Kapiti Coast District Council has recently released updated flood hazard maps that could significantly impact property owners, insurance, and mortgages across the region. Council is currently engaging with ratepayers through drop-in sessions and an online “have your say” portal until the 8th June. The proposed changes have raised serious concerns about their accuracy and fairness, prompting Coastal Ratepayers United Inc. (CRU) to commission a critical peer review by Dr. Willem de Lange. Kapiti CALM’s post below outlines why this review is urgent and how you can help ensure robust, transparent science protects our community.

Concerned Ratepayers Kapiti is sharing this message because, while we have previously focused on broader ratepayer issues and avoided overlapping with CRU and Kapiti CALM’s efforts, the scale of this issue demands collective action – the Council’s flood maps could affect around 4,000 homeowners and ratepayers. We support CRU’s call for an independent peer review to hold the Council accountable and ensure decisions impacting our homes and livelihoods are based on sound evidence.

Please read Kapiti CALM’s message below for more information and how you can donate to Coastal Ratepayers United Inc. (CRU’s) independent peer review.

More info on CRU can be found on their website www.cru.org.nz

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ARE YOU ONE OF THE 4,000 RATEPAYERS CAUGHT IN COUNCIL’S FLOOD MAP CROSSHAIRS? – What We All Need to Know

MfE Guidelines 2021

• The report uses SSP8.5 and SSP8.5+.
• These guidelines are the same ones Jacobs used — but worse.

More of Jacobs – No Dr de Lange

• AWA Environmental Limited refers to Jacobs’ Vulnerability and Susceptibility Report, Volumes 1 and 2.
• It’s important to note that these volumes are being challenged by CRU’s Coastal Hazard Risk Assessment for the Kapiti Coast, conducted by Dr. Willem de Lange.
• The Council has now added the de Lange Report to our LIMs — thanks to CRU’s judicial review action.
• The Council holds the report and the accompanying maps.

Outdated LiDAR Data
Flood modelling is based on 2017 data.

District Planning 2026
Flood hazard findings will be used in future district planning.

Peer Review
The Council has not posted a peer review of this report — which is concerning!
This is why we are asking for your help.

AN INDEPENDANT PEER REVIEW IS VITAL !!

Coastal Ratepayers United (CRU) has conducted an internal review and has identified significant concerns regarding the modelling and assumptions used in the report.

Furthermore, CRU believes the report does not satisfy statutory requirements necessary for the planning process it aims to support.

To effectively address this issue, it is imperative to obtain robust technical evidence that can critically evaluate the methodology employed.

Initiating a peer review while the report remains in draft form is essential. Discussions have been held with Dr. Willem de Lange, who has agreed to undertake the review process.

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TIME IS CRITICAL

With the Council’s engagement period ending on the 8th June, action must be taken now.

CRU is prepared to:

• Draft the terms of reference
• Coordinate with Dr. de Lange
• Offer technical support

To move forward, they need to secure $5,000 earmarked explicitly for this purpose.

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Let’s send the Council a clear message:

“Flawed findings are not good enough for the people of Kapiti — especially when it affects our homes, insurance and mortgages.”

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Donations can be sent to:
CRU
Westpac
03-1533-0036473-00

Please mention: “Flood Peer Review” as the reference.