Whakaitihia ngā tūraru waipuke ki tō whare Reduce flooding risks on your property

Use our Flood Viewer tool to find out if your home or property is in a flood prone area, including:

• flood plains A flat area of land that is prone to flooding.
• overland flow paths
• coastal inundation Flooding of normally dry, low-lying coastal land. This is primarily caused by severe weather events along the coasts, estuaries, and adjoining rivers. areas.

Flood plains shown on the Flood Viewer have a one per cent chance of flooding in a given year. This is often called a 'one-in-100-year flood'. Some areas may flood more often depending on the local landscape.

Select the Get prepared button on the Flood Viewer:

• to help you prepare your whānau Extended family, family group, a familiar term of address to a number of people. Also the primary economic unit of traditional Māori society. for flooding
• for information on making an emergency plan.

Keep drains clear of litter, debris, leaves and rubbish.

Avoid planting near pipes. Roots may damage or block underground pipes.

If you are building or renovating, keep sediment and construction waste away from drains.

To get help, look for a registered plumber or drainage contractor. Visit the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board website.

If you plan to landscape or build, consider adding more permeable areas Natural ground surfaces, including grass and soil, which allow water to pass through and soak into the ground, reducing the volume of run-off flowing over the ground. .

Besides lawns and grassy patches, there are pavements that absorb water. Permeable pavements have a porous surface that allows stormwater to soak through. This minimises runoff going into drains.

Porous concrete and asphalt are good permeable paving for car parks, driveways and paths.

Be mindful of how water flows and collects on your property. Take a note of low areas where water may pool.

Shape your driveway and other paved areas so that water flows away from your house and into a drain.

If the ground level outside your house is the same as the inside floor level, you are more likely to be flooded. Maintain a step up between the outside and inside of your house.

An overland flow path is a route that rain takes to reach waterways during heavy rainfall. When blocked, it can cause flooding in your property or onto neighbouring properties.

Do not build fences, sheds and other structures that block overland flow paths. Raising the ground level around such paths may cause more flooding.

You have to accept stormwater runoff that naturally flows onto your property. To know more, read the Stormwater Bylaw.

To find out more about overland flow paths and how to manage them, visit Stormwater forms and guides.

If you live in an area at risk of flooding, it may be impossible to divert all water away from your building.

If you are designing a new building or renovation in these areas, you should:

• raise your floor level
• choose flood-resistant wall and floor coverings
• place electrical sockets higher on the wall.

Visit the National Emergency Management Agency website for more information.

'Creating a flood resilient home' is a guide to practical solutions to construct or modify your house in a way that reduces:

• the risk of damage during a flood
• health problems due to dampness
• flood damage costs.

Download our preparation guide, available in multiple languages, to learn how to protect your home or property against flooding.