New Zealand’s disaster responses have simply involved doing more of the same every time, according to three academics who have researched post-catastrophe reviews across the past decade.

They say the same problems have been identified repeatedly, but this has rarely translated into meaningful policy reform.

The country has become “locked in a state of disaster inertia”, warn University of Otago property law lecturer Benjamin Tombs, senior research fellow at Victoria University’s New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute Judy Lawrence and Rob Bell of the University of Waikato Environmental Planning Program.

They say climate adaptation efforts are often channelled into engineering projects such as sea walls and levees, which can crowd out planning tools such as keeping development out of exposed areas or enabling relocation of homes and infrastructure.

This can also create a “levee effect” – encouraging more development behind the protections, which increases risk when they inevitably fail.

The academics criticise “building back better”, saying it can improve resilience but often comes at a high cost and increased residual risk if communities stay in place. The current approach strains local authorities, which are already struggling with infrastructure deficits.

The researchers say local authorities need stronger legislation to support action on climate risk reduction and preparedness, so they do not use scarce resources to rebuild in place rather than addressing underlying risk through land use planning.

Unclear roles between agencies is a persistent problem, the three academics argue.

“While the recommendations of the reviews we assessed could differ depending on the hazard, most were vague about how responsibilities should be allocated in future.”

New Zealand’s parliament is considering several pieces of legislation affecting risk and loss. A new Emergency Management Bill would provide clearer responsibilities at the national, regional and local levels.

The Planning Bill is intended to replace the Resource Management Act and work in tandem with a Natural Environment Bill, enabling land development and use while protecting the environment.

Meanwhile, the Insurance Council of NZ has noted that a state of emergency has been in force somewhere in New Zealand for most of this year and the situation is no longer exceptional.

“Over the past five years, New Zealand has averaged over two months each year under some form of declared emergency,” CEO Kris Faafoi said.

The benefits of risk reduction have been proven and people in high-risk areas need clear policy, investment decisions and plans, he says.

Global reinsurers watch closely how countries manage their risk exposure, according to Mr Faafoi.

“Strong, co-ordinated action like clear planning rules and sustained investment in resilience send a powerful signal that risk is being taken seriously.”