Managed Out Documentary

In this RCR InFocus full documentary, director Alistair Harding explores New Zealand at a pivotal moment in its response to climate change.

The concept of managed retreat, which involves relocating communities from “high-risk” areas, is sparking fierce national debate.

While the government and councils such as those in Kāpiti and Westport point to rising sea levels and extreme weather as justification for action, critics argue that the science underpinning these decisions is based on implausible climate models and worst-case projections.

Residents from affected regions, including Matatā, West Coast, and the Kāpiti Coast, voice deep mistrust, citing flawed flood management, a lack of genuine community engagement, and growing fears around property devaluation and the withdrawal of insurance.

The proposed Climate Adaptation Act, which would allow for compulsory land acquisition and the withdrawal of essential services, has further heightened concerns over the erosion of property rights with many viewing it as a top-down, politically-driven land grab built on unproven disaster scenarios.

Spread the word about this revealing documentary and the dangers of the managed retreat agenda. Download the printable flyer and share them around.

Having begun his career as a journalist in New Zealand in 1998, and a brief stint in Australia, Alistair Harding spent 18 years in Singapore working in publishing, branding and then television production before returning to New Zealand in 2018.

During that time, in the corporate world, he created video content for international brands in Singapore, Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as writing and producing documentary content for National Geographic and History Channel.

But it is in the documentary film space that Alistair is most-known by Reality-Check Radio listeners, for his work creating ‘We Came Here for Freedom’ – a two-part film about the 2022 Wellington parliament occupation protest. As well as that, Alistair’s first feature-length film was his award-winning film, ’The Sea Decides’ (2021), about Kiwi adventurer, Grant Rawlinson’s epic quest to travel by human power from Singapore to New Zealand.

As a documentary filmmaker, Alistair brings to RCR a new series – IN/FOCUS – aimed at producing original RCR documentaries on the issues that face New Zealanders that are otherwise not covered on all sides by our legacy media.