Pānui haumaru hanga whare: whakapiri whero me te kōwhai

Building safety placard: red and yellow stickers

What you need to know

If your home has a red or yellow building placard due to flood or landslip-related damage, this page guides you through what it means and what to do next.

On this page

Guidance for property owners

If your property has been issued a Red or Yellow Placard (Sticker) it means the building - or the land around it - has been assessed as unsafe to enter or occupy.

  • Read the placard carefully. Follow all conditions exactly.
  • Do not remove or cover the placard. It must remain visible for safety, further assessments and insurance purposes.

Some restrictions relate to buildings on the property that are threatened by landslip. If the notice limits access to certain structures, these must not be used as habitable spaces.

Important: Red or Yellow Placards are not the same as the Future of Severely Affected Land (FOSAL) Categories 2 and 3.
FOSAL categorisations applied only to the impacts of the 2023 severe weather events and do not form part of the current placard process.

Red placard - what it means

A Red Placard (Red Sticker) is issued when a building is considered unsafe or uninhabitable due to flooding, land movement or structural damage. Sometime the danger comes from the land, not the building - especially where slips or risk of further instability are present.

Land movement can continue even after rain stops, making conditions unpredictable and unsafe. Do not enter a red-stickered building until it has been formally assessed and cleared by the appropriate authorities.

What this means for you:
  • Do not enter or live in the home. Red placards signal a serious safety risk.
  • Contact your insurer as soon as possible. They advise what evidence is needed and how they work with the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake.
  • Follow the instructions on the placard - access if allowed, is generally for essential items only.
  • The placard will remain until Council receives a report from a CPEng Geotechnical Engineer confirming the property is safe to reoccupy.
  • This report may only be possible after stabilisation or protection work has been completed such as retaining walls, debris-deflection walls or in‑ground palisade walls. These solutions can be complex and costly and may require a building consent.
  • In some cases, homes may be too badly damaged to repair. Your insurer will guide you through next steps.

Yellow placard - what it means

A Yellow Placard (Yellow Sticker) means your home has moderate damage and has been assessed as restricted access. The placard will state exactly when and how you can enter.

What this means for you
  • Limited entry only - follow all access conditions on the placard, such as daylight only, certain areas or rooms only, no overnight stays.
  • If unsure what’s permitted, don’t guess. Contact Council or your insurer before entering.
  • Contact your insurer as soon as possible. They'll explain evidence needed and how they coordinate with the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake as part of the claims process.

Getting back into your yellow-stickered home

  • Contact your insurer as soon as possible.
  • Take photos or videos of all damage including flooding, furnishings and contaminated items.
  • Keep in touch with Council about placard conditions and what's required to change or remove the placard.

Wet and damaged building materials
  • Remove wet wall linings and insulation to help the framing dry out.
    Talk to your insurer or contact a qualified builder before starting.
  • Remove damaged flooring, including carpet, lino and floor linings.
    Note: Old lino may contain asbestos - follow specialist advice before disturbing it.
Flood-damaged contents
  • Remove flood-damaged furniture, whiteware, joinery including kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
Electrical and gas safety
  • Have your power supply checked by a registered electrician before reconnecting it.
  • If you have an unaffected upper floor, isolate the power to damaged area.
  • Have the gas system checked by a licensed gasfitter.
  • Ensure gas bottles haven't moved or been damaged.
Structural checks
  • Look for signs of structural damage, flooding can move foundations or piles.
  • Contact Council or a qualified professional if unsure.
Landslip-related repairs
  • For landslip related threats, contact the Building Services team. They can provide site-specific advice on what remedial work is required.
Silt and subfloor ventilation
  • Remove silt from under the floor.
  • Wooden floors require 550mm clearance from the ground and adequate crawl space under buildings – (approximately 250 - 300mm under the bearers).
  • You may be able to occupy the building before silt is removed, if there's adequate subfloor ventilation.
  • If your home is elevated, this step may not be required.
Trees and external hazards
  • Remove or assess any trees threatening the home.
Additional steps for rural properties
  • Check gully traps and drains to the septic tank.
  • Check whether the septic tank has filled with silt.
  • Inspect water supply pumps - many sit under floors and may need servicing or replacing.

