The Natural Hazards Commission (NHC) Toka Tu Ake of New Zealand has awarded 13 new research projects to boost natural hazards resilience in the country.
The 13 new research projects that will receive a total of NZ$1.2m (USD681,480) funding from the NHC include a closer look at Auckland’s hidden faults, new disaster insurance models for marae-centred communities, and practical retrofits to make homes safer from both floods and earthquakes.
These grants will come through NHC’s 2026 Biennial Grants round, with each project receiving up to NZ$100,000 over two years.
NHC Head of Research Dr Natalie Balfour said investing in research provides insights needed for building New Zealand’s long-term resilience against natural hazards.
“We are not just the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. We want to strengthen the cliff or, better yet, ensure people don’t build there in the first place.”
Dr Balfour says this year’s round was one of the most competitive since the biennial programme began in 1989 – a sign that of the growing national focus on resilience and recognition that no single discipline can tackle these challenges.
“There’s a real sense of momentum, with researchers across engineering, matauranga Maori, social science and physical science coming together to take a genuinely holistic approach to resilience. That’s exactly what’s needed if we’re to reduce the impact of natural hazards on people, property and communities.”
The biennial grants are part of NHC’s NZ$10m annual investment in research and initiatives that help reduce natural hazard impacts. The next funding round, for university-led research projects of up to NZ$450,000, will open in early 2026. The new biennial projects will begin in early 2026 and run for two years.