2026 New Zealand election: flood risk, insurance and relocation

For a homeowner on the Heretaunga Plains, there are three distinct election issues worth examining:

1. Protecting existing homes: Who would help pay for flood protection, drainage, stopbanks and property-level resilience?
2. Insurance affordability and availability: What happens if insurers increase premiums, impose exclusions or refuse to insure a property?
3. Managed retreat and relocation: If a home becomes too risky to protect, would the government help homeowners relocate, and who would bear the financial loss?

There is also a particularly important Hawke's Bay question: whether parties have specific plans for the region's recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle, rather than relying on nationwide flood-management policies.

I'll distinguish between announced party policies, government actions already under way, and proposals that parties have not yet clearly committed to. That distinction matters when assessing promises ahead of the 2026 general election.

1. What the parties are proposing

The most significant difference is between parties proposing a new national system to deal with insurance retreat and relocation, and parties whose emphasis is on broader climate resilience, infrastructure or government spending.

The Opportunity Party

Specific insurance and relocation proposal

The Opportunity Party released its Climate Resilient Aotearoa policy on 18 September 2026.

Its proposals include:

• A National Insurance Support Framework, with national rules for identifying and managing insurance retreat.
• Transparent, forward-looking flood and climate-risk assessments for homeowners.
• A fairer sharing of adaptation costs between central government, councils, insurers and property owners.
• Expanding the role of the Natural Hazards Commission (Toka Tū Ake) to coordinate risk information and adaptation.
• Funding resilience improvements for vulnerable homes, with relocation as a last resort.
• Greater disclosure of climate risks in property developments, mortgages and insurance products.

This is particularly relevant to homeowners who are worried that their homes could become difficult or impossible to insure.

However, the party has not specified a guaranteed buyout percentage, a fixed compensation formula or an entitlement to subsidised insurance. Its proposed cost-sharing arrangements still need to be worked out.

Sources: Opportunity proposes national insurance support framework as part of climate policyOpportunity Party proposes new rules for insurance retreat

The Green Party

Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand has a substantial climate-resilience section in its 2026 manifesto.

Its stated direction includes:

• Preparing communities for increasingly severe weather events.
• Supporting communities affected by cyclones and other climate-related disasters.
• Investing in climate adaptation and resilience.
• Recognising the importance of healthy rivers, wetlands and natural systems in reducing flood impacts.

The manifesto presents resilience as a responsibility to protect people and communities, not simply infrastructure.

An important qualification: I have not found a specific 2026 Green Party commitment to a national flood-insurance guarantee or a defined compensation scheme for Heretaunga Plains homeowners who need to relocate. Those should not be assumed from its wider climate commitments.

Source: Manifesto 2026Manifesto 2026

National Party

New Zealand National Party is the governing party's starting point for this election comparison.

Its existing National Adaptation Framework is important. It establishes four areas of work:

• Sharing hazard and risk information.
• Clarifying central and local government responsibilities.
• Investing in reducing risk.
• Sharing costs before and after disasters.

It also includes a proposed nationwide flood map, with the first generation expected in 2027, and development of consistent national flood-modelling and risk-analysis standards.

The framework is a significant policy direction, but it is not the same as a promise to compensate every homeowner who loses insurance or needs to move.

National's published 2026 election-policy catalogue does not, in the material I could verify, set out a specific new household flood-insurance guarantee or a guaranteed managed-retreat payment.

Sources: National Adaptation framework2026 Election Policy

Labour Party

New Zealand Labour Party needs to be considered in the context of the earlier national adaptation and managed-retreat work undertaken under previous Labour-led governments.

The first National Adaptation Plan included work on:

• Legislation to enable managed retreat.
• Investigating options to maintain access to home flood insurance.
• Helping building owners reduce and manage climate-related hazards.
• Investment in climate resilience.

However, these were government programmes and policy work, not evidence of a specific new Labour 2026 election commitment.

I would distinguish Labour's previous policy development from any new promise to fund household buyouts or subsidise premiums. I have not verified a detailed 2026 Labour commitment that establishes a guaranteed payment for flood-prone homeowners.

Sources: Adaptation options including managed retreatResidential insurance and climate-related hazards

ACT New Zealand

ACT New Zealand should also be assessed on its specific 2026 commitments rather than assumed positions.

I could not verify a published ACT commitment establishing a national flood-insurance backstop, a household relocation-compensation scheme or a guaranteed contribution towards protecting existing flood-prone homes.

