Flood map directory
Direct links to council flood hazard viewers for major New Zealand property markets, so you can check flood risk before you commit to a purchase.
Understanding flood zones
Flood risk is one of the most significant and often overlooked factors in residential property investment. Unlike build quality or yield, flood exposure can materially affect a property's insurability, resale value, and long-term asset resilience - regardless of how well the property performs across every other measure.
In New Zealand, every territorial council is required to maintain flood hazard information and make it publicly available. Most councils now provide free online flood map viewers that allow you to search by address and identify whether a property sits within a designated flood zone, overland flow path, or flood prone area. These tools are the starting point for any property due diligence.
This directory provides direct links to the flood hazard viewer for each major NZ investment property market, along with plain-English guidance on what the maps show and what to look for. Use it as a first check before ordering a full independent assessment.
You can see how flood risk is assessed and scored in our property comparison.