People living in Bay of Plenty beach settlement of Matata have been given a month to decide whether to move out or stay and fight.
Twenty-seven homes were destroyed in 2005 when torrential rain washed logs, boulders and other debris down a flooded river.
Now, 14 years on, they're being offered the chance to sell their home at a market rate in what the council is calling a managed retreat from the area.
But one resident, Rob Pearce, told RNZ's Andrew McRae that everything he has is invested in his property and he doesn't want to leave it.
