Jonathan Rowe has been appointed South Dunedin Future programme manager. Helping the low-lying suburb adapt to climate change will be central to his role.
"As one of the communities most at risk from sea-level rise and severe weather events, South Dunedin will face many challenges," Mr Rowe said.
There would also be opportunities to adapt, to design and build a better future, and to explore approaches that could be useful for other at-risk communities in New Zealand, he said.
His position is jointly funded by the Dunedin City Council and Otago Regional Council and Mr Rowe will take up the role from late August.
Mr Rowe, formerly from Dunedin, will return to the city from Wellington, where he has been working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as an adviser to Climate Change Minister James Shaw.
Otago Regional Council operations general manager Dr Gavin Palmer said Mr Rowe’s appointment to the Dunedin role was crucial for the joint effort in adapting to climate change in the area.
