If insurance retreat reaches South Dunedin, it will not be due to tsunamis, but long-term inadequate drainage. About 90% of Facebook comments challenged the council’s stance, arguing that South Dunedin has been let down for decades. Climate adaptation is essential for the future, but it should not prevent a flood-free South Dunedin today, with fit-for-purpose infrastructure. This will demonstrate that 60 years of South Dunedin flooding has been triggered by moderate to heavy rain acting on an undersized stormwater system. Until the DCC formally acknowledges the inadequate South Dunedin stormwater system, accepts responsibility and commits to delivering a right-sized system within a defined timeframe, advocacy for South Dunedin stormwater justice will continue.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 29, 2026 17:03 UTC