Deputy mayor and Banks Peninsula councillor Andrew Turner agreed that those communities would be the best ones to target first.
"These communities are small, there is a high awareness of the issues they're facing," he said.
"Clearly there are other areas we will engage with future tranches of work."
"We have a big coastline and a lot of low-lying land, so one of the most significant challenges facing us is how do we respond to the coastal hazards caused by climate change and sea level rise," said Urban Development and Transport Committee Chair, councillor Mike Davidson.
"First up, it's important we have a city-wide conversation about the adaptation planning process as there are implications for all residents, not just people living in coastal and low-lying communities.
"We have some big decisions ahead of us that will likely have an impact not just on this generation, but on generations to come."
Three community workshops would be held in the coming weeks.