How climate change may impact the Western Bay of Plenty District
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) has information about the possible impacts that climate change may have at a national level. Many of these direct and indirect impacts may affect day-to-day life in the Western Bay of Plenty District to some degree, with some of the key impacts being:
- Saltwater incursion into rivers and groundwater aquifers. This would have impacts on water supplies and wastewater treatment plants.
- Increased coastal flooding may impact on roading networks and community infrastructure such as coastal parks and walkways.
- Coastal erosion impacting on areas with high cultural values. Matakana Island and Maketu have been identified as having a high sensitivity to erosion.
- Establishment of new pest animals, weeds and diseases that are currently prevented by NZ’s climate. This could have significant impacts on indigenous ecosystems, as well as on primary production systems. More ants, wasps and sub-tropical fruit flies, also impacting on indigenous ecosystems and primary production systems.
- Increased susceptibility to aquatic diseases, and establishment of sub-tropical and tropical species.
- Expansion of existing pests such as koi carp, goldfish, tench rudd and catfish.
- Impacts on pasture grass, legumes and maize.
- Impacts on fruit growing, kiwifruit in particular needs ‘winter chilling’ and early season rainfall.
- More slips and soil erosion.
- Impacts on water availability.
- Increased fire risks for forestry.
Even without considering the warming effect of current and future emissions of greenhouse gases, emissions that have already occurred mean that some of these climate change impacts, such as sea level rise, are “locked” in; meaning they will almost certainly occur or worsen in the future.
You can read more about possible impacts of climate change in the Bay of Plenty in the report produced by NIWA for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council .
