The government is considering spending $257m to help regional council's fast-track 92 river flood protection projects.
The country's 16 regional councils, under the banner Te Uru Kahika, are planning to pay for the projects themselves, but have sought the funding to bring them forward by five years.
They say for every dollar invested by the government, it would earn five back given increasing climate change driven weather events.
Greater Wellington council chair, Daran Ponter, spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