This does not mean ACT has no policies on infrastructure, local government or disaster recovery. It means I would not count those broader positions as a specific homeowner insurance or relocation entitlement.

New Zealand First

New Zealand First has also been involved in the governing coalition during the period in which the current adaptation framework has been developed.

I could not verify a specific 2026 commitment from the party to guarantee insurance availability, establish a national buyout scheme or provide a defined relocation payment to households in flood-prone areas.

Its position on regional infrastructure and disaster recovery should be assessed separately from those household protections.

Te Pāti Māori

Te Pāti Māori has a distinct emphasis on Māori communities, whenua, community wellbeing and environmental protection.

Those issues are relevant to flood adaptation, especially where relocation affects ancestral land, marae and community connections.

However, I could not verify a specific 2026 commitment establishing a general flood-insurance guarantee or a defined buyout entitlement for all affected homeowners.

2. What this means for homeowners on the Heretaunga Plains

There are several questions that matter more than broad statements about climate action.

Issue	What to look for in party policies
Rising insurance premiums	Will government help make insurance affordable?
Insurance exclusions	Is there a public insurance backstop or support mechanism?
Flood protection	Who pays for stopbanks, drainage and upgrades?
Property improvements	Are there grants or low-interest loans for household protection?
Relocation	Is there a funded buyout or compensation mechanism?
Mortgage security	What happens if a home becomes uninsurable?
School-age children	How will relocation support continuity of schooling and community connections?

One particularly important distinction is between protecting a property and protecting its market value.

A stopbank may reduce the probability of flooding, but it does not necessarily restore insurance availability or guarantee the home's future resale value.

Similarly, a government-funded buyout might help a household move, but the amount offered, treatment of mortgages and ability to purchase another suitable home determine whether the family can actually recover financially.

3. Are there proposals specifically for Hawke's Bay?

There are important Hawke's Bay initiatives, but it is essential to separate regional recovery projects from party election promises.

Existing flood-protection work

The Government has already put in place a special legal process to accelerate Hawke's Bay flood-protection works following Cyclone Gabrielle.

The Severe Weather Emergency Recovery (Hawke's Bay Flood Protection Works) Order 2024:

• Came into effect on 7 June 2024.
• Was designed to speed up flood-protection works.
• Covers projects including works at Waiohiki, Ōhiti, Pākōwhai and other locations.
• Was amended in August 2025 to allow consideration of an alternative Wairoa flood-protection option.
• Is due to expire on 31 March 2028.

This is an existing government initiative, rather than a new election promise. Hawke's Bay flood protection works

The Heretaunga Plains and regional flood schemes

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The Hawke's Bay Regional Council has responsibility for regional flood-control and drainage schemes.

Its current programme includes:

• Brookfields lower stopbank upgrades.
• Ōmāhu stopbank upgrades.
• Waiohiki flood-resilience works.
• Pākōwhai flood mitigation.
• Other regional flood-control and drainage projects.

These projects matter because the costs of maintaining and improving regional protection can ultimately affect ratepayers as well as central-government budgets. Flood hazard modellingFlood hazard modelling

There is also a significant information development: updated flood modelling is being made available to property owners.

The Regional Council says insurers assess properties individually using a variety of information, including flood models and reinsurance data. It cannot guarantee that new flood protection or updated mapping will reduce premiums.

It also makes clear that stopbanks cannot eliminate flood risk entirely. Flood hazard modelling

My finding on Hawke's Bay-specific election commitments: I have not identified a verified 2026 party proposal that specifically guarantees Heretaunga Plains homeowners:

• A subsidised insurance premium.
• A government-funded household flood-protection grant.
• A guaranteed buyout if insurance becomes unavailable.
• Compensation for any loss in property value caused by revised flood-risk assessments.

That is an important gap to question candidates about.

4. The insurance and relocation problem deserves particular attention

New Zealand's existing insurance system is under pressure from increasing natural-hazard exposure.

The Treasury has already investigated residential insurance and climate-related hazards, including the possibility that some homes may become difficult to insure.

The government has completed its earlier investigation of flood-insurance options, but that does not mean a permanent national insurance guarantee is in place. Residential insurance and climate-related hazards

The Natural Hazards Commission has also published research in 2025 and January 2026 examining the relationship between:

• Private insurance withdrawal.
• Public disaster insurance.
• Managed retreat.
• Government-funded property buyouts.
• Alternative insurance arrangements that could help fund relocation.

