Poll shows majority back shared funding for flood protection

A Curia poll commissioned by LGNZ shows 58% of voters believe flood protection should be funded jointly by central and local government.

It comes as LGNZ and Te Uru Kahika - Regional and Unitary Councils Aotearoa call on political parties to support an enduring approach to flood resilience co-investment.

The poll found 18% favoured local government funding flood protection alone, while 14% favoured central government alone and 10% were unsure.

"These results are consistent with other surveys. In a February 2026 Freshwater Strategy poll, 77% of respondents supported large-scale flood protection for regional cities. In a Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet survey in 2024, 92% considered severe weather and flooding a real threat over the following 12 months.

LGNZ’s Regional Sector Chair, Dr Deon Swiggs says the message from these numbers is clear - New Zealanders want their lives and livelihoods protected from the dangers of flooding.

“In a cost-of living election, New Zealand needs to confront the growing cost of flooding,” says Dr Deon Swiggs.

"Severe flooding puts lives and livelihoods at stake.

“It’s not just damage to homes that communities suffer, it disrupts regional economies for months if not years. Protecting this infrastructure upfront is essential to lifting productivity and economic growth.

"It makes sense for regional councils to deliver and manage flood schemes. But many people would be surprised to learn there's no enduring central government funding for them. Ratepayers carry the baseline cost, and government support arrives case by case, usually after a disaster."

“The polling shows clear public backing for taxes and rates funding flood protection together so that communities and local economies are better protected.

“The immediate ask is for all political parties to recognise that flood resilience is a national and regional responsibility, and back an enduring co-investment approach.

“We would work with the incoming government to address the scale of investment, the funding pipeline and councils’ ability to meet their share, particularly in the context of rates capping.

“Flood protection is one part of the wider approach we’re calling for through LGNZ’s proposed national climate resilience framework: central and local government working together to build community resilience through infrastructure, hazard mitigation and adaptation measures before disaster strikes, rather than repeatedly paying for the clean-up.”

Daran Ponter, Chair of Greater Wellington and Te Uru Kahika Flood Resilience Sponsor said there’s clear evidence that investing ahead of disasters saves money in the long run and helps keep people safe.

The updated national business case from Te Uru Kahika, Before the Deluge 3.0, has been shared with all political parties and provides the starting point for establishing a long-term partnership approach between central and local government to tackle floods around New Zealand.

"What we’re proposing is a durable partnership that reflects the national benefits of flood resilience infrastructure and gives certainty to investors and industry.“

Flooding affects homes, schools, hospitals, airports, roads, rail, electricity networks, farms and regional economies. The benefits of reducing that risk are shared nationally, so the investment should be as well,” says Chair Daran Ponter.