2 Report approach and methodology

The Study Brief provided by the Ministry for the Environment provided the key topics and basic structure for this research report. During the course of researching and compiling the report, this basic structure has been slightly modified to ensure clarity and comprehensiveness of the resultant information.

The approach to the preparation and publication of the research report was to divide the content into two key parts:

(a) a higher level theoretical treatment of the subject using both international and national resources (tasks 1 to 3 of the Study Brief), and

(b) a more specific assessment of the New Zealand context (tasks 4 to 6 of the Study Brief).

This approach has ensured that a comprehensive background of natural hazard and risk management concepts, framework and options for management approaches is provided, based on a well established conceptual risk management methodology (outlined in section 3.4.1). This background information then feeds into the following sections which address in more detail the New Zealand specific context - including the planning and legislative framework, relevant case law, and a discussion of best practice.

The methodology used to compile, review and summarise information for each of the six key tasks (from the Study Brief) is outlined below.

Tasks 1 and 2 - Risk management theory

Refer to sections 3 to 6 of the report.

For these two tasks, a research team led by Professor Michael Crozier (Professor of Geomorphology, Victoria University of Wellington) researched, reviewed and summarised relevant literature on risk management methodology.

This involved a collation, review and summary of:

• Professor Crozier's previous research;
• existing information and publications held by MfE and MCDEM; and
• information from a literature search.

Information gathered was assessed for its acceptability as theory and practice and its relevance to New Zealand, firstly using Professor Crozier's expertise, and then through an assessment by the Tonkin and Taylor Technical Advisory Group (TAG) set up for this project.

The TAG also provided references for publications to be assessed for these tasks.

Task 3 - Management approaches

Refer to section 7 of the report.

Publications and websites were reviewed to determine a list of relevant natural hazard management approaches / treatment options. A list of the sources of information for this task can be found in section 7.8 of the report.

This list of management approaches / treatment options is aimed at providing a basic but comprehensive list of available options, and to highlight where they might be most applicable.

Tasks 4 and 5 - Planning / legal framework and case law

Refer to section 8 of the report.

Research (mostly web-based) was undertaken to determine and review all relevant pieces of legislation and associated case law of relevance to natural hazard management. A list of the sources of information for these tasks can be found in section 8.4 of the report.

Tasks 4 and 5 were combined into one section because the case law assisted the interpretation of the legislation. Therefore for the purpose of clarity the case law was grouped by the relevant legislation.

Task 6 - Best practice

Refer to section 9 of the report.

The preparation of the best practice section of the report consisted of collecting information and examples from New Zealand local authorities (and best practice guidelines), and assessing whether the approaches adopted are best practice and whether other mechanisms could be adopted to ensure best practice.

The basis of the list of local authority plans to assess was provided by the Ministry for the Environment, with the list of best practice examples self-nominated by local authorities. A number of plans, strategies, guidelines and websites were assessed. A list of the sources of information for these tasks can be found in section 9.3 of the report.

Assumptions and constraints

There were a vast number of publications relating to natural hazard and risk management to be reviewed for this research report. The previous research work of Professor Crozier assisted in cutting down the time required to review risk management material. The review of other material was based on recommendations by the Ministry for the Environment, the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, and experienced Tonkin and Taylor planners and engineers.

The large amount of natural hazard case law also meant that the number of cases reviewed had to be restricted. Principally the case law searches were based upon the legislation relevant to natural hazard management.

Assumptions were made on the required structure of the report, based on the outline given in the Study Brief. As highlighted above, this report has basically been divided into two sections, one mostly theoretical and the other more practice-orientated.

The report is also based on the assumption that a only a generic overview of emergency management was required.