Govt working on buyout scheme for homeowners affected by weather - Mitchell

The Emergency Management Minister said the government is working on a buy out blue print so home owners hit by extreme weather know where they stand. About a dozen Dunedin houses have been red stickered in last week's storms. The region was under a state of emergency for several days with heavy rain causing flooding, massive slips and road closures with low lying South Dunedin among the worst hit areas. Properties are red-stickered if they're unsafe to occupy. Dunedin mayor Jules Radich said the prospect of a property buyout scheme was discussed with the previous government about a year ago, as part of a managed retreat plan; however the new government didn't support the idea. Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Mark Mitchell told Lisa Owen that was in a completely different context and the government will do what it can to support residents.