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@ISIDEWITHQuestionsthe EnvironmentNew Zealand politicsManaged retreatClimate Change AdaptationDisaster Relief Policy•••Started 3mos agoActive 1mo ago

Should the government buy out private homes located in uninsurable flood zones?

Following extreme weather events like Cyclone Gabrielle, New Zealand is grappling with "managed retreat"—moving communities away from risky areas. This creates a massive financial dilemma: who pays for the loss of property value when the land is deemed unlivable? Proponents argue that leaving citizens destitute due to climate events violates the social contract. Opponents argue that bailing out coastal property owners encourages people to keep building in dangerous areas.

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11 Replies

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...3mos3MO

Yes

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...3mos3MO

No

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...3mos3MO

No, this creates a "moral hazard" where taxpayers subsidize risky lifestyle choices.

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...3mos3MO

No, private insurers and banks must absorb the risk, not the taxpayer.

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...3mos3MO

Yes, but buyouts must be capped at the property's rateable value, not the market value.

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...3mos3MO

No, the government should invest in hard infrastructure, like sea walls, rather than abandoning the land.

 @BD2Y4JRanswered…1mo1MO

Yes for land historically zoned as buildable by local government as they signed off on its suitability, but not for future development.

 @BBTRX36answered…3mos3MO

Land management and drainage should be largely improved to mitigate flood risk if places must be built in flood zones, floodplains or low lying areas.

 @BBT27Y8Labouranswered…3mos3MO

Yes, but only properties which have been owner occupied for more than ten years.

 @BBM33JGGreenanswered…3mos3MO

People who buy in known flood zones should not expect government support. If people have been living somewhere since before they could reasonably be expected to know about the impacts of climate change on that location then they should qualify.

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...3mos3MO

Yes, climate change is a collective responsibility, so taxpayers must share the cost of managed retreat.

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