Main construction is complete on Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s $10 million Ōhiti Road | Ōmāhu flood resilience project for the Heretaunga Plains area, which was hit hard by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Across the eight-month build, 2.1 kilometres of new and upgraded stopbanks and bunds took shape beside Ohiwia Stream. Crews also raised around 800 metres of Ōhiti and Taihape roads and completed important drainage and erosion-protection work.
Ōhiti Road | Ōmāhu joins nearby Waiohiki as the second of Hawke’s Bay’s seven post-Gabrielle community flood resilience projects to be completed. Four of the remaining five – Havelock North, Pākōwhai, Pōrangahau and Whirinaki – are now well into construction.
Council Chair, Sophie Siers says the milestone shows the wider recovery is gathering pace.
“These projects are moving from plans and promises to earthworks, raised roads and real protection on the ground,” Chair Siers says.
“For the Ōhiti Road | Ōmāhu community, that means a stronger line of defence after the devastation of February 2023.”
Eleven homes along Ōhiti and Taihape roads were severely damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle. Initially classified Category 2A, they were moved to Category 2C in November 2023. This meant the flood risk was considered unacceptably high but could be reduced through a community-level engineering fix.
In March, Category 2C was removed from all 11 properties, taking them out of the Government’s Future of Severely Affected Land framework.
“Having Category 2C removed was an important step forward for the families involved,” Chair Siers said.
“It has given them back a measure of security and the freedom to make everyday decisions about their lives again.”
“We cannot make any community entirely flood-proof. But we can reduce the risk, strengthen our defences, and give people more time to move out of harm’s way.”
Part of Hawke’s Bay’s $256.5 million North Island Weather Events (NIWE) resilience programme, the $10 million Ōhiti Road | Ōmāhu project is 75% funded by central government through National Infrastructure Funding and Financing (NIFF), with HBRC covering the remaining 25%.
“This has been a strong team effort from start to finish,” Chair Siers said.
“CHB Earthmovers led the main construction mahi, with Fulton Hogan delivering the road raises, and an outstanding wider project team supporting the work. It is a credit to everyone involved that the project is now expected to come in under budget.”
“I also want to thank the Ōhiti and Ōmāhu communities for their patience and grace through eight months of construction. The main build is complete, with final touches to come over the next few weeks. Attention will then turn to the Ōmāhu stopbank upgrade – a further five kilometres of strengthening and improvements.”
Te Piringa Hapū Kaiwhakahaere Matua, Patricia Nuku says the project means a great deal to a community that knows the force of floodwater first-hand.
“For Te Piringa Hapū, this is our collective commitment to protecting our whānau, whenua, and wai – and to securing the long-term future of our communities,” she said.
“Cyclone Gabrielle reminded us of both the vulnerability and the strength of our people. When the flood came, whānau led the way – finding those in danger, carrying tamariki and kaumātua through the water, opening marae, and gathering supplies when official systems were overwhelmed.
“That same spirit has shaped this project. It has been built through partnership, open dialogue and a shared determination to get the best possible outcome for our community.”
“No infrastructure can tame the raw force of nature, But it can strengthen our preparedness, protect what is precious, and give our people time.
“We acknowledge the Regional Council, project partners, contractors, and our community for working alongside Te Piringa Hapū. Together, we have delivered an outcome that honours the safety of people living here today – and the wellbeing of generations still to come.”
