The river corridor is probably the largest area of managed retreat in an urban centre worldwide. How can our experience inform processes of managed retreat elsewhere? The question is central to this project, which has developed a model of ‘retreat’, ‘relocation’ and ‘re-imagining’. Re-imagining asks how can the land be re-used for projects that further lower environmental and social risks.
Planning, Policy & Futures
Examines how planning and policy shape land use, linking disaster recovery to long-term resilience and forward-looking decisions.
Otautahi’s experiences of managed retreat from its red zoned areas after the earthquakes
Projects by student groups about climate change adaptation and mitigation in the river corridor
Explore the governance framework for the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor, including workshops, case studies, and the 2025 co-governance plans and interim committee
The 2010 Christchurch earthquake prompted managed retreat, creating the Residential Red Zone — a space of hope and contested future visions
Design studio in the river corridor focusing on guardianship, regeneration and climate resilience