Flooding

Follow where the water goes

During heavy rain, pipes and waterways can fill and water follows low ground. A floodplain, flood-prone depression or overland flow path may cross a backyard that looks dry and flat on an ordinary visit.

A flood flag should lead to better questions: which feature affects the footprint, what event and climate assumptions were modelled, what depth and speed are expected, and could the new building or fill move water towards another property?

The 2026 pathways keep flooding in play

The NES-DMRU preserves district-plan natural-hazard and health-and-safety rules, including flood-floor requirements. The Building Act includes flooding, overland flow, storm surge, tidal effects and ponding within inundation.

For Schedule 1A, adequate provision must protect the land, work and other property. If that cannot be achieved, the exemption is unavailable even if the plan meets the size and separation headlines.

Location is often the cleanest response

A smaller, rotated or relocated footprint may keep the water route clear. Raised floors are not a universal answer because access, foundations, debris, services, erosion and neighbour effects still need assessment.