Regional Land Elevation Maps: Waikato

Published in conjunction with the report Preparing New Zealand for rising seas:

Certainty and Uncertainty

November 2015

This document contains a number of maps showing areas in New Zealand that are low-lying and close to the coast, with a focus on urban areas. Land elevation in these maps has been measured using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology, and is shown above mean high water springs (MHWS-10).

Areas that are both low-lying and close to the coast are, in general, most vulnerable to sea level rise. This is certainly the case when it comes to coastal flooding and rising groundwater. Erosion is rather different – a shoreline need not be low-lying to be eroded.

The elevation bands shown on the maps are not hazard zones and should not be interpreted as such. Such maps aid in identifying areas at risk as the sea rises. But local characteristics are also vitally important. For instance, a low-lying area close to the coast may be protected by a headland or a natural barrier such as a sand dune. And groundwater will only be a problem if it is connected to the sea.

Detailed elevation surveys, using LiDAR technology, have not been carried out for the entire New Zealand coastline. As a result, maps for some urban areas are not available.

For further information please see the full report and accompanying NIWA technical report at www.pce.parliament.nz

Coromandel

Land Elevation

< 50cm

50–100cm

100–150cm

0 2 41Kilometres

Kennedy Bay

¯

Low-lying land in Coromandel and Kennedy Bay.

The elevation bands shown on this m

ap are not hazard zones

Matarangi

Cooks Beach

Buffalo Beach

Land Elevation

< 50cm

50–100cm

100–150cm0 2 41

Kilometres

¯

Whitianga

Low-lying land in Cooks Beach, Matarangi, and Whitianga.

The

elev

atio

n ba

nds

show

n on

thi

s m

ap a

re n

ot h

azar

d zo

nes

TaTT irua

Pauanui

0 2 41Kilometres

Land Elevation

< 50cm

50–100cm

100–150cm

¯

Low-lying land in Pauanui and Tairua.

The

elev

atio

n ba

nds

show

n on

thi

s m

ap a

re n

ot h

azar

d zo

nes

Whangamata

0 2 41Kilometres

Land Elevation

< 50cm

50–100cm

100–150cm

¯

Whiritoa

Low-lying land in Whangamata and Whiritoa.

The

elev

atio

n ba

nds

show

n on

thi

s m

ap a

re n

ot h

azar

d zo

nes

0 2 41Kilometres

Land Elevation

< 50cm

50–100cm

100–150cm

Thames

Ngatea

¯

Low-lying land in Ngatea and Thames.

The elevation bands shown on this m

ap are not hazard zones

Raglan

Land Elevation

< 50cm

50–100cm

100–150cm

0 2 41Kilometres

¯

Low-lying land in Raglan.

The elevation bands shown on this map are not hazard zones