In February 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle overwhelmed Te Karaka's flood protection scheme, overtopping stopbanks in multiple locations. While the stopbanks held and did not fail, the flooding caused major damage and significant disruption to the community.
In response, we're working in partnership with Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki to upgrade and improve Te Karaka township's flood defences, with support from government funding.
This project will upgrade the existing flood control scheme that protects the Te Karaka township to the same level of service provided by the downstream Waipaoa stopbank stopbank upgrades - designed to convey a 5,625 cumec flood event. For comparison, Cyclone Gabrielle was estimated by NIWA to have produced a 4,000 cumec event.
The Council-approved option includes significant retreat, along with culvert renewals, road realignment, flood mitigation measures, rock armouring, stream realignment, floodgate modifications, raising the state highway, and other works. Together, these improvements will deliver a higher level of flood protection and resilience than existed before Cyclone Gabrielle.
Te Karaka township is home to approximately 200 households and a population of around 525. While the area being investigated largely focuses on the township itself, it also extends to include a number of small nearby pockets that experienced flooding.
Flood modelling for the project extends 11.5km upstream to include the Waikohu River (a 10.5km branch), and 10kms downstream to Humphreys Road.
Te Karaka
This shows the extent of flooding in Cyclone Gabrielle. In an area of 187 hectares, 60 dwellings are categorised at FOSAL Category 2.
The existing flood control scheme doesn’t account for climate change and is currently susceptible to significant flooding and therefore a major risk to people and property living and working in the Te Karaka area.
What's happening now?
We're at Stage 2 - planning and consents approval
Following Council approval on 21 August 2025 of the preferred stopbank alignment developed during the investigation stage, we're now progressing the next steps:
- developing detailed consent-level design
- completing the resource consent application
- engaging with affected landowner
- securing the project funding shortfall
Approved stopbank alignment
Past stages
The initial investigations phase is now complete. Since April 2024, Council has worked in partnership with Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki and the local community to explore flood protection options for Te Karaka. Together, we narrowed down a longlist of potential solutions to 2 preferred options to reduce future flood risk. These were selected based on detailed flood modelling, engineering analysis, and input from iwi and the community.
Detailed information was shared with the wider community, who were invited to provide feedback to help shape the final stopbank alignment.
Based on this input, a preferred stopbank alignment was developed and presented to Council late August 2025. Council approved the recommendation, allowing the project to move into Stage 2 - planning and consents approvals.
April 2024
The first community hui was held to validate the partially calibrated flood model and gather feedback.
July 2024
A community-led steering group was formed, with representation from Te Karaka and surrounding areas.
August 2024
The steering group held 2 hui to review flood modelling, share experiences, and suggest additional scenarios for analysis. A wider community update was also shared.
March–April 2025
Longlist and shortlist stopbank alignment options were presented at community hui for discussion and feedback.
16 June–28 July 2025
2 preferred alignment options were shared online, and the community was invited to submit feedback.
Community hui were also held, and formal feedback was encouraged via the online form.
17 August 2025
A community hui was held to share the final preferred alignment and present the officer’s report to be tabled at the full Council meeting on 21 August 2025. (Note: the report was approved)
Project timeframe
Please note: These timeframes are indicative and may shift depending on approvals, funding, and consent processes.
Stage 1 – Investigations - ✅ Completed
- Mid-2025: Preferred upgrade option identified
- 21 August 2025: Preferred option endorsed by Council
Stage 2 – Planning and Approvals - Late 2025 onwards
- Lodge application for resource consent by summer 2025
- Confirm project funding
- Note: There are risks associated with gaining resource consent approvals
Stage 3 – Construction - Subject to consent approval
- Mid-2026: Begin procurement process
- Early 2027: Construction starts
- Estimated 2-year timeframe to complete the scheme upgrade