An Auckland man whose home keeps flooding wants central and local governments to make "transformational change" to where houses are built.
It comes after Tāmaki Makaurau saw torrential rain again on Tuesday, which caused flooding, crawling traffic, and evacuations.
Newshub first met west Auckland man Trushar Maisuria after the Auckland Anniversary weekend floods in late January, when his home was yellow-stickered.
His home has been hit five times by floodwaters already this year - once in January, three times in February, "and yesterday again."
"It's not what any family wants to see, and [no] family deserves to live like that," he told AM on Wednesday.
He said his family is in a difficult position, having to stay in four different properties while paying the bills.
"It's gut-wrenching. We're currently paying our mortgage, plus paying the rent, so it's a big financial burden on us."
Two severe weather events have hit Auckland this year. First on January 27, dubbed the 'Auckland Anniversary weekend' flooding, followed by Cyclone Gabrielle on February 13.
While Maisuria and his whānau were living in the city, they had to drive a 20-kilometre round trip just to drop the kids off at school.
And things aren't looking too good for the family in the near future.
"In six weeks' time, we might run out of our temporary accommodation service allowance. That means [we] have to look for a rental property - that will put another burden on - around $1500 a week."
Despite the battles, Maisuria said worsening storms are just a fact of life now.
"As you can see, this place has flooded five times this year. That signals that we can't fight with nature. Nature wants it back."
Otherwise, he said, he and his whānau are putting their lives at risk.
"That's what we want from central government and local government - to make transformational change."
He admits some properties can be saved, for example by raising the height of the foundations, but "some properties, like my one, are in a floodplain."
"And the water keeps coming here. So if it needs to go, it needs to go," Maisuria said.
He said his wife didn't sleep all night on Tuesday night because she was crying.
Maisuria said we can't wait for the next big storm to hit until changes to urban planning are made.
"Take action urgently, because people's lives are at risk."
