Online tool supports new rules limiting development in high-risk areas
Aucklanders can now access clearer information about whether their homes – or those they plan to buy – are at risk from flooding or coastal erosion, as Auckland Council introduces a free online mapping tool that pinpoints natural hazard zones.
The online platform allows users to search by address to view flood-prone sites and landslide risks across neighbourhoods. It visualises how stormwater behaves during intense rainfall, identifying places likely to be covered by floodwater, where it can pool in low-lying terrain, and where it may spill across the ground once existing networks reach capacity. Coastal maps also indicate areas expected to be inundated during major storm events.
The council’s chief engineer, Ross Roberts, said the goal is to make hazard information more transparent for everyone involved in property transactions.
“It’s about ensuring Aucklanders have all the information they need to make an informed decision about where to live and what to buy, and whether there’s anything they need to look into further before moving into a new home,” Roberts said.
Auckland Council’s latest update to the Land Information Memorandums (LIMs) coincides with proposed planning changes that would tighten development controls in the city’s most vulnerable zones. About 12,000 properties are expected to be “downzoned” under the new rules – roughly 2,000 in floodplains and 10,000 in coastal erosion zones – making new builds on those sites either restricted or not permitted.
Since last year’s floods, more than 3,300 properties have been evaluated for risk to life, as reported by NZ Herald. Around 1,190 were classified as Category 3 – the most severe designation – with 1,059 owners accepting government buyout offers. Most of these homes have since been dismantled for recycling or relocated, while the rest were demolished.
The council said the intent is to give Aucklanders a realistic understanding of natural hazards and ensure everyone – not only property owners – can access the same information.
