Wairau's recovery from the early 2023 storms

House removal activity continues in the main Milford cluster, with 11 active sites - particularly in the Woodbridge bridge area. Removals are underway at two properties in Totara Vale, with some new clusters to be confirmed for work early in the new year - subject to owner agreement and technical checks. 
 
The team continues working through shared ownership approvals and removal assessments across Wairau, including plans for removals in Sunnynook and Forest Hill.
 
As we confirm detailed plans for each cluster, we’ll inform direct neighbours and previous homeowners, while keeping the wider community updated about the general programme of work. 

After exploring a range of options to reduce serious flood risk in the Wairau area, Auckland Council has approved the plan for Stage 1 of the Ngā Wairau flood resilience project. This stage includes transforming AF Thomas Park into a multi-purpose space that supports both flood resilience and recreation. 

• From 2027, Stage 1 of the Ngā Wairau flood resilience works, the works at AF Thomas Park, will begin. This work will restore wetlands designed to temporarily hold larger volumes of rainfall, while also creating walking tracks, planting, and seating areas for the community to enjoy.  
• Phase 2 includes a blue-green network system of waterways (blue) and parks (green) through the neighbourhood will give stormwater space to flow and help reduce flooding where people live. This work is currently unfunded and several years away, but work is underway on design possibilities.
• In the meantime, a recent mana whenua and community blessing ahead of works starting to remove the Woodbridge Lane bridge to reduce blockage risks. This also signals a small but major step as the first works underway for the wider Ngā Wairau project. 

The Kaipātiki Local Board is considering consultation feedback from the community about what recreation activities should be included in the remaining area of AF Thomas park, outside the flood protection zone. A decision is expeted in the New Year, with any new facilities developed over time and funded through future budgets or other sources. 

Auckland Council is removing high-risk Category 3 homes that were part of the voluntary buy-out programme (and continuing to look at how we make Category 3 units within multi-unit complexes safe). But with over 160 Category 3 homes that could be removed, we know this will bring significant change to the neighbourhood — and we’ll ensure it’s managed with care. 

Getting to the point of being able to remove a home requires working alongside neighbouring homeowners, some of which have shared ownership situations with our Category 3 properties. Alongside this, some buy-outs are not yet finalised. This takes time and we thank everyone very much for their cooperation. 

How homes will be removed 

Most homes will be removed or deconstructed, with around a third relocated for use elsewhere (and we'll continue to look at how we make Category 3 units within multi-unit complexes safe). Salvageable materials will be sent to recycling partners for reuse.

When we have legal access and co-owner agreement, a series of technical checks must be completed before removal work can start. These may include geotechnical assessments, asbestos testing, choosing the safest removal method, confirming access requirements, and arranging any required consents or traffic management. 

Where homes share driveways or sit closely together, removals may need special approval or to be carefully sequenced with neighbouring properties.

As we confirm detailed plans for each cluster, we’ll inform direct neighbours and previous homeowners, while keeping the wider community updated about the general programme of work.

Active work areas will be fenced-off and clearly signposted with contractor information and work dates - so keep an eye out for the signs.

Shared ownership challenges

A large proportion of Category 3 properties in these suburbs are complex, with 124 properties (over 73%) involved in cross-leases or unit title situations. These take extra care and require agreement with remaining co-owners, under their lease or body corporate rules, before house removal and other actions can go ahead. Once agreement is reached, Council works with owners to update land titles, which can be quite complicated on some sites. 

Many of these discussions are still underway, which means we cannot begin removal work on many of the properties yet. We thank these homeowners very much for their cooperation.

Keeping you updated

Given the complexities, we don’t yet have dates for every site. But we have started removals in the Woodbridge Lane/Nile Road Cluster and notified neighbours of access routes.  

However, we will notify neighbours as soon as a property is ready for works to start. Once all pre-removal requirements are complete, we will schedule the removal as soon as possible, also letting previous homeowners and nearby residents know. 

After settlement of a property, Auckland Council provides a basic level of maintenance. The focus is on maintaining areas visible from roads and footpaths i.e. berms and front yards on properties that have road frontages.  

Until we take ownership, the private property owner is responsible for maintaining the site. You can report an issue with a council-owned property using the ‘Report a Problem’ tool on the council website, under the ‘community venues, parks, beaches and other spaces’ heading. 

As expected, empty homes can attract vandalism and break ins (one of the reasons we are trying to manage the sharing of Category 3 addresses). In some situations we are boarding up homes, in others we have cameras or undertake patrols. You can help by reporting anything suspicious or threatening to the police as soon as possible. 

For questions about maintenance/security of storm-affected homes check out the FAQs. 

With hundreds of affected homes to be removed across Auckland, the changes can lead to feelings of uncertainty. Connecting with friends and neighbours helps to normalise these feelings and reminds us we’re not alone in our experiences.

Having opportunities to participate in how your community adapts to your new normal and prepares for any future events is also important. Join in community recovery activities in your community: 

Auckland Council wants to allow more housing choice - but in the right places. Since 2023 floods Auckland Council has been advocating to the Government for the power to be able to strengthen planning rules even further  

Stronger planning rules for Auckland hazard areas came into force on 3 November 2025. These are key elements of Plan Change 120 which seek to restrict building in high hazard areas and strengthen the standards that must be met by developers when applying to build in these areas. 

There are maps showing zones that determine what kind of development will be allowed where – to ensure building happens in the right places. However, regardless of what planning zone a property is in, strict consenting rules will apply for any development being proposed in a hazard area. They will have to show the risk can be mitigated and not impact neighbours etc.  

These rules come in as soon as possible so developers don't rush to get consents approved ahead of the rules changing. In the meantime, council is taking feedback on the entire plan change with an official public submission process.

Feedback on planning changes

If you have feedback or disagree with anything in the plans - for example zones for increased development - you can make a submission up until 19 December. It's an evidence-based submission process so you should keep that in mind when providing your feedback. 

For more information on these planning changes, and to make a submission, visit council’s Plan Change 120 webpage.