Community and social recovery needs assessment: summary report

Author:

Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Office

Source:

Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Office, Auckland Council

Publication date:

2024

Topics:

Environment ,People

Extract

Executive summary

To understand key recovery needs following the severe weather events of 2023, the Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Office has engaged with mana whenua and the community and voluntary sector, as well as commissioned a series of place-based needs assessments.

Our engagement and research highlights significant ongoing needs in the community, linked to issues that have either not been resolved from the immediate aftermath of the weather events, or have developed since this time. We heard that whanau are struggling mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Many whanau are not having their basic housing needs met and for some, the financial toll will be difficult to recover from.

Many communities impacted by recent extreme weather events were already facing socio-economic challenges, compounded by the lingering impacts of COVID-19 and resulting inflationary pressures. Recent extreme weather events have placed additional stresses on disadvantaged communities which are likely to exacerbate social and economic inequalities, compounding the impact of rising debt levels, interest rates and increases in the cost of living, and increasing demand for financial and mental health support. The nature and extent of needs may not yet be fully known.

Mana whenua told us:
( ... ) need to ensure essential needs are met (this the minimum) and the focus needs to be on addressing poverty, deprivation, and inequality, education, medical, housing etc.

Key recovery needs identified included:

Health and wellbeing: The storm events have had significant impacts on individuals and whanau physically, spiritually and emotionally. Identified needs were linked to a range of issues including ongoing trauma from the events, anxiety about future adverse weather events, stress in addressing the impacts of the events, isolation and loneliness, grief, unsuitable accommodation options and family and relationship stressors.
Housing and accommodation: Impacts are being felt across the housing system. Many whanau are not having their basic housing needs met. Needs stem from families being forced to leave their properties which has resulted in some living in accommodation which is not fit for purpose, a loss of familial ties, cultural connections and other support networks, overcrowding, and psychological impacts as a result of housing instability. Some families are still living in damaged and unhealthy properties that they cannot afford to repair.
Meeting basic household needs: For some whanau, the financial toll of the weather events will be significant, ongoing and difficult to recover from. Financial impacts stem from loss of income, loss of vehicles and home contents, costly repairs, accommodation and travel costs related to temporary accommodation, additional insurance costs in the future and reductions in values of homes. For those who were already struggling the financial impacts will be worse.

Other recovery needs identified include:

Access to information and support is still a challenge for some whanau due to a lack of awareness of support options, confusing or complex pathways to help, language barriers, a lack of documentation, and a reluctance amongst some residents to ask for help.
Insurance issues are adding to an already stressful situation, with language barriers and a lack of evidence to support claims creating additional challenges.
Infrastructure and planning concerns relate to a lack of community preparedness for adverse weather events, the capacity of infrastructure to withstand future events, the potential negative impact of housing redevelopments and intensification, and threats to the natural environment.

The findings from our engagement and research underscore the need for a long-term, coordinated strategy that responds to the diverse and persistent recovery needs of Tāmaki Makaurau's communities.

Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Office, January 2024