This is useful because it recognises that insurance and relocation cannot sensibly be treated as completely separate issues. The roles of insurance in managed retreats :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū AkeManaged retreat, private insurance retreat, public insurance and the connections between them :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake

For a household with children, I would particularly want political parties to answer the following:

1. If our insurer withdraws cover, will the government provide temporary insurance support?
2. If our home can be protected, will there be financial assistance for resilience improvements?
3. If protection is no longer economically or technically viable, will government offer a voluntary buyout?
4. How will compensation be calculated: current market value, pre-flood value, replacement cost or another formula?
5. Will outstanding mortgages be considered?
6. Will relocation assistance account for the costs of finding another home, moving children and maintaining access to schools and community services?

These are not currently guaranteed entitlements under the proposals discussed above.

5. A practical comparison of the policy differences

Here is a condensed comparison based on the policies and commitments I could verify as at 30 October 2026.

Party	Insurance support	Relocation / buyouts	Hawke's Bay-specific household commitment
Opportunity	Explicit national framework proposed	Explicitly considers relocation as last resort	None verified
Greens	Broader resilience commitments	No specific funded buyout formula verified	None verified
National	Existing national adaptation framework	No specific household entitlement verified	Existing regional recovery works
Labour	Earlier work on flood insurance and managed retreat	Earlier managed-retreat policy development	No new specific household scheme verified
ACT	No specific insurance backstop verified	No specific buyout scheme verified	None verified
NZ First	No specific insurance guarantee verified	No specific buyout scheme verified	No specific household scheme verified
Te Pāti Māori	Broader community and environmental priorities	No general homeowner buyout formula verified	None verified

This table is deliberately conservative. A missing commitment means I could not establish one from the published material, not necessarily that a party opposes the idea.

6. What I would ask Hawke's Bay election candidates

I would put these five questions to every candidate, regardless of party:

• Insurance: Would you support a national insurance safety net for homes in established flood-prone communities?
• Protection: Would you contribute central-government funding towards existing regional flood schemes, rather than leaving the burden primarily with local ratepayers?
• Relocation: Would you support a nationally funded, voluntary managed-retreat and buyout programme?
• Fairness: If a homeowner bought a property before its flood risk was properly understood, should they bear the entire financial loss?
• Long-term certainty: Would you commit to a 10–20-year flood-resilience plan for Hawke's Bay, with published funding and construction milestones?

You can also examine the relevant government material directly:

• National Adaptation Framework
• Hawke's Bay flood-protection works
• Hawke's Bay flood hazard modelling
• Treasury's residential insurance review
• 2026 property policy comparison

7. My overall assessment

There is one particularly notable policy difference: Opportunity has put forward a relatively explicit proposal for dealing with insurance retreat, sharing adaptation costs and potentially relocating vulnerable households.

The Greens have articulated broader climate-resilience commitments. National has an existing national adaptation framework and regional recovery programme. Labour's previous work provides a foundation for adaptation and managed-retreat policy.

For the other parties, I would seek more explicit commitments before assuming their wider infrastructure or disaster-recovery policies would help individual homeowners facing insurance withdrawal.

The biggest unanswered question for your household is not simply who promises to build better stopbanks. It is who will protect homeowners financially if those stopbanks are not enough.

That is where I would concentrate your election comparisons.

One final point: the first generation of the New Zealand Flood Map is expected in 2027. That could materially change how homeowners, insurers and banks assess flood exposure. National Adaptation framework

If you want to take this further, I can also prepare a separate comparison of the parties' proposals for the actual Heretaunga Plains Flood Control Scheme, including who pays, the likely implications for rates and central-government funding, and which projects are already committed versus still proposed.

2026 election: Flood risk, insurance and relocation for Hawke's Bay homeowners

The most important distinction for your household is between protecting a home so you can stay, and helping you leave if the risk becomes unacceptable.

As at 30 October 2026, there is a significant difference between the parties' published proposals on these issues.

The Opportunity Party has put forward the most explicit new proposal addressing insurance withdrawal, financial assistance for vulnerable properties and possible relocation. The Greens have made broader commitments to climate adaptation and community resilience. National's approach is substantially reflected in the existing government adaptation and cyclone-recovery framework.

For Hawke's Bay, there is also an important complication: some flood protection and relocation arrangements are already funded or underway. They should not be confused with new promises for the 2026 election.

1. What the parties are proposing

Position based on published 2026 election policies and announcements available on 30 October 2026.

