Categorisation update – 4 July

Welcome to our fortnightly categorisation programme update.

A total of 1780 homes have received a final property categorisation with 567 classed as Category 3 and eligible for a buy-out (as of 4 July).

374 Category 3 homeowners had received or accepted a buy-out offer, and 123 properties had completed their sale and purchase agreements (as of 28 June).

Overall, 2929 property owners have registered for the categorisation scheme out of 7389 known impacted properties (as of 28 June). There is still time for at risk homeowners to sign up to the limited scheme. While the deadline for registering is 30 September, we strongly recommend doing this as soon as possible. See our story Registering for a Risk Category for more information. 

If you registered in 2023, are awaiting a category, and have not received an update with a forecast month for your category, please get in touch at propertycategory@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. 

Categories awaiting infrastructure decisions

In some locations we can't give homeowners a final category until decisions about local infrastructure solutions have been made. These solutions could help whole neighbourhoods in areas considered to be at risk of significant future flooding or landslides. Examples include making more space for stormwater to flow and upgrading existing stormwater infrastructure.

Business cases for the first two infrastructure solutions around Māngere's Te Ararata and Harania waterways have been submitted for funding approval, along with proposals to ensure these projects are delivered as soon as possible. 

In other areas, like Milford, Mt Roskill, Massey, Henderson and Swanson, the necessary community infrastructure projects could take many years to design, fund, plan, consent and construct. Auckland Council has put a proposal to the government to speed up the outcome for these so that we can give these homeowners certainty about their property category as soon as possible. We are currently in discussion with central government to confirm whether this proposal is possible under our co-funding arrangements with them.

We will be able to provide an update shortly after these decisions are made, but please be assured if we can progress categorisation earlier we will.

Removing Category 3 homes

Now that our pilot Category 3 home removal programme has expanded in Muriwai, we will start our deconstruction work in other neighbourhoods where we have bought out Category 3 homes. 

This month removal of these at-risk homes will start in Rānui and Henderson, in streets like Camphora Place that were hit hard by 2023 storms. Neighbouring residents will be notified of any impacts and cleared sites will be maintained with mowing, weed and pest control until decisions have been made about future use of the land.

While these homes need to be removed because of the risk to life, we are making sure they are reused and recycled as much as possible through deconstruction or relocation.

With up to 900 Category 3 homes expected to be removed across Auckland, it will be a major undertaking. Find out more about our deconstruction programme and some of the challenges on Our Auckland:

• ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2024/04/first-homes-removed-in-muriwai
• ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2024/06/the-challenges-of-removing-700-plus-homes

An ongoing note on the complexity of categorisation

Many properties are proving more complex to categorise for several reasons:

• There is an intolerable risk to life, but we need to assess the feasibility of a mitigation at the property. Examples include retaining walls, house raising or moving, altering fences and other structures blocking overland flow paths, or changes to driveways or landscaping
• There is an intolerable risk to life, but we are waiting on confirmation of a community infrastructure project that could reduce this risk for whole neighbourhoods. Examples include redirecting overland flow paths, making more space for water to flow and pool, stopbanks, and upgrading culverts and roads. These projects are being scoped looking at feasibility of timelines, practicality, costs and impacts
• There are both flooding and landslip issues at the property
• Recent work at neighbouring properties, or the shifting of land, have changed the risk profile since we started.

See key categorisation and buyout figures below.

Categorisation progress (at 28 June 2024) 

Note: Not every home will need a site assessment, but some may need more than one

Category 3 buy-out progress (at 28 June 2024)

Categories confirmed (at 4 July 2024)

*​A small number of properties that have registered for the programme are ineligible, including those with vacant land, commercial/non-residential properties, or properties owned by public service providers. The programme is focused on addressing risk to life in residential situations. 

Categories by suburb (at 4 July 2024)