New Zealand will categorise properties affected by the flooding and cyclone disasters earlier this year as low, managed or high risk as it looks at required responses to limit damage from future catastrophes. 
 
The high-risk category would apply to areas that are not safe to live in because of the unacceptable risk of future flooding and loss of life, with a view that homes in those areas should not be rebuilt on their current sites. 
 
The managed risk category would indicate interventions such as raising banks, improving drainage or raising a property level would reduce the potential damage from severe events. 
 
The low-risk category would apply where repairs to the previous state are all that is required, meaning that once any flood protection near the property is repaired the home can be rebuilt at the same site. 
 
“Communities will be consulted before any final decisions are made about which category properties are placed into,” Cyclone Recovery Minister Grant Robertson said. “Those discussions will begin as soon as assessments are completed and quality assurance is done.” 
 
Mr Robertson says the Government intends to complete assessments for low-risk properties in category one quickly so people can settle with their insurers and get on with their recovery, while categories two and three will take “a bit longer”, but will be completed as soon as possible. 
 
“We recognise the need to provide certainty as soon as possible to individuals in affected areas,” he said. “There’s no one size fits all approach – each area is unique and influenced by a number of different factors which is why we are taking the time to get this right.” 
 
The Government earlier this year created the Cyclone Gabrielle Recovery Taskforce, covering all regions affected by the January and February floods and cyclone. 
 
In March it said the taskforce, led by Sir Brian Roche, has been working with local government and insurance companies to understand the scale of the impact and what it means for rebuilding. 
 
“We know it is stressful for residents waiting to hear about the future of their properties and I want to assure people we are doing all we can to move through this process as quickly and effectively as we can,” Mr Robertson said last week. 
 
“The worse thing would be for us to announce a property or community was in one category, only to change that shortly thereafter. We need to make the right decision not the quick one.”