Rachel Sanson
Independent Director
Rachel Sanson is a Nelson-based independent director who brings a governance, local government and community lens to climate adaptation. Serving as a Nelson City Councillor (2019–2025), Rachel contributed to the city's response during the region’s catastrophic August 2022 extreme weather event, and subsequent neighbourhood buyouts. She successfully championed strategic initiatives to: retire steep-land city-fringe commercial forestry, beginning the transition toward biodiverse, resilient, permanent afforestation; and to reconsider civic infrastructure investment in inundation zones.
PANEL | How Will We Pay for Adaptation?
As climate risks intensify, adaptation will require major investment across communities, infrastructure, businesses and the natural environment. This panel will explore who should pay and how costs should be shared, examining the roles of government, local authorities, infrastructure providers, insurers, investors and property owners. Panellists will discuss funding mechanisms, affordability, equity, and sustainable financing models to support adaptation in New Zealand.