Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has indicated homes damaged by the wild weather in two devastating storms earlier this year won't be compensated.
Auckland has been hit hard by wild weather this year. The region was devastated by the Auckland Anniversary floods on January 27 and again just two weeks later by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Hundreds of homes were red-stickered after they were swamped by flood waters or destroyed by slips.
But while there have been calls for government buy-outs for private homeowners whose properties were devastated, Auckland Council indicated on Monday that wasn't on the table.
In a press release by the office of Mayor Wayne Brown titled: "Mayor opts for storm resilience rather than retreat", the Mayor said any use of "limited public funds needs to be prudent and consistent with public benefit".
"Our current position is that Auckland Council is not a guarantor of private property interests, and we are generally not responsible for compensating property owners in case of loss due to a severe weather event or natural disaster," Mayor Brown said.
"Thinking about what happens next and our respective roles and responsibilities as part of a complex national response in no way diminishes our commitment to supporting those hardest hit by the Auckland Anniversary floods and Cyclone Gabrielle."
The two devastating storms caused flooding and land instability throughout the region, creating a destructive and lasting impact on many communities and individuals, with many still in "limbo" and not able to access their homes.
"Sadly, some Aucklanders are still unable to access their homes, and for others, their homes are accessible but remain uninhabitable," Brown said.
"As the clean-up continues, people already in limbo are considering their housing options, including remediation, rebuilding, or relocation."
The council is determined to learn from these "catastrophic weather events" and start doing things differently, Brown said.
Former Police Commissioner Mike Bush's review of January's deadly flooding uncovered Auckland Council's emergency management system was "not prepared".
He found Brown's own office should've been "more active" in demanding information from officials, while he, Council chief executive Jim Stabback and others' communication with ratepayers was found wanting
"I think we can continue to develop some flood-prone areas of Auckland, but only if flood-resistant design and construction is utilised, and the appropriate stormwater infrastructure is in place," Brown said.
Brown said he and councillors met last week to discuss what they will propose to the Government as they form a national policy response to locations severely affected by flooding and land instability, including managed retreat.
At the meeting, Brown said the Government needs to provide leadership around storm-related compensation, and any mandates must be properly funded.
"Affected Aucklanders want clear communication, direction, and leadership from central and local government to help them make decisions about where they live. People want to know who moves and who pays," Brown said.
"Before doing good, we need to refrain from doing any harm. In practical terms, when the Council says 'no' to any building work or development at risk of flooding, that decision has to carry more weight."
Brown is adamant the council's position on resource and building consents in flood-prone areas should not be "easily overturned".
"In many cases, where houses were allowed to be built in areas with a history of flooding and land instability, the lessons of the past had been forgotten, central government mandates had changed local building and planning rules adversely, or Auckland Council's position had been overruled, often in the Environment Court," Brown said.
The Mayor is keen to work with Aucklanders on building storm resilience and developing solutions tailored for each site and community rather than managed retreat.
Managed retreat is the process of moving homes, communities, roads and infrastructure away from a more damaging climate.
