Standards New Zealand has just published Managing flood risk – A process Standard, NZS 9401:2008.  This new process Standard guides decision-making on flood risk, to ensure all flood risk components are considered when making key land use decisions.  Intended users include local authorities, central government, communities, engineers, and developers.

Making a decision to build or develop in a flood zone or catchment area requires in-depth knowledge of the potential hazards.  This Standard presents a best practice approach to managing flood risk – to be used as the standard process approach, nationwide – when considering flood risk. 

This Standard takes a risk management approach based on the Risk management Standard, AS/NZS 4360:2004.  (A handbook complements this Standard, Risk management guidelines ­– Companion to AS/NZS 4360:2004, HB 436:2004.) 

Awareness of this Standard’s processes will provide confidence and peace of mind for planning, and will help to establish sound flood hazard risk management practices within your organisation.

View Local Government New Zealand article about the development of NZS 9401.