Potentially Impacted Home and Land Owners
How will people who are confirmed as being impacted, be compensated?
There will be compensation entitlements for properties that are directly impacted by any final flood mitigation solution.
There are a number of laws and processes in New Zealand designed to ensure the full rights of private landowners are protected in situations like this, including full compensation for your land to ensure that your financial position is no better or worse than before work took place. Further, the rights for whenua Māori remain protected by Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1991 which promotes the retention of land in Māori ownership.
As well as the value of your land, you may also be entitled to additional compensation that includes any reasonable costs you may incur and other compensation for land damage or business loss – for example, you may be entitled to compensation for permanent loss of value to land you continue to own after a flood mitigation solution is in place.
This means that entitlements may vary depending on the actual impacts to each property and the levels of land access required, whether that be during construction only or on an enduring basis.
There will be compensation entitlements for properties that are directly impacted by any final flood mitigation solution.
There are a number of laws and processes in New Zealand designed to ensure the full rights of private landowners are protected in situations like this, including full compensation for your land to ensure that your financial position is no better or worse than before work took place. Further, the rights for whenua Māori remain protected by Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1991 which promotes the retention of land in Māori ownership.
As well as the value of your land, you may also be entitled to additional compensation that includes any reasonable costs you may incur and other compensation for land damage or business loss – for example, you may be entitled to compensation for permanent loss of value to land you continue to own after a flood mitigation solution is in place.
This means that entitlements may vary depending on the actual impacts to each property and the levels of land access required, whether that be during construction only or on an enduring basis.
Can I still own my land, even if it’s part of a floodway?
Absolutely. Where land access is required for a preferred flood mitigation solution, whānau will be able to retain ownership of their land if this is their preference.
Absolutely. Where land access is required for a preferred flood mitigation solution, whānau will be able to retain ownership of their land if this is their preference.
What levels of compensation can confirmed impacted property owners expect to receive?
If the project required full access to a one-hectare property without a house, the indicative levels of compensation for that bare land would be around $75,000 to $100,000. Under the Public Works Act, there are additional entitlements that the project would be required to pay on top of this amount, as well as the owners’ fair and reasonable valuation and legal costs which would also be reimbursed.
Further to this, if there is only partial access required and there is damage to the part of a property that its owners are keeping, the project will also pay to remediate any damage caused – this can include things like reinstating fencing or repairing a driveway. Remediation is determined on a property-by-property basis.
The project has made it clear that it will be seeking easements or leases to secure access to land. There is no intention to acquire ownership of land unless this is the owner’s preference. Additionally, the project has made it clear that it will not be alienating Māori from their whenua. The Māori Land Court will continue to work closely with the project team to ensure whenua Māori owners are sufficiently supported throughout this process.
If the project required full access to a one-hectare property without a house, the indicative levels of compensation for that bare land would be around $75,000 to $100,000. Under the Public Works Act, there are additional entitlements that the project would be required to pay on top of this amount, as well as the owners’ fair and reasonable valuation and legal costs which would also be reimbursed.
Further to this, if there is only partial access required and there is damage to the part of a property that its owners are keeping, the project will also pay to remediate any damage caused – this can include things like reinstating fencing or repairing a driveway. Remediation is determined on a property-by-property basis.
The project has made it clear that it will be seeking easements or leases to secure access to land. There is no intention to acquire ownership of land unless this is the owner’s preference. Additionally, the project has made it clear that it will not be alienating Māori from their whenua. The Māori Land Court will continue to work closely with the project team to ensure whenua Māori owners are sufficiently supported throughout this process.
What about properties with homes on them – how will the value of homes and land be assessed?
Impacted landowners will be compensated based on the actual impacts to their property and level of land access required.
It should be noted that the project will be using pre-Cyclone Gabrielle valuations, meaning properties and land will be valued as at 12 February 2023, as was done for Category 3 buy-outs across the region. Additionally, property owners will be entitled to obtain their own independent valuation and independent legal advice and may also be entitled to have these reasonable legal and valuation costs paid for by the project.
We acknowledge that every individual whānau, property and landowner’s situation is different, and we will continue to have individual conversations to understand those circumstances in more detail.
Impacted landowners will be compensated based on the actual impacts to their property and level of land access required.
It should be noted that the project will be using pre-Cyclone Gabrielle valuations, meaning properties and land will be valued as at 12 February 2023, as was done for Category 3 buy-outs across the region. Additionally, property owners will be entitled to obtain their own independent valuation and independent legal advice and may also be entitled to have these reasonable legal and valuation costs paid for by the project.
We acknowledge that every individual whānau, property and landowner’s situation is different, and we will continue to have individual conversations to understand those circumstances in more detail.
What wellbeing support is available?
There is wellbeing support available to whānau who need it.
For welfare support, you can phone Wairoa District Council's main number on 06 838 7309 and lodge a Customer Service Request. Alternatively, you can lodge a Customer Service Request, which will be directed to the Wairoa Civil Defence welfare team for action.
You can also visit Wairoa Recovery website wellbeing page: wairoarecovery.co.nz/support/health-and-wellbeing/wellbeing/.
Additionally, Weave Hawke's Bay can provide free mental health support.
You can contact them on 0508 678 910 or by visiting www.weavehb.org.nz
There is wellbeing support available to whānau who need it.
For welfare support, you can phone Wairoa District Council's main number on 06 838 7309 and lodge a Customer Service Request. Alternatively, you can lodge a Customer Service Request, which will be directed to the Wairoa Civil Defence welfare team for action.
You can also visit Wairoa Recovery website wellbeing page: wairoarecovery.co.nz/support/health-and-wellbeing/wellbeing/.
Additionally, Weave Hawke's Bay can provide free mental health support.
You can contact them on 0508 678 910 or by visiting www.weavehb.org.nz
