The Wairoa Flood Mitigation Project has entered a new phase of community conversation, with a hui held at the Wairoa War Memorial Hall last night to mark the start of the conversation around a possible longer-term solution for the Wairoa River mouth.
The project team is investigating the merits of a training groyne east of Pilot Hill, designed to help the river maintain a more stable and reliable opening to the sea.
An initial concept report was produced in August 2025 and independently peer reviewed, and the project is now in an early investigation and preparatory phase, with engineering and geotechnical investigations, including an underwater seabed survey near Pilot Hill, and dedicated cultural engagement with hapū and whānau connected to the lower awa all underway.
Planning assessment and ecological scoping work is also progressing, with the emerging design continuing to take shape around what the community has told the project team so far.
“We don’t yet know whether a groyne is viable – physically, ecologically, culturally, or financially. That’s exactly why this investigation matters, and why we’re being upfront with the community about what we know and don’t know at every step,” said Crown Manager, Lawrence Yule.
“For many in Wairoa, what happens at the river mouth is just as important as the floodway upstream. People have told us clearly that the awa needs to be looked at holistically, not in parts, and that whole-of-catchment approach continues to guide this much needed flood resilience project.”
Mr Yule said any structural solution at the river mouth would represent a significant investment, with no construction funding currently confirmed.
“Early indications are that most, if not all, of the Crown’s $70 million contribution to flood mitigation for Wairoa will be allocated to the North Clyde floodway. That means a groyne remains unfunded at this stage and hasn’t yet been approved by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. We’ll be honest about that funding picture at every stage, and no significant decisions will be made without meaningful engagement with the community and mana whenua.”
While this investigation continues, the river mouth is being actively managed under HBRC’s Intermediate Management Plan, developed in partnership with Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa, including weekly joint inspections, 24/7 camera visibility, and an agreed emergency procedure for opening the mouth if conditions require it.
Alongside this renewed conversation about the river mouth, Mr Yule was keen to reassure the community that the North Clyde Option 1C+ floodway, the project’s primary workstream, continues to progress at pace.
“Our enabling works contract with Goodman Contractors is now largely complete, and we’re reconnecting with them over the coming fortnight ahead of the next phase of works,” he said.
“Our design team is finalising the detailed design, due for delivery toward the end of this month, with land access negotiations, consenting and planning work continuing in parallel, including for road access, drainage and disposal.”
Mr Yule acknowledged that a project of this scale, spanning multiple workstreams, can understandably raise questions about pace and priority.
“I want to be clear that nothing about our attention on the river mouth changes our focus on North Clyde. Construction works are still expected to commence in the coming 2026/27 construction season, and we are working to be able to confirm more specific dates by the end of this month. Wairoa has waited a long time for this protection, and we’re not going to let momentum slip.”
The presentation from the 7 July community hui is available online here: Community hui for Wairoa River Mouth Groyne – 7 July 2026.
A factsheet on the River Mouth Groyne is available online here: Wairoa River Mouth Groyne factsheet – July 2026.
