Auckland Council’s Flood Viewer programme was the runner-up in the Community Impact category of the recent New Zealand Spatial Excellence Awards which celebrate the highest standards of achievement within New Zealand’s geospatial community. These awards recognise and honour the accomplishments of all New Zealand professionals and organisations working with spatial data.
Since its launch in August 2023, Flood Viewer has received over 800,000 views—evidence of its utility and popularity, with feedback from users overwhelmingly positive.
“First glance. Fabulous. Just what we’ve experienced so far. I was looking for something EXACTLY like this to tell my wife stranded in Miranda what and where she could expect flood risks returning home to west Auckland. I couldn’t find anything. You’ve given a solution,” said one user.
In 2023, Auckland Anniversary weekend came with relentless rain, turning the streets of Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland into rivers. Floodwaters surged through neighbourhoods, flooding over 12,000 homes and causing billions of dollars in damage.
Chair of Policy and Planning Committee Councillor Richards Hills says that beyond the physical destruction, the floods revealed a deeper issue—many Aucklanders were unaware of the flood risks they faced or how to respond when disaster struck.
“Flood Viewer was designed to fill this critical knowledge gap, allowing already public information to be more easily available and the need for such a tool was clear. Feedback from the public was loud and persistent: "Just show us the flood maps”!!" Hills says.
“Flood Viewer’s development shows how a community’s experience with disaster led to the creation of a powerful digital tool, one that has transformed the way Aucklanders understand and respond to flood risk. By embracing technology and prioritising accessibility, it has opened the door to deeper, more meaningful discussions about flood risk and climate resilience.
"Huge congratulations to everyone involved in this important project."
Council previously provided flood information through professional tools like Geomaps and Land Information Memorandums (LIMs), but these platforms weren’t accessible or intuitive for everyday people.
Auckland Council’s Senior Health Waters Specialist Nancy Baines says Flood Viewer changed that.
“By building on the Geomaps system and simplifying user experience, it presented essential flood risk data in an interactive and accessible way. Key flood layers—such as floodplains, flood prone areas, overland flow paths, and coastal inundation areas—were displayed by default, eliminating the need for users to search through complex layers themselves,” says Ms Baines.
“The tool’s functionality is as simple as it is powerful. Users can search for an address and instantly see flood risks for that location. Colour-coded maps show different types of flooding that might affect a property, and interactive features provide explanations about each flood type. The tool is not just for current homeowners—it’s also a valuable resource for people looking to buy or rent new properties, enabling them to make informed decisions about flood risk before committing to a location.”
Flood Viewer’s impact also extends beyond maps and data; it gives practical advice on how to prepare for flooding. Videos, downloadable PDFs, and links to essential resources to help Aucklanders prepare their families and properties. This enables people to take proactive steps, whether by improving home drainage, creating emergency plans, or simply being aware of potential hazards during extreme weather.
Click on Flood Viewer here
