Wellingtonians will soon get to experience what it's like for parts of the capital to be underwater.
Wellington City Council has developed a tool which allows people to track the impact of sea level rise through virtual reality.
The simulator reveals what effect the sea rising six metres would have on different parts of the city.
Wellington Mayor Justin Lester says the tool is a good way for people to understand the effect of sea level rise on a more personal level.
"It's a great way for people to see, 'Look, I've got water all the way up to my eyeballs and I'm in the middle of the Civic Square. I'm standing outside Te Papa and the wharewaka and the lagoon is underwater,'" the mayor said.
If sea levels rise three metres, which scientists predict could happen this century, it won't just be the city centre that's affected.
Many houses along the coast would also be made uninhabitable.
Steve Logan, a homeowner on Island Bay, has already started thinking about the consequences.
"If we decide to stay here forever and forget about the value of the house and forget about the insurance, we won't be passing on much to our kids," Mr Logan said.
Howver, property owner Ian Cassles says he doesn't fear climate change.
"I think it gets beaten up too much. I think it's all, 'Oh, terrible, shock, horror, you can't do anything.' I think we should stop making a fuss and get on to fixing it," Mr Cassles said.
"Do we want to retreat? Do we want to put up man-made defenses? We'll have to come up with those policies and work with central government," Mr Lester said.
SHARE ME