Our 2024-2025 Annual Report outlines our activities and services, what we planned to deliver, what we achieved and how we responded to challenges across the year. It's a summary of the work completed and progress assessed for Year 1 of the 2024–27 Three-Year Plan (1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025).
The report presents the district highlights, recovery and major projects, challenges and responses, performance , areas for improvement and our finances.
Annual report and summary documents
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A key focus this year has been restoring core infrastructure and services while delivering recovery projects that build community safety and resilience. Here's some of the key areas of work:
Roading network
Our network was one of the hardest hit, with over 3000 faults and 200+ major dropouts. Thanks to $125m in central government support and $52.5m for slip repairs, almost all minor repairs are now complete. Work is underway on the remaining complex sites.
Bridge repairs and bypass
Bridge repairs are advancing, with 69 of 108 rebuilds complete. A bypass around the Hangaroa Bluffs on Tiniroto Road has been confirmed, with land secured to enable delivery. This multiyear programme will continue beyond this reporting period.
Waipaoa River Flood Resilience Project
This year, 6km of stopbanks were upgraded—bringing the total to 54km. With additional funding, the project is now on track to finish in 2027, 4 years ahead of schedule.
Monitoring and forecasting technology
We’ve invested $1.45m in new monitoring and forecasting technology to enable quicker warnings and faster responses during severe weather. The system is now being piloted in Tairāwhiti and could inform a national approach.
Category 3 property buyouts
For communities living with ongoing land risk, we've continued to deliver the Category 3 property buyout programme in partnership with the Crown. We've settled 58 properties - 93% of the programme - and demolished 14. This work has provided certainty to affected households, with over $14.5m invested this year.
Category 2 mitigations
We’ve begun property-level solutions like house lifting and localised flood protection. This work will continue into next year.
Large woody debris management
Since 2023, over 550,000m³ of large woody debris has been treated through the DIA Sediment and Debris Fund - cleared from beaches and high-risk catchments to reduce the risk of rewash into waterways. This work continues into 2025/26.
Sustainable land use
Tairāwhiti’s erosion-prone land remains a priority. This year we’ve reviewed the Resource Management Plan, advanced new catchment planning, and working with the Transition Advisory Group to explore long-term land use change.
Other key priorities
- Biodiversity and water quality work continued through the Waingake Transformation Programme
- Business case finalised for the next stage of city walking and cycling connections P
- Planning underway for a new outdoor play-based area at Kiwa Pools
- Small improvements delivered across rural townships
We've navigated significant legislative and policy change including :
- Retaining ownership and delivery of water services under the new Local Water Done Well framework, guided by clear community feedback and supported by a new Water Services Delivery Plan.
- Engaging with major reforms to the Resource Management Act.
- Responding to new national direction on climate change and growth planning.
Council 2024/25 income $235m
Finances at a glance
Our region
