GDC adopts new policy to cover 175 homes in category to be elevated to prevent flooding

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Owners of homes that require lifting after the weather events of 2023 will soon be able to access a fund of $15 million for the work.

Gisborne district councillors have adopted their Elevate Tairāwhiti Policy which applies to about 175 Tairāwhiti homes classified as 2P properties, that is, where there is deemed to be an intolerable risk to life from extreme weather and changes to the property can reduce the risk to a tolerable level.

The funding has been approved by the Government for the council and Te Aitanga a Māhaki, through its nominated entity Toitu Tairāwhiti Housing Limited (TTHL), to assist recovery and improve future resilience specifically by elevating 2P dwellings that were flooded during the North Island severe weather events in 2023.

Deputy Mayor Josh Wharehinga said, “there is a community chomping at the bit to get into this”.

He had received many emails on the matter, and it was great to see progress.

Council director of sustainable futures Jo Noble said homeowners who had already raised their homes could still apply for the funding if they were eligible for the scheme.

Insurance companies “will not give a definitive answer” on whether they would insure such houses.

They would assess each case on the risk.

Ms Noble said there was “a general feeling” with the homes being raised by 500mm that that level was sufficient to provide insurance companies with confidence.

But everything would be reassessed every year, she said.

Councillor Aubrey Ria said she knew one “frustrated” whānau who had been verbally informed in the past three months that their property had been recategorised.

It was now more than a year since the storms.

Ms Noble asked for more details to enable her to look into the matter.

The council wanted to provide homeowners with certainty, she said.

Te Aitanga a Māhaki has committed to elevating 32 homes.

The Elevate Tairāwhiti Policy will not apply to these properties, but proportional funding from the $15m will be provided.

Gisborne District Council will manage funding for 143 properties.

Funding is also available in the following circumstances:

■ Where the dwelling will be replaced or relocated on-site, provided that the dwelling meets the new minimum floor levels;

■ Where the property has been through a sale and purchase process following the North Island severe weather events;

■ For insured and uninsured properties.