The Role of the Spatial Scale in Flood Hazard and Risk Mapping for Informing Land‐Use Planning: Insights From Aotearoa New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Flood related damages are escalating due to compounded climate change impacts and ongoing urban development along floodplains. As a result, there have been increased calls to improve integration between land‐use planning and flood risk management to resolve conflicting policy objectives and minimise increasing flood risk. However, how and what type of flood hazard and risk information is used and needed to inform land‐use planning decisions remains unclear in the literature. This research aims to contribute to this by examining Aotearoa New Zealand's flood hazard and risk maps and their application to land‐use planning. Drawing on empirical data and document analysis, findings indicate that most flood mapping focus on the meso (regional) and micro (local and site/property) spatial scales with different applications for land‐use planning. Findings also indicate that land‐use planning decisions informed by flood hazard and risk maps can be inconsistent due to a lack of national guidance and directives on how to use this information. There is also lack of transparency and communication regarding the appropriateness of flood hazard and risk maps produced at different scales based on the needs of the general public and planning sectoral needs. Based on findings, the paper concludes that improved integration between land‐use planning and flood risk management starts with fit‐for‐purpose flood hazard and risk analyses produced at appropriate spatial scales.