Planned new stopbank in Waiohiki breaks ground DEMO

Published: 14 November 2024

The first shovels are in the dirt. The hum of heavy machinery will soon fill the air in Waiohiki, a place where floodwaters once carved an island out of a community.

This morning, a karakia brought together mana whenua, the Waiohiki project team, our contractors’ whānau, and leaders from across the region – including Tukituki MP Catherine Wedd as well as reps from Napier City, Hastings District, and Hawke’s Bay Regional councils – to mark the start of enabling works on a long-awaited flood resilience project along the Tūtaekurī River.

A long-awaited milestone for Waiohiki

Waiohiki bore the full force of Cyclone Gabrielle. The floodwaters surged, swallowing homes, farmland, and the Waiohiki Marae, reshaping the whenua in a matter of hours. When the waters receded, they left behind not just silt, but uncertainty – 45 properties were placed in Category 2C, their future hinging on what could be done to prevent this from happening again.

It was a significant and emotional time for our community to have works start on the site where we saw the floodwaters run through; one of many veins that left Waiohiki as an island. HBRC Chair Hinewai Ormsby

Now, work is underway on a one-kilometre stopbank stretching from Redclyffe Bridge to Napier Golf Course. Engineered to withstand a 1-in-100-year flood event (at post-Gabrielle levels), this stopbank is more than a barrier against rising waters – it’s a key step in reclassifying properties as Category 1, offering residents the stability to rebuild and move forward.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC) Chair Hinewai Ormsby reflected on the gravity of the moment.

"It was a significant and emotional time for our community to have works start on the site where we saw the floodwaters run through; one of many veins that left Waiohiki as an island. Building community resilience is at the forefront of our mahi, and this scheme will help to future-proof Waiohiki."

She acknowledged the “enormous collective effort” behind the project, highlighting the contributions of Ngāti Pārau Hapū, Waiohiki Marae resilience staff, local landowners, experts, Ngāi Tahuahi, and HBRC staff and contractors.

"Without this incredible collaboration, we wouldn’t have been able to get this project off the ground so swiftly. We are extremely proud and humbled by what we’ve achieved together."

A major step in the region’s flood resilience strategy

The Waiohiki project is one of six major flood resilience projects in Hawke’s Bay, part-funded by Central Government’s North Island Weather Events (NIWE) programme. HBRC Chief Executive Nic Peet expressed deep gratitude for this support.

"These important resilience projects wouldn’t be possible without the backing of the Crown. Across the region, we are working to rebuild vulnerable communities post-cyclone, and our partnership with the Crown and Crown Infrastructure Partners to deliver these projects is invaluable."

Senior Project Manager Harry Donnelly described the significance of the milestone.

"This morning was a great opportunity to come together with the community and our project partners to bless the site and mark the start of physical work. It follows months of engagement, extensive modelling, cultural impact assessments, and technical investigations – including geotechnical, archaeological, and ecological studies."

With enabling works now underway, the groundwork is being laid for full-scale construction. The first stage includes building a new road under Redclyffe Bridge and setting up a stockpile area for limestone and construction materials. Other key elements of the project include realigning the Upokohino Stream into ephemeral wetlands and removing vegetation near the bridge.

Project Manager Donnelly acknowledged the work still ahead.

"We look forward to continuing to work alongside the community as we build this new stopbank and strengthen Waiohiki’s long-term flood resilience."

Want to know more?

The Waiohiki flood resilience project is part of a $247 million North Island Weather Events (NIWE) programme to strengthen Hawke’s Bay’s flood defences, with $204 million from the Crown and $43 million from HBRC driving the work.

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