More than 1200 high-risk Auckland properties are expected to be purchased by Auckland Council before the end of 2025 – making it one of the largest land acquisition programmes undertaken in New Zealand.
We are carefully deciding what to do with this storm-affected land, with decisions expected to take years.
Uses being considered for storm-affected land
Possible future uses will depend on whether the property is retained by council or sold. In line with the Future Land Use Policy, we want to ensure Auckland’s land is used effectively to provide homes and maintain strong communities, while managing risk and reducing the financial impact to ratepayers.
If we keep the land, some examples for use could include:
- flood resilience and stream management
- adding it to neighbouring parkland or bush
- managing it as high-hazard land.
If we don’t keep the land, some examples for use could include:
- sale for safe redevelopment
- sale with conditions to manage the risk (such as converting ground floor units to storage)
- sale to neighbours for extra backyard space.
Auckland Council is considering a range of options for storm-affected land that manages the risks, ensures the land is used effectively and efficiently.
How decisions will be made
Responsibility for buying and selling land sits with Auckland Council’s Governing Body. In making decisions, they consider any views and preferences expressed by a local board.
The local board is responsible for communicating their views and preferences about storm-affected land in their rohe (boundaries); and is responsible for any storm-affected land that the Governing Body makes available for a local park and/or local service activity – including budget required to maintain it.
With 1200 properties to assess, carefully deciding the future use for every section will take several years.
Management of council land after purchase.
Communities and neighbouring properties
While decisions for the future of all 1200 Category 3 sites will take some time, we recognise the importance of ongoing communication in these situations – particularly with neighbouring properties, local communities, and former homeowners. This includes working closely with communities from the removal of the storm-affected dwelling, to seeking any written consent that may be required from cross-lease owners.
Where neighbours or community members have suggestions for specific Category 3 sites, we can capture that information in our expressions of interest register.
If you have suggested a use for Category 3 land, you’ll be contacted as part of the decision-making process for the future of the site.
While council expects to retain around half of Category 3 properties , it will look for opportunities to sell land for a range of safe uses to reduce costs for ratepayers.
In some situations, the land may be suitable for safer redevelopment such as building on a different part of the site, or with new mitigations put in place. Properties in this situation will be sold on the open market with a transparent process via Auckland Council’s property team.
In the case of properties that won’t be used for resilience projects, or can’t be carefully developed, the land may be offered to adjacent neighbours to purchase as additional backyard space. Because of the hazard risk on the land, there will be legal limits on what you can do with the land.
If you have suggested a specific use for a specific property, or for Category 3 land in general, your suggestion will be included as part of the decision making for these properties – outlined above.
Policy and implementation plan
Our Policy and Planning Committee approved the 'Storm Affected Land Use Policy and implementation approach' on 10 April 2025. This document will guide the process for permanent land use decisions.
You can download the document to learn more Storm-affected land use policy and implementation approach (4.9MB PDF) on the Auckland Council website.
Interim use of storm affected Category 3 land
While decisions are being made about the long-term future use of these properties, we have developed guidelines to support safe, temporary use of this land.
Community groups and organisations can apply to use storm-affected land for non-residential, low-risk activities—such as planting, grazing, play equipment, or temporary events—provided the site is assessed as safe and suitable.
You can download the document to learn more: Guidelines Interim Storm Affected Land Use
Once you have read the guidelines, you can submit your application using the form: Request for Interim Use of Category 3 Land.
More information
We acknowledge you may have questions during this time, and we’re here to help.
To read all the frequently asked questions on future and interim land use, visit our Recovery FAQs page.
If you can’t find the answer to your question or have concerns about a council-owned property, please let us know by emailing stormaffectedland@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
