The government's at-least $1 billion buyout scheme for flood ruined homes has left councils scratching their heads about how much of tab they'll be picking up, and where the cash is coming from.
The voluntary buyout scheme was unveiled yesterday. 700 North Island homes have been deemed category three, meaning the sites are two unsafe to rebuild on following the Auckland Anniversary floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.
400 of those houses are Auckland; but owners won't find out exactly who is eligible for the buyout until June 12.
Furthermore, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has raised the hackles of his councillors again, by forwarding them copies of emails from the public, including one that called them "dip shits".
At the end of a contentious week, Auckland Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson told Checkpoint that Brown "could potentially at times use better language".
She said Brown's behaviour - calling councillors "financially illiterate" and forwarding them copies of insulting emails - has not made the budget process smoother.
"It's not made easier," she admitted to Lisa Owen.
