Future Coasts Aotearoa
Challenge
After the success of My Coastal Futures and Township Flood Challenge, NIWA asked for a third game in the climate adaptation series. Communities needed a way to explore how climate pressures interact, since rising seas, storm surges, flooding, and groundwater intrusion rarely happen in isolation. The challenge was to create a single experience where people could see these complex risks together and understand what different adaptation choices might mean.
Solution
Future Coasts Aotearoa is an immersive simulation developed by NIWA with design support from Hum Interactive and Geo AR. Set in a coastal township, it puts players in charge of making choices about when to defend, adapt, or retreat as climate impacts unfold over time. Every decision carries consequences for homes, farms, businesses, and cultural sites, showing how strategies shape the future of the whole community.
Positive Impact
The game is now used in workshops across New Zealand and overseas to start conversations about resilience. By turning scientific data into a shared experience, it helps people understand trade-offs, weigh strategies, and connect climate risks to their own lives. Participants leave with greater awareness and the confidence to discuss what adaptation could look like for their communities. Insights from the series are also feeding back into real adaptation planning, helping shape approaches not only in Aotearoa but in coastal regions worldwide.
Overview
After the success of My Coastal Futures and Township Flood Challenge, NIWA asked for a third game in the climate adaptation series. Communities needed a way to explore how climate pressures interact, since rising seas, storm surges, flooding, and groundwater intrusion rarely happen in isolation. The challenge was to create a single experience where people could see these complex risks together and understand what different adaptation choices might mean.
Video Trailer
Future Coasts Aotearoa is an immersive simulation developed by NIWA with design support from Hum Interactive and Geo AR. Set in a coastal township, it puts players in charge of making choices about when to defend, adapt, or retreat as climate impacts unfold over time. Every decision carries consequences for homes, farms, businesses, and cultural sites, showing how strategies shape the future of the whole community.