A house can take several days or weeks to dry enough for you to safely move back in.

To speed up the drying process:

  • ventilate daily by opening doors and windows to let fresh air circulate
  • Use industrial fans or dehumidifiers to increase airflow and remove moisture
  • have a registered electrician check the power supply before using electrical equipment.

  • You can move back in to your house before walls are relined with GIB.
  • Most repair do not require building consent, but check with our Building Services team first.
  • Our team will check moisture levels before you replace the GIB.
  • Homes built after 1990 should contact Building Services on (06) 863 1605 for advice on reinstating the bracing.

Reviewing your yellow placard

When you believe the home is dry and hazards have been removed, contact Building Services on (06) 863 1605 to request a placard review.


1. Electrical safety
  • confirmation from a registered electrician.
  • Rural properties: Check water pumps - some are installed under the floor and may have been under water.
2. Gas safety
  • confirmation from a licensed gasfitter, check gas bottles.
3. Safe water supply
  • rural properties - check water tanks for contamination or damage.
4. Wastewater system
  • rural properties - a drainlayer should check the septic tank if not working.
5. Is the house dry enough?
  • we assess framing and internal moisture.
6. Silt under the house
  • we check for silt and ventilation.
7. Other hazards
  • ensure unstable trees or similar risks are addressed.

Returning home

If all the required checks are clear, we'll discuss moving back into your home.
In some situations, we may modify the yellow sticker to a white sticker. A white sticker means you are allowed to live in the house, but there's still silt to remove or minor work to complete before the property is fully cleared.

Inspection availability
  • Our building team travels up the coast on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
  • We'll do our best to fit in visits to assess remedial work, but please notify us at least 24 hours in advance so we can schedule you into the inspectors’ calendar.
  • If your property is in Hicks Bay or Onepoto, we may be able to arrange a remote inspection via video link to help speed up reoccupation while the road is closed.
  • Contact Building Services on (06) 863 1605.

Advice about access and risks

Collecting essentials items
  • Don’t just “pop in quickly” - follow placard access rules strictly.
  • Ask Council about authorised or supervised entry.
  • If allowed, take another adult, keep visits short, wear sturdy shoes and gloves, take a torch and avoid using open flames.

Landslide risk continues after rain

Landslide risk can continue or increase after rain stops.

If your placard was issued due to landslide risk, take it seriously even if damage looks minor.

Stay clear of:
  • steep banks or cliffs
  • scarps or cracks in the ground
  • fresh debris, tilting trees or poles, or new bulges in the slope
  • areas where water is seeping from the ground.
Practical safety reminders
  • If you see new cracking, leaning or signs of further movement or hear unusual noises, - leave immediately and contact Council.
  • Don't switch electricity or gas back on unless checked.
  • Avoid floodwater and silt - they may be contaminated.
  • Keep children and pets away.
  • Call 111 in an emergency.

Insurance and lodging a claim

If your home, car or contents have been damaged, contact your insurer first. They'll explain next steps, what evidence they need and how the claims process works and EQC cover (if relevant).

What to do now
  • Start your claim with your insurer.
  • Stay in touch with Council about placard conditions. and what's required for a placard to be changed or removed.
  • Document everything - take photos, videos of damage, waterlines, slip areas and keep receipts for any urgent 'make-safe' work.
  • If you must make the home safe, sanitary, secure or weathertight, record all work carried out with before-and-after photos and keep invoices.
  • If your home is uninhabitable, ask your insurer about temporary accommodation cover.

Questions and further advice

Council’s Building team is available to help, but every property is different - advice will depend on your site and its level of risk.
For assistance call 0800 653 800 and ask for Ian Petty, Building Manager.

Rates relief

If your property has been issued a Red or Yellow Placard, you may be eligible for financial support from Council.

Rates remission and relief
  • Council has rates remission and rates relief options available.
  • Properties with Red or Yellow placards may be eligible for a rates rebate or remission.
  • Properties with a placard, or any other properties affected by the event, may be able to apply for hardship relief, including payment plans or deferred payments.
  • Call Customer Services on 0800 653 800 or apply online
Disaster relief payment

Property owners with Red or Yellow placards may also qualify for a disaster relief payment. More details to come soon.