Wairoa has received an early Christmas present with new river mouth management aimed at preventing flooding such as the one that inundated parts of the town and the district nearer the coast 18 months ago.
The work at the Wairoa River bar at the end of Kopu Rd is unique to Hawke’s Bay, specifically tailored to the river bar.
It is designed to maintain a lowered river mouth crest shaped like a funnel, with a small bund on the seaward side, allowing the mouth to be opened more quickly and safely when conditions are right, particularly before forecast heavy rainfall.
It followed a review after flooding on June 26, 2024, when the river broke its banks, affecting 500-plus properties and causing an estimated $40 million of damage.
Wairoa Hawke’s Bay Regional Council member Di Roadley said the change reflected lessons learned from previous high-flow and storm events.
“By preparing early, we can act faster when conditions change,” she said.
The lowered crest was put in place in late June, with the funnel-shaped design introduced last month.
Maintenance will be carried out as needed, depending on the sea conditions, with recent work completed two weeks ago.
“This new approach is the result of learning and adapting, so we can keep improving how we manage the river mouth,” Roadley said.
The method was developed through on-site observations and reviews by operations managers, engineers and external consultants. Council staff also work closely with Wairoa District Council and Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa.
Wairoa-raised Michelle McIlroy, the regional councillor for northern Māori constituency Māui ki Te Raki, said it highlighted the importance of local knowledge.
“Our kihitu whānau hold generational mātauranga about the ngutu awa (river mouth), alongside hapori (community) members with deep fishing knowledge passed down over time,” she said.
It sits alongside the knowledge of council experts and the practical experience of local operation Pryde Contracting, which itself had heavy machinery inundated by the sea while parked up, ready for work on the mouth.
“Together, these kete of knowledge are equally important to the safety, wellbeing and resilience of Wairoa.”
Meanwhile, the Wairoa Flood Mitigation project has reached a significant milestone with National Infrastructure Funding and Financing (NIFF) confirming its formal support for the project to proceed, after a steering committee meeting held late last week.
The confirmation comes as land access negotiations near completion, with contractual agreements now in place for of the affected properties.
Crown manager Lawrence Yule said the approval, combined with largely completed land access negotiations, represented the breakthrough the community had been waiting for.
“This marks a pivotal moment for this project and for the people of Wairoa. The formal project approval from NIFF confirms we have met the rigorous requirements needed to move forward with construction,” Yule said.
“Securing land access has been one of the most challenging aspects of this project and I want to acknowledge the incredible courage and community spirit shown by the whānau who have made the difficult decision to provide access to their land. Their sacrifice will directly help to protect Wairoa’s future for generations to come.”
Wairoa District Mayor Craig Little said the progress was a result of the many sacrifices whānau in our community had made to enable this project to go ahead.
“On behalf of our Wairoa community, I sincerely thank everyone who has selflessly made their land available to help ensure our town’s future security.”
Little acknowledged the work of Crown manager Lawrence Yule in achieving this milestone.
“For too long, our people have lived with uncertainty and rain anxiety. This decision is the formal confirmation we’ve been waiting for that construction is within reach.
“Again, I thank those whānau who have worked with us to make land available. Your contribution will protect hundreds of families and businesses and secure Wairoa’s future.
“This is a huge milestone for Wairoa and we remain appreciative to the current and former governments for the $70 million contribution, which recognised flood mitigation for our town was long overdue.”
NIFF’s formal approval confirms the project has met key requirements for technical design, risk management, procurement planning and readiness to proceed with construction.
With the preferred contractor, Goodman, appointed and detailed design work advancing, the project team, led by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, is now focused on finalising the remaining technical refinements and securing final approvals to enable construction to commence in the new year.
Yule said the project team remained committed to maintaining cultural responsiveness as work progressed.
“Cultural values and mātauranga Māori continue to guide our approach. We’re grateful for the ongoing engagement from mana whenua, including representatives from Takitimu Marae, Ruataniwha Marae, and Tawhiti a Maru Marae, whose input will ensure we do whatever we can to protect cultural taonga.”
Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa chairman Pieri Munro acknowledged all the flood-affected whānau and Māori landowners who have carried the greatest burden through this process.
“The pathway forward has been taumaha for our people, involving significant sacrifice, including the further loss of whenua and, for some whānau, the loss of homes. As a Treaty settlement body, Tātau Tātau recognises that land loss is never taken lightly.”
Munro said Tātau Tātau looked forward to continuing to work alongside the council and partners on future groyne (low wall) options to improve flood management at the Wairoa River bar openings.
Once constructed, Option 1C+ will enable 627 properties classified as Category 2C – those facing an intolerable risk to life – to move to Category 1, protected from a 1-in-100-year flood event.