Opportunity Party – national insurance and relocation framework

Explicit insurance and relocation proposal

Opportunity released its Climate Resilient Aotearoa policy on 18 September 2026.

Its proposal is particularly relevant to homeowners worried about insurers withdrawing cover or making premiums unaffordable.

The party proposes:

• National Insurance Support Framework: national rules for identifying and managing insurance retreat, where insurers increase premiums, restrict cover or withdraw completely.
• Forward-looking property risk assessments: homeowners would have access to transparent information about future climate and flood risks.
• Shared financial responsibility: a fair cost-sharing arrangement involving central government, councils, insurers and property owners.
• Support for vulnerable properties: the Natural Hazards Commission would have an expanded role in identifying highly vulnerable homes and coordinating funding for resilience improvements.
• Relocation as a last resort: where protecting a property is no longer practical, relocation would be considered.
• Mandatory risk disclosure: climate-risk information would be required for new developments, mortgages and insurance products.

The party also proposes a $5 billion Climate Resilience Fund for critical infrastructure, including transport, energy and water networks, with $500 million directed towards nature-based solutions such as restored wetlands.

One important qualification: Opportunity has not specified exactly how much an individual homeowner would receive, what proportion insurers or government would pay, or the eligibility rules for relocation.

Leader Qiulae Wong has said decisions about buyouts and cost-sharing should involve affected residents, councils, businesses, iwi and communities rather than being imposed unilaterally. Opportunity proposes national insurance support framework as part of climate policyOpportunity Party proposes new rules for insurance retreat

Green Party – greater investment in adaptation and community resilience

The Greens' 2026 manifesto identifies climate resilience and adaptation as a significant policy priority.

Its approach includes:

• Preparing communities for increasingly severe weather events.
• Supporting communities through climate adaptation.
• Strengthening environmental protection and natural systems.
• Taking greater action to address climate-related risks.
• Investing in community resilience and working with iwi Māori.

The Greens have also criticised the Government for postponing decisions about who pays for climate adaptation.

In July 2026, co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick criticised the Government's proposed climate adaptation legislation for not providing sufficient certainty about funding responsibilities.

The Greens argue that leaving councils to shoulder adaptation costs can ultimately transfer those costs to households through higher rates and insurance premiums. Manifesto 2026Much delayed climate adaptation bill needs much more workLuxon missing in action as climate costs pile up

What is less clear: I haven't found a specific 2026 Green Party commitment establishing a national residential flood-insurance guarantee or a defined homeowner buyout entitlement.

Their published position is broader than Opportunity's insurance-retreat proposal.

National Party – existing adaptation framework and recovery arrangements

National's 2026 election policy programme does not currently set out a new, dedicated residential flood-insurance or managed-relocation scheme comparable to Opportunity's proposal.

However, National is the party leading the current Government, so its existing policies and programmes matter.

The Government's approach includes the Future of Severely Affected Locations (FOSAL) framework, which provides for:

• Flood and landslide risk categorisation.
• Mitigation works where risks can be reduced.
• Voluntary residential property buyouts where risks cannot be adequately mitigated.
• Central-government financial support for affected councils.

National's broader 2026 programme emphasises fiscal restraint, keeping rates affordable and limiting new taxes. Its published election policies do not promise a new national insurance subsidy or a general compensation scheme for homeowners in flood-prone locations. 2026 Election PolicyProactive Release

There is also an important unresolved issue: the Treasury confirms that residential flood-insurance problems are being considered as part of the Government's wider climate adaptation work, but this is not the same as having an implemented national insurance solution. Residential insurance and climate-related hazards

Labour Party – no specific new residential flood-insurance commitment identified

Labour's published 2026 election policies focus on cost-of-living pressures, housing affordability, healthcare, infrastructure and employment.

Its housing proposals include expanding access to first-home loans and rent-to-buy arrangements.

However, I have not identified a specific new 2026 Labour commitment to:

• Guarantee flood insurance for existing homeowners.
• Subsidise premiums for flood-exposed properties.
• Establish a national managed-relocation programme.
• Provide a defined government-funded buyout entitlement for homes at increasing flood risk.

This does not mean Labour has no relevant history. The previous Labour Government established the National Adaptation Plan and was responsible for significant parts of the original cyclone recovery and flood-risk mitigation funding arrangements. Labour's 2026 Election PoliciesResidential insurance and climate-related hazardsProactive Release

New Zealand First – catchment management and flood protection

NZ First's 2026 published policy material does not currently contain a comparable national insurance-retreat or homeowner relocation framework.

