EDITORIAL: When Council Maps Replace Common Sense

By the Editor – elocal magazine - Photo Dave Mills

Across Auckland, homeowners are opening their insurance renewal letters only to find shocking premium increases — not because their properties have suddenly sunk, but because a bureaucratic map now says they sit on a “flood plain.”

It’s a growing problem created not by nature, but by policy. The latest victim is long-time Pukekohe resident Dave Mills, whose property on Buckland Road has been bone-dry for over 30 years — yet has now been classified as flood-prone. His story isn’t an isolated case; it’s emblematic of a larger failure in how Auckland Council applies risk designations without addressing the real cause: decades of neglected drainage infrastructure.

When public infrastructure fails because it’s not maintained, and the resulting damage is then used to justify punishing homeowners, we’ve crossed a serious line.

This is not climate adaptation — it’s bureaucratic deflection.

Instead of fixing blocked drains, the Council is flooding residents with red tape. Instead of accountability, we get maps and models. And instead of listening to the people who live on the land — those who have watched every storm, every puddle, every dry season — the Council relies on desktop data and digital overlays to decide people’s financial futures.

These floodplain classifications carry real consequences:

• Insurance premiums rise dramatically
• Property values fall overnight
• Homeowners face barriers to selling or refinancing
• Families are branded as living in “high-risk” zones that have never actually flooded

Auckland Council’s responsibility is not to simply label problems but to maintain the infrastructure that prevents them. To ignore that duty, and then use the consequences of its neglect as justification for new risk designations, is an outrageous failure of governance and fairness.

This publication stands firmly with residents like Dave Mills, who have the courage to challenge these decisions and demand accountability.

We call on Auckland Council to:

• Immediately review and audit all newly classified “flood plain” areas across Franklin and the wider region.
• Restore and maintain the drainage systems that have been neglected for years.
• Reassess any property designations that are based on flooding events caused by Council infrastructure failure — not natural causes.

It’s time for common sense to return to local government. The public deserves transparency, fairness, and a voice.

Below is the open letter from Mr. Dave Mills of Pukekohe, whose experience should serve as a wake-up call to Auckland Council and every department responsible for maintaining the infrastructure we all pay for.

Letter to Auckland Council

(As published by elocal magazine)

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is Dave Mills, and I have resided at 509 Buckland Road, Pukekohe for approximately 31 years. Throughout this time, our property has never experienced flooding — not once have we come close. However, I was recently informed that the Council has now classified my property as a flood plain. This decision has resulted in a significant increase in our insurance premiums and, more concerningly, may have a detrimental impact on the future saleability of the property.

It is deeply frustrating that the very cause of any flooding in our area is due to Council inaction and poor maintenance of drainage infrastructure — not because of any inherent risk associated with our land.

To provide context:

In 2003, Craig Nicholson Contracting undertook work to clear the drainage system that services this area (which includes runoff from Pukekohe Park and other surrounding properties). After that, there was no flooding for six years.

Despite multiple requests from residents to have this essential drain cleared again, little to nothing has been done.

Because of this neglect, the drainage has since become fully blocked, leading to preventable flooding of several properties.

One notable incident affected my son, who purchased 501 Buckland Road during the flood-free period. Once the drain blocked again and we had heavy rain, his garage went under approximately one metre of water.

Despite numerous phone calls and complaints, Council has continually failed to provide a meaningful solution or even send out properly qualified personnel to assess the issue.

The result? You now designate this area as a flood plain — when in fact the flooding is caused solely by your own failure to maintain the infrastructure.

Frankly, we — the affected residents — are at our wits’ end. This is not only an issue of financial and property loss but also one of accountability.

We are currently in the process of engaging a lawyer experienced in dealing with local government, with the intent to pursue legal action if this matter is not appropriately resolved. Our goals are clear:

That the drainage system be properly and permanently maintained.

That the flood plain designation be removed from our property titles, as it is unjustified and harmful.

That the Council acknowledges and rectifies the consequences of its own inaction.

We, the ratepayers, fund these services and have a right to expect that the infrastructure we rely on is adequately maintained. If the Council had simply fulfilled its responsibilities, this issue would not exist.

I would appreciate a formal response and an outline of the steps the Council intends to take to rectify the situation.

Sincerely,

Dave Mills

509 Buckland Road

Pukekohe