block and sunglasses. 

Community-led adaptation: Amberley Beach walking tour

Location: Amberley Beach
Time: 8.30am – 12.30pm
Details: Depart Te Pae at 8.30am for Amberley Beach. You will return to Te Pae by 12.30pm. 

Amberley Beach is a small coastal settlement in New Zealand facing significant challenges due to coastal and flood hazards. Originally established as a holiday destination, it is now primarily occupied by permanent residents. The settlement is low-lying, lacks stormwater infrastructure, and was initially constructed with basic modest dwellings. Amberley Beach is characteristic of many small New Zealand coastal settlements. Hurunui District Council has for the last five years worked alongside its coastal communities to deliver real, meaningful adaptation plans that deliver for communities and individuals. The Amberley Beach Community Coastal Adaptation Plan focuses on the following hazards: Coastal erosion, Coastal inundation, Rising groundwater, Fluvial flooding, and Pluvial flooding. Their plan includes the potential relocation of the settlement within the next 20-30 years and includes a proposed approach on how this could be funded locally. The community’s Adaptation Plan, finalised in 2023, is now being actively implemented. The field visit will cover agreed responses to these hazards, triggers for adaptation and will look at the works undertaken thus far including a site visit to the redeveloped Coastal Bund. Participants will walk approximately one kilometre along the artificial bund, discussing the development and current steps being taken to implement the Adaptation Plan.

Please bring a water bottle, warm clothes, a jacket and walking shoes.