Judth Stanway and Te Ururoa Flavell are members of a panel looking into April's floods and met with locals on Saturday.
The independent panel reviewing what happened and what contributed to flooding in Ngongotahā in April expects to tie up its review in September.
The panel, made up of chairwoman Judith Stanway, and members Te Ururoa Flavell, Rob van Voorthuysen and Kyle Christensen, have been talking to the community over the past few months.
Flavell and Stanway met members of the public at a meeting on Saturday . It was the third consultation day they had held.
The independent review was announced less than two weeks after the flooding which saw families displaced and many homes issued insanitary notices after the Ngongotahā Stream burst its banks.
Image 1 of 61: Flooding in Rotorua. Cormac Davis, 12, . Moncur Dr. Photo/Ben Fraser
It was commissioned by the Bay of Plenty Regional and Rotorua Lakes councils which will share the costs.
To fully understand the event and circumstances surrounding it, the review panel asked people impacted by the flooding to speak to them.
Stanway told the Rotorua Daily Post they were asking the public for views on what happened and for observations, thoughts and comments on what might be done to ensure a similar event didn't happen again.
"We've been really impressed how helpful they have been. Some have been through horrific experiences but are really interested in ensuring it doesn't happen again, rather than complaining about what has happened."
Stanway said the panel was expecting to finish its report by the end of September and would report back to the regional and district councils when it was complete.
The report would be made public.
Flavell said the flooding was a once or twice in a lifetime event.
Judth Stanway and Te Ururoa Flavell are members of a panel looking into April's floods and met with locals on Saturday. Photo/Ben Fraser
"The view has been that it seemed to come in one big rush and it went away quickly."
He said some of the people they had spoken to had only been back in their homes for a week while others were still displaced.
"[Residents] concerns are long term. People are asking what happens next and what will be put in place to protect their assets in the future," he said.
"People seem to be really resilient."
Meanwhile Christensen, a water resources engineer and consultant, and van Voorthuysen, a consultant with expertise in environmental and resource management, have been focusing on the engineering side of the review.
They are looking at how much rain fell, where overflow occurred and its impact.
The panel is considering regional and district planning matters, engineering options, stormwater, catchment management, future land use and subdivision development considerations and mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge).
Its report will outline key findings and make recommendations for future actions to each of the two councils.
To make a submission Go to the Rotorua Lakes Council website to fill in an online form, or to print a form to deliver to council, via https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-services/CDrecoveryproject/Pages/Flood-Review.aspx
