Andy Horne: MinterEllisonRuddWatts Litigation and Insurance Lawyer on Auckland Council deciding to stop buying out flood-damaged properties

Auckland Council will no longer be stumping up for flood damaged homes.  It comes after a $2.57 billion bill for its 2023 weather response, which included 1,200 home buyouts and infrastructure upgrades.   Mayor Wayne Brown says councils can't be the insurers of last resort, and they’re calling on central government and the insurance sector to take greater responsibility for disaster recovery funding.  Litigation and Insurance Lawyer with MinterEllisonRuddWatts, Andy Horne told Mike Hosking this was always going to happen – it was only a matter of time before the money started to run out.   He says ratepayers and taxpayers can’t be expected to continue funding those who buy properties that are subject to natural disaster risks.   However, there are still some circumstances in which the council will be liable, Horne says, and the changing approach means they’ll have to start identifying what they are and aren’t liable for.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.