This information relates to recovery following cyclones Gabrielle and Hale in 2023.
Future of severely affected land
Some areas badly hit by Cyclone Gabrielle have been designated under a group of categories set by Government depending on the extent of damage and the potential for rebuilding. The categories relate to low, medium and high risk.
This Government classification is separate to Council’s red-sticker assessments and has major implications on whether people can return to their properties or not. For more information on Future of Severely Affected Land FOSAL
Storm assessments and reports
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Rates relief
If your home, business or property has been hit hard by Cyclone Gabrielle
Including if your property has been red or yellow stickered, we have rates remission and rates relief options available
Donations to the Disaster Relief Trust
We continue to receive very kind offers to donate to those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. We appreciate all your support, any donations are gratefully accepted and can be made to the Disaster Relief Trust account.
The Disaster Relief Trust is a registered charity and every donation made will be tax deductible - this is being run by Gisborne District Council.
The funds will be distributed to those who meet the criteria.
Donations can be made to the Disaster Relief Trust
Account Name: Gisborne District Council
Account: 03 0638 0502288 00
For overseas payments - SWIFT code: WPACNZ2W
Reference: Disaster
Owner of a flood-affected yellow stickered house
For owners of a flood-affected, yellow stickered house. Building inspectors have checked your house and assessed it as 'restricted' access only. This is shown by a yellow sticker placed on the building. This allows access to remove household goods, water-damaged belongings, water-damaged wall and floor linings and insulations, and to remove silt from under the house.
You may occupy your house before all flood-damaged repairs have been completed, if the building is safe and dry enough. See details below.
What does a yellow sticker mean?
Yellow sticker (placard) indicates the house has suffered moderate damage. Flood water may have made it unhealthy, or it may be threatened by land movement. The placard will state what access is allowed.
Having your home yellow stickered can be traumatic, but there is support available to help guide you through it.
What needs to be done to get back into my house?
Make sure you contact your insurer as soon as you can.
Record the damage. Make lists and take photos or videos of all damage including flooded property, carpets, soft furniture and any other ruined or contaminated items.
- Remove wet wall linings and insulation to allow framing to dry out. Talk to your insurer or contact a builder.
- Remove all damaged flooring, floor linings and wet floor coverings - carpet or lino. Note if the lino is very old it may contain asbestos, see advice.
- Remove flood-damaged furniture, whiteware, joinery. This includes kitchen and bathroom cabinets if they are water-damaged.
- Get the power source checked for safety by a registered electrician. If you have an upper floor unaffected by flooding, isolate the power in the damaged area if possible.
- Get the gas system checked by a gasfitter. Check if bottles have moved, they may have floated and the couplings may be damaged.
- Check for any structural damage to the building. Foundations or piles may have moved. Either contact us or a qualified professional.
- Remove silt from under the floor. Wooden floors require 550mm clearance to the ground and there must be adequate crawl space under buildings – approximately 250mm to 300mm under the bearers.
You may be able to occupy the building before the silt is removed, as long as there is adequate subfloor ventilation.- If your building is well off the ground, you may not need to do this step.
- If there are trees threatening a house, these may need to be removed.
If you live in a rural area:
- Check gully traps and that the main drain to the septic tank is clear of silt.
- Check that the septic tank is not filled with silt.
- Check the water supply pumps. Most are under the floor and may have been under water and could need replacing or servicing.
A house will typically take several days or weeks to dry out enough to allow you to move back in again.
To help speed up the drying process, ventilate everyday by opening doors and windows.
Big industrial fans or dehumidifiers will also help. But please make sure you have the electrical supply into the house checked first.
You can move back in to your house before you re-line with GIB.
Most of the repairs won't require building consent, but contact our Building Services team first. They will check the moisture content first before you replace the GIB.
If your house was built after 1990 - please contact our Building Services team on (06) 863 1605 for advice about reinstating the bracing.
Once you think it's dry and the damage or hazard has been removed or repaired
Please contact our Building Services team, they'll review the yellow sticker - call the team on (06) 863 1605
1. Electrical check. Please provide confirmation from a registered electrician.
If you live in a rural area, have you checked that the water pump is working. It may be under the floor and may have been under water.
2. Gas check. Please show us confirmation from a gas fitter
If you have gas bottles, they may have moved.
2. Do you have a safe water supply?
If you live in a rural area, have you checked your water tank?
3. Is your wastewater system working?
If you live in a rural area, has a drainlayer checked your septic tank if it's not working?
4. Is the house dry enough?
5. Is there silt under the house?
We will check that there is adequate ventilation between the silt and floorboards.
6. Has any other threat such as trees been checked or removed?
If all the tests above are clear, we will talk with you above moving back in to your home.
If you're not insured, please contact a welfare agency or you may be eligible for Mayoral Relief funding.
Download - Owner of a Flood-Affected Yellow Stickered House?
Owner of a flood-affected red stickered house
Council will only issue a Red Placard (Red Sticker) when a building is too dangerous to enter following a disaster. The building may be threatened by a slip, undermined by a stream or river scour or have actually been damaged by land movements.
Land movements are especially problematic as they may occur at any time, even after the rain has stopped.
What does a red sticker mean?
Houses may be red stickered if they're deemed uninhabitable when the structure has been affected or threatened by flooding or land movement. The effect of being red stickered means that until Council is satisfied the threat has been removed, you should not be in your property unless it’s to remove valuable possessions or essential items.
Occupants of red stickered houses that are insured should contact insurance providers for alternative accommodation cover.
Contact our building inspectors if you have any concerns:
- Mike Elers – 027 685 7552
- Ian Petty – 027 628 7075
We are very careful when we issue a Red Sticker as it may require the building to be vacated for a considerable length of time until a slip has stabilised. Generally the Red Sticker will state:-
The building must be vacated and remain empty until an assessment has been carried out by a geotechnical professional with either CPEng or PEngGeol qualifications.
At that time, the recommendation may be that the building can be reoccupied or a retaining wall or inground palisade wall is required to stabilize the land.
Both these types of walls require a building consents from Council and must be designed by an CPEng structural engineer.
If this occurs then the occupation restriction will remain in place until the wall has been built and a Code Compliance Certificate is issued.
Insurance and lodging a claim
If you have damage to your home, property or car, contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
Subject to Section 124 Building Act
The Tairawhiti region, as an area affected by an emergency, has been designated as an area for building management under the Building Act 2004 (section 133BC). This designation came into force at 8.30am on 31 March 2022 and remains until 31 March 2025 unless otherwise relinquished prior.
If your home, car or contents have been damaged by the severe weather, take photos before you remove or repair anything and report it to your insurance company as soon as possible.
You only need to contact your insurance company and they’ll let you know what to do next, how to claim and – if applicable - how EQC cover works.
If you need to make your home safe, sanitary, secure and weathertight, record the work done - take before and after photos and keep copies of the bills you paid.
If your home is damaged and uninhabitable, ask your insurance provider if you are eligible for a temporary accommodation benefit which is included in most home and content policies.
If you need to make your home safe, sanitary, secure, and weather-tight, please record the work done. Take before and after photos, and keep copies of the bills you've paid.
The Residential Advisory Service (RAS) within MBIE provide advocacy services and advice to homeowners who are navigating insurance claims to remediate damage suffered due to an event.