There are calls for a complete reassessment of Auckland's intensified housing development.
As the city recovers from a deadly and unprecedented flood, some city leaders are calling for breathing space from the Government's new law designed to increase housing.
A former mayor and current councillor says victims in her patch are traumatised and she wants an investigation into the region's infrastructure.
The storm's past but another's on the horizon. It's over our largest city's future - the way Tamaki Makaurau is built and the balance between housing supply and services.
"Well our community's traumatised, we've seen across the region, not just pockets, our infrastructure failing us," said Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa Councillor Christine Fletcher.
Councillor Fletcher, the former Mayor of Auckland City, said it's time to pump the brakes. She wants to pause cross-party plans to intensify development in cities like Auckland.
The region's unitary plan allows for 900,000 additional homes in 30 years, but recent central Government amendments to the Resource Management Act would see millions more.
"Our infrastructure has failed us with what we have now, that is sheer madness and my plea is put that on hold, let's get an infrastructure audit," Fletcher said.
And there's back up around the council table.
"The recent event, the storm event, the flooding event has indicated that Auckland is exceeding it's sustainable carrying capacity, certainly when it comes to civic infrastructure, certainly when it comes for drainage," said Waitematā and Gulf Councillor Mike Lee.
And as the city recovers questions for officials move from response to the city's long-term ability to cope.
"We would expect a range of things to be looked at including what needs to be done to make sure that Auckland is as resilient as it can be as we move into the future," Auckland Emergency Management duty controller Rachel Kelleher.
Current services don't cut it.
"We can't deal with every possible event given the infrastructure that currently exists," Kelleher said.
So now, a plea to both parties.
"I think we are failing Aucklanders, this isn't just going to be a quick fix," Fletcher said.
"This is going to be a fix that will take years to correct. And we owe it to Aucklanders to give them the certainty, and remove some of the anxiety, that we're taking this seriously."
The wet weather's past and the forecast next? Heated debate over our largest city's growth.
