GNS science has updated its Landslide Planning Guidance for councils, as a blueprint for planners.
It encourages early consideration of risk for new developments, to avoid danger to people, properties and the environment.
Engineering Geologist Saskia de Vilder says the past year's extreme and damaging weather has shown the size of the harm and costs from landslides alone.
She says as these events become more frequent, risk from landslides increase - so it's important we consider this now.
