Five weeks on from cyclone Gabrielle, a report from Auckland University researchers calls for a national risk assessment authority.

Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures suggests that the recent weather events show that Kiwis' disaster risk understanding is inadequate.

Co-author Sir Peter Gluckman says the independent authority would produce a register that openly tells the public what risks to prepare for.

He told Mike Hosking that politicians have historically undermined risks presented by experts, which hinders our ability to prepare.

He says governments have the right to deny things; they just need to explain why.

In recent times politicians haven't been explaining when they choose to override expert opinion.

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