There is, however, a relevant commitment in its 2023 election policy: re-establishing Catchment Boards focused on active river, stream and flood-protection management.

That is relevant to Hawke's Bay because catchment management, river maintenance and flood infrastructure are important parts of reducing flood exposure.

NZ First's current published policies do not establish:

• A national residential flood-insurance guarantee.
• A standard government-funded relocation payment.
• A defined system for sharing the costs of protecting individual homes.

NZ First has a candidate standing in Napier, Te Kira Lawrence, and Taine Randell is standing in Tukituki. Neither fact by itself establishes a specific Hawke's Bay flood policy. Our Policy2023 Election PoliciesNZ First announces party list for the 2026 General Election

ACT – no equivalent homeowner insurance or relocation commitment identified

ACT's published 2026 election material does not currently provide a specific national homeowner flood-insurance or managed-retreat package comparable to Opportunity's.

Its broader approach emphasises regulatory reform, economic efficiency and limiting government expenditure.

For homeowners, the important unanswered questions are whether ACT would support:

• A government-backed insurance mechanism for high-risk homes.
• Public subsidies for household flood protection.
• Government contributions towards voluntary relocation.
• National rules determining how adaptation costs are divided between councils and homeowners.

I would not assume ACT supports or opposes any particular version of these arrangements without a more specific commitment.

Te Pāti Māori – community resilience and Māori land considerations

Te Pāti Māori has broader environmental, climate and Māori community priorities.

An important distinction for Hawke's Bay is that flood adaptation also affects whenua Māori, marae and collectively owned land.

The existing government recovery framework recognises that Māori land has particular ownership and governance circumstances, and has a separate pathway for severely affected whenua Māori.

I have not identified a sufficiently detailed 2026 Te Pāti Māori commitment establishing a general residential insurance guarantee or defined buyout entitlement for homeowners. Manifesto 2026Proactive Release

2. What is already happening in Hawke's Bay?

This is particularly important because the Heretaunga Plains have already experienced major flood-related recovery and protection decisions following Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023.

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The existing Government and council arrangement is worth up to $556 million across the region.

It includes:

Purpose	Funding
Regional flood mitigation	$203.5 million Government
Category 3 property purchases	Up to $92.5 million Government
Roads, bridges and connectivity	$260 million Government

For Category 3 residential property purchases, the Government and relevant councils agreed to share eligible costs 50:50.

The flood mitigation programme also includes approximately $100 million for Hastings District protection in areas including:

• Pākōwhai
• Ōmahu
• Waiohiki
• Havelock North

These are existing recovery commitments, not new 2026 election promises. Cyclone Recovery Funding Hawke's BayProactive Release

What does this mean for homeowners?

The existing arrangements distinguish between different levels of risk.

Category	General meaning	Response
Category 1	Risk can be managed through repairs and normal recovery	Repair and rebuild
Category 2	Further mitigation is required	Property-level or community-level protection
Category 3	Unacceptable risk to life that cannot be adequately mitigated	Voluntary buyout or relocation

Hawke's Bay's Category 3 voluntary buyout programme is particularly important.

Hastings District Council explains that eligible owners may receive:

• A purchase offer under which council acquires the property.
• A relocation arrangement for qualifying larger or mixed-use properties, allowing owners to retain the land subject to restrictions on future residential use.

The relocation grant is calculated using the difference between the property's pre-cyclone value with residential rights and its value without those rights.

Insurance claims must be settled before the council makes its offer. The council also provides eligible owners with up to $5,000 excluding GST towards professional valuation and legal advice. Category 3 Voluntary Buy-out ProgrammeCyclone Recovery Funding Hawke's Bay

One development to watch: Hastings District Council says the existing Category 3 maps are being updated using more detailed flood modelling. Category 2C properties, meanwhile, are expected to benefit from community-level flood infrastructure.

This matters because the existing categories are not a permanent guarantee of future risk classification. Land categorisation next steps

3. Is there a party proposing something specifically for Hawke's Bay?

This is where the distinction between regional investment and household-level protection becomes important.

Party	Specific Hawke's Bay flood commitment identified?	Direct homeowner insurance or relocation proposal?
National	Existing regional recovery and protection programme	Existing Category 3 buyouts; no new general scheme identified
Labour	Previous cyclone recovery funding and programmes	No new defined scheme identified
Greens	General national climate adaptation commitments	No defined insurance guarantee or buyout entitlement identified
NZ First	Historical commitment to active catchment and river management	No defined national scheme identified
ACT	No specific regional commitment identified	No defined scheme identified
Te Pāti Māori	Broader Māori land and environmental priorities	No defined general homeowner scheme identified
Opportunity	National climate resilience investment	Explicit national insurance-retreat and relocation framework

The key finding: Opportunity's policy is specifically relevant to the problem you describe, but it is a national proposal, not a dedicated Heretaunga Plains programme.

