Gisborne Mayor Calls for Urgent Action on Climate Adaptation

Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz has delivered a powerful and heartfelt call to action, urging New Zealand's insurers and politicians to stop stalling on climate adaptation plans. Speaking candidly about her region's repeated battles with extreme weather, she made clear that communities on the frontlines of climate change simply cannot wait any longer. Her words carry the weight of hard-won experience — and a deep commitment to protecting the people she serves.

Mayor Stoltz told a gathering of insurers and politicians that she has lost count of the number of civil defence emergencies she has declared in Gisborne — a sobering reflection of just how frequently her community has faced floods, slips, and storm damage in recent years. Rather than a moment of defeat, her statement was a rallying cry: enough is enough, and the time for meaningful, funded, and coordinated climate adaptation is now. Her openness and determination have resonated widely, with many seeing her as a courageous voice for regional New Zealand.

The East Coast and Bay of Plenty regions have both experienced the devastating impact of severe weather events, from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 to ongoing flooding events that have tested infrastructure, emergency services, and the resilience of local families. Leaders like Mayor Stoltz are increasingly pushing central government and the insurance sector to move beyond discussion and commit to real investment in adaptation — whether that means managed retreat from high-risk areas, stronger flood defences, or smarter land-use planning.

There is genuine cause for optimism here. The fact that mayors, insurers, and politicians are sitting in the same room, having these urgent conversations, signals that New Zealand is slowly but surely building the political will needed to tackle climate risks head-on. Advocates and community leaders across the motu are amplifying these calls, and public awareness of the need for adaptation — not just mitigation — has never been higher.

Ultimately, Mayor Stoltz's message is one of hope wrapped in urgency. Her community deserves security, and so do all New Zealanders living in climate-vulnerable areas. With strong local leadership pushing the conversation forward, there is every reason to believe that smarter, faster, and fairer climate adaptation is within reach — and that the delays she has witnessed will soon become a thing of the past.

Originally reported by RNZ New Zealand Headlines.