Engineers working in flood management are well-versed in the technical aspects of flooding.  But what happens when you talk to distressed people who have just lived through deeply traumatic experiences?

In this episode of Tāwara o te Wai, flood assessor Tom Nikkel and Auckland Council flood risk manager Fiona Macdonald,  working in the aftermath of the 2023 Auckland anniversary, reflect on the tension between the need to make robust technical decisions and supporting the many traumatised people whose homes and lives have been upended.