Introduction
Housing: Evacuation, condition, and damage
05.04.2023

Housing: Evacuation, condition, and damage

In the aftermath of the extreme weather events, many people were forced to evacuate their homes (temporarily or permanently) and/or to repair damage that was caused by the severe weather [8].
‍
The Auckland Anniversary Weekend flooding caused damage to thousands of houses due to flooding and landslides [5, 8]. As of June 1 2023, 167 red placards (can no longer enter property), 1560 yellow placards (limited entry) and 3014 white placards (minor damage, safe to enter) had been issued by Auckland Council because of the flooding [8]. Furthermore, there was extensive damage to housing across the North Island following Cyclone Gabrielle. As ofJune 1 2023, 326 red placards, 1,780 yellow placards, and 1817 white placards had been issued because of the cyclone [8]. Over 100,000 insurance claims have been made because of the two extreme weather events combined, with insurance companies having paid out $2.053 billion of an estimated $3.5 billion in claims [35]. Growing Up in New Zealand asked young people and their primary caregivers about housing evacuation, relocation, condition, and damage.

Housing evacuation and relocation
We asked the mothers/primary caregivers whether they had to evacuate their homes because of the floods and/or cyclone. Most mothers/primary caregivers (95.6%, n = 781) did not have to evacuate, while 4.3% (n = 35) had to leave their homes. For those 35 mothers/primary caregivers who had to relocate, over half (56%, n = 19) were unable to live in their homes for up to one week, while 44.1% (n = 15) were unable to live in their homes for more than 1 week. For those who had to leave their homes (n = 35), 70.6% (n = 24) stayed in their local community, while 29.4% (n = 10) had to move away.

Housing condition
Housing condition

Figure 12 . Shows the house condition right after and six months after the extreme weather events as reported by the mother/primary caregiver

We asked the mothers/primary caregivers to describe the condition of their house immediately after and six months after the floods and/or cyclone. This graph shows the number of mothers/primary caregivers who reported that immediately after the weather events, their house needed no immediate repair (n = 527, 64.8%), minor maintenance (n = 143, 17.6%), some repair (n = 101, 12.4%), or was stickered (n = 20, 2.4%). Twenty-two (2.7%) mothers/primary caregivers answered ‘don’t know’ or ‘prefer not to say’. This graph also shows the number of mothers/primary caregivers who reported that six months after the weather events, their house needed no immediate repair (n = 605, 74.5%), minor maintenance (n = 96, 11.8%), some repair (n = 67, 8.3%), or was stickered (n = 19, 2.3%). Twenty-five (3.1%) mothers/primary caregivers answered ‘don’t know’ or ‘prefer not to say’. Each house condition (bar) is categorised by those who were affected (dark blue; n = 217, 26.7%), live in an area that was affected (light blue; n = 240, 29.5%), or were not affected (green; n = 356, 43.8%) by the extreme weather events.

Housing cost

We asked the mothers/primary caregivers whether their usual housing costs changed because of the floods and/or cyclone (increased, decreased, no, or don’t know). Over half (67.6%, n = 552) of mothers/primary caregivers reported that their housing costs did not change, almost one quarter (22.9%, n = 187) said that their housing costs have increased, and 8.7% (n = 71) said that their housing costs decreased or that they didn’t know.

Housing damage

House Damage
Damage to belongings
Neighbourhood damage
Household damageDamage to belongingsNeighbourhood damage

Figure 13 . Shows young person reported damage to household due to the extreme weather events.

Young people were asked whether their house was damaged or flooded during the extreme weather events (not at all, a little, or a lot). This graph shows the number of young people who reported that their house was not at all damaged (n = 479, 70.5%), a little damaged (n = 162,23.9%), or a lot damaged (n = 24, 3.5%). Fourteen (2.1%) young people answered ‘don’t know’. Each level of house damage (bar) is categorised by those who were affected (dark blue; n = 166,24.4%), knew someone else affected (light blue; n = 189, 27.8%), or were not affected (green; n = 324, 47.7%) by the extreme weather events.

Figure 14 . Shows young person reported damage to belongings due to the extreme weather events.

Young people were asked whether their clothes or belongings were damaged or flooded during the extreme weather events (not at all, a little, or a lot). This graph shows the number of young people who reported that their belongings were not at all damaged (n = 599, 88.2%), a little damaged (n = 62, 9.1%) or a lot damaged (n = 15, 2.2%). Less than 10 young people answered ‘don’t know.’ Each level of damage to belongings (bar) is categorised by those who were affected (dark blue; n = 166, 24.4%), knew someone else affected (light blue; n = 189, 27.8%), or were not affected (green; n = 324, 47.7%) by the extreme weather events.

Figure 15 . Young person reported damage to neighbourhood due to the extreme weather events.

Young people were asked whether their neighbourhood was damaged or flooded during the extreme weather events (not at all, a little, or a lot). This graph shows the number of young people who reported that their neighbourhood was not at all damaged (n = 314, 46.2%), a little damaged (n = 226, 33.3%), and a lot damaged (n = 87, 12.8%). Fifty-two (7.7%) young people answered ‘don’t know’. Each level of damage to the neighbourhood (bar) is categorised by those who were affected (dark blue; n = 166, 24.4%), knew someone else affected (light blue; n = 189, 27.8%), or were not affected (green; n = 324, 47.7%) by the extreme weather events.

Quotes
What do you think the Prime Minister could or should do to support young people who might experience a natural disaster, such as flooding, a cyclone, or an earthquake?
“The government provided money and help towards families who suffered from the natural disasters, that was a lot of help towards many families. Though children were watching all of this happening in front of them, I think the government should of also hosted a fun day for families (especially children) who went through such trauma, this could include games, food, theme park rides etc. This idea would hopefully get the kids out of the house and getting their minds off things rather then watching it all unfold in front of them.”

Young person from East Auckland

"Idk if they have already, but make a charity to raise money to repair special or
significant places that have been damaged"

Young person from Te Matau-a-Māui/Hawke’s Bay

"Make sure kids can get home if there is bad weather while at school especially if parents cant pick them up. Or if kids can\’t get home there is plan in place to be looked after at school and they feel safe"

Young person from Te Tai Tokerau/Northland)

References

Suggested citation: Gawn, J., Fletcher, B.D., Neumann, D., Pillai, A., Miller, S., Park, A., Napier, C., Paine, S.J. (2024). The impact of extreme weather events on young people and their families: Evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand. Auckland: Growing Up in New Zealand. Available from: www.growingup.co.nz

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