Coastal crossfire

You pays your money and you takes your chances. That is the risk of buying a home.

- BILL RALSTON

Climate Change Minister James Shaw has got me pondering this fact, and at least 14% of the population, who live in areas prone to flooding and sea-level rise, should do so, too.

A quick recap. Five years ago, my wife and I, despairing of living any longer in Auckland, fled to Hawke's Bay and bought an old bach on a beach near Cape Kidnappers. The locals call people like us “blow-ins".

The beach is rocky at the top layer, thanks to many tonnes of river stone and debris from the cape that has been deposited in the sea and thrown up on the sand which, itself, only becomes visible at low tide.

We rebuilt the original 1950s bach, removing the ghastly asbestos cladding and enlarging the footprint. With a 180° view of the sea 40m in front of us, we decided we had found the spot to live in until we “carked it" (in maybe another 20 or 30 years). There are two glorious vineyards directly across the road, lovely neighbours and beautiful walks to take. Paradise.