I have not found a published 2026 party commitment guaranteeing additional compensation or insurance support specifically to Hastings homeowners outside the existing recovery arrangements.

4. What could the different proposals mean for your household?

There are three distinct financial risks worth separating.

Scenario A: You want to stay in your home

The relevant policies are those that fund stopbanks, drainage, river management and other flood mitigation.

Questions to examine:

• Will central government contribute enough to reduce the burden on council rates?

• Will the protection actually reduce your property's flood exposure?

• Will insurers recognise the improvements when setting premiums?

  Scenario B: Your insurance becomes unaffordable

  This is where Opportunity's proposed National Insurance Support Framework is relevant.

Questions to examine:

• Will government help homeowners maintain access to insurance?

• Will premiums be subsidised or risk shared?

• Will banks continue lending against properties where insurance is restricted?

• Will homeowners receive sufficient notice before insurance withdrawal?

  Scenario C: Your property eventually becomes unsafe

  The existing Category 3 buyout framework is relevant, as is Opportunity's proposed national relocation framework.

Questions to examine:

• How will the property be valued?
• Will compensation allow a family to purchase a comparable home elsewhere?
• Who pays the difference between the insurance settlement and replacement costs?
• Will relocation assistance cover legal, valuation, moving and other expenses?
• What happens to mortgage debt if the buyout is insufficient?

For a household with school-age children, relocation also involves continuity of schooling, transport, employment and community connections. These are important considerations that a simple property valuation does not capture.

5. Five questions I would put to candidates in Hastings, Napier and Tukituki

Rather than relying on general election slogans about climate resilience, I would ask candidates for concrete answers to these questions.

1. Insurance: If our home remains habitable but insurers substantially increase premiums or withdraw cover, what financial assistance will your party provide?

2. Flood protection: Will central government continue to fund a substantial proportion of flood protection on the Heretaunga Plains, or will more of the cost fall on Hastings ratepayers?

3. Relocation: If a property becomes unsafe, will your party guarantee a fair buyout that accounts for the cost of purchasing another suitable family home?

4. Existing homeowners: Will assistance apply to people who bought their homes before flood-risk information and insurance settings changed?

5. Long-term certainty: Will your party establish national rules so that homeowners know who is responsible for protection, insurance and relocation costs before another major flood?

These questions also expose an important policy difference: funding infrastructure is not necessarily the same as protecting individual homeowners financially.

6. Sources worth reading before you vote

These are the most useful primary and independent sources I found.

• Opportunity Party – 2026 Climate Resilient Aotearoa policy coverage – the detailed insurance and relocation proposal.
• National Party – 2026 election policies – the current Government's election commitments.
• Green Party – 2026 manifesto – climate adaptation and community resilience.
• Labour Party – 2026 policies – its current housing and cost-of-living programme.
• The Treasury – Residential insurance and climate-related hazards – government work on flood insurance.
• Hastings District Council – Category 3 voluntary buyout programme – existing local arrangements.
• Hastings District Council – Hawke's Bay cyclone recovery funding – the $556 million regional funding agreement.

My overall assessment of the policy landscape

There are three particularly important distinctions to keep in mind:

• Protecting property: Flood infrastructure investment can reduce the risk of future flooding, but it does not automatically guarantee affordable insurance.
• Protecting homeowners financially: Opportunity has explicitly proposed a national framework for insurance retreat and shared adaptation costs. Comparable detail is missing from several other parties' published election commitments.
• Helping families relocate: Hawke's Bay already has a voluntary Category 3 buyout programme. A broader national framework could address future situations beyond the properties covered by that programme.

The biggest unresolved question for homeowners on the Heretaunga Plains is not simply who will pay for the next stopbank. It is who will bear the financial loss if your home becomes increasingly expensive to insure, difficult to sell or ultimately unsafe to occupy.

That is the question I would keep at the centre of your election comparison.

I can also help examine the specific flood exposure of different parts of the Heretaunga Plains, including the implications of updated flood modelling, insurance availability and whether existing Category 2C or Category 3 arrangements might be relevant to your area.