Home removal programme for 2023 storm-affected properties

Last updated: 3 June 2025

Removing damaged buildings

Once the buy-out process for a property is complete and ownership is transferred to the council, building removal can take place. The options include:

• relocation
• deconstruction
• demolition.

First, contractors need to complete asbestos surveys and disconnect services.

Each property is assessed to find the best removal option to reduce future risk. The council will be working with a number of different companies to deliver the home removal programme.

Approximately one third of the 1200 storm-affected houses will be relocated to provide homes for families around the country. The others will be deconstructed, with most of the materials going to community recycling centres to be reused by local residents.

Our waste policy commits us to ensure the home removal process generates the least possible amount of landfill waste.

Where possible, we will remove homes in clusters to minimise disruption for the community.

For more information about home removals, visit Recovery FAQs.

Home removal process steps

Our three-step flowchart showing steps in the home removal process

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Maintenance and security of Category 3 homes

After settlement of a property, Auckland Council provides a basic level of maintenance on a monthly schedule. The focus is to maintain areas of the property visible from the road and footpath.

Regular security patrols will also monitor the properties. If you see any suspicious behaviour, report it to the police.

If you have an issue with a Category 3 home that has been bought by the council, raise a maintenance request on the Report a problem form.

Report a problem

Note that until the council takes ownership of a property, we cannot do any work on it. 

Future land use

We are planning to buy more than 1200 high-risk properties in Auckland before the end of 2025. This will be one of the largest land acquisition programmes in New Zealand.

Storm Affected Land Use Policy and implementation approach

Our Policy and Planning Committee approved the 'Storm Affected Land Use Policy and implementation approach' on 10 April 2025. This document will guide the process for permanent land use decisions.

You can download the document to learn more.

Visit Future use of storm-affected land on OurAuckland for more information.  

Deconstruction and relocation of Category 3 homes

Our video highlights the process of deconstructing Category 3 homes in Muriwai.

Read the full transcript of the video.

What happens to deconstruction material

This video highlights the process of reusing deconstruction material from storm-affected homes.

Read the full transcript of the video.

Complex home relocations

This time-lapse video shows the complex relocation of two Category 3 homes in Blockhouse Bay.

Read the full transcript of the video.

For more information about these relocations, visit Home removal goes sky-high.