The Regional Council flood team supports a range of agencies, from emergency services to local councils, during a flood event. 

We have a dedicated flood room that is specially designed to support the flood team’s emergency flood response.

The Flood Room operates in two modes – ‘monitoring’ and ‘activated’.

  • Monitoring – A Regional Council duty Flood Manager is on call 24 hours a day maintaining an overview of river levels, weather patterns and forecasts affecting the Bay of Plenty.
  • Activated – the flood team is set up in the flood room and operations staff are helping in the field.

The duty Flood Manager can be contacted on +64 7 922 3375.

In an emergency please ring 111.

Should you be on a flood warning list?

Flood warnings are sent to landowners or the occupiers of properties on low lying rural land next to one of the seven major rivers within or adjacent to the river floodplain: Waioeka, Whakatāne, Rangitāiki, Kaituna, Otara, Tauranga, Tarawera.

flood warning

If you believe you own or occupy a low lying property please email: Engineering@boprc.govt.nz or call 0800 884 880 to discuss the suitability of receiving a flood warning from our team.

  • First warning level – the river level has reached its normal channel capacity.
  • Second warning level – the river has overtopped the river channel banks and has inundated the area (berm) next to river but is still within either a floodway or stopbanked part of the Councils river scheme.

first and second warning level

  • Advise landowners to move stock from low lying areas adjacent to the river.
  • Refer to the Regional Council’s website for Bay of Plenty Regional rainfall and river levels.
  • Listen to the local radio station for further updates.

The flood room team

The team includes a Duty Flood Manager (who is on call 24/7) and staff responsible for operations, technical support, logistics and communications.

  • Monitors weather forecasts, Regional Council rainfall and river level sites and coastal conditions.
  • Determines the level of flood response and actions of the wider flood team.
  • Issues flood warnings to rural landowners.
  • Works with Regional Council staff responsible for flood protection infrastructure.
  • Deals directly with queries from residents and ratepayers regarding river levels, weather patterns and forecasts affecting the Bay of Plenty.
  • Liaises with other councils, Civil Defence Emergency Management and dam operators.

team diagram

The Flood Room in operation

Event updates

When the Flood Room is activated you can keep up to date with information by following these Regional Council channels:

Facebook
Twitter
Media releases

Frequently asked questions

Stay up to date with answers to common questions we get asked by residents and ratepayers.

CDEM

To get in touch with Bay of Plenty's Civil Defence Emergency Management:

Weather info

MetService offers comprehensive weather information and updates:

Rainfall

Bay of Plenty Regional Council monitors rainfall throughout the region. 

River levels

Bay of Plenty Regional Council monitors rivers throughout the region. 

Road closures

For State Highway issues or information:

City and district councils

For local roading issues, blocked culverts/drains, water/stormwater/sewerage issues:

Ōpōtiki District Council
(07) 315 3030

Whakatāne District Council
(07) 306 0500

Kawerau District Council
(07) 306 9009

Western Bay of Plenty District Council
(07) 571 8008

Rotorua Lakes Council
(07) 348 4199

Tauranga City Council
(07) 577 7000

Frequently asked questions

Never assume you are safe close to a river, stream, drain or other type of waterway during a flood.

  • Water may go over the top of banks.
  • Erosion could cause ground to give way.
  • Debris can block a waterway, making a dam that could give way.
  • Be wary of storm surges, they’re particularly dangerous around river mouths and low-lying areas. 

Always have an emergency exit route planned if you have to be around a waterway during a flood.

Make sure someone knows where you are and keep in contact with that person on a regular basis.

Stay away from waterways, rivers, streams and drains when water levels are higher than normal, particularly if they are still rising.

During a major flood event stopbanks can overtop or breach (where a part of the stopbank falls down).

Small things like rabbit holes, rotten trees, services such as cables or pipes can let water flow through the stopbanks - water wants to go where there is the least resistance!

If you need advice please contact your local council.

Please contact your local council. The rule of thumb is urban flooding is managed by District and City Councils while rural flooding is managed by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Tell the person you talk to:

  • Your contact details.
  • Where you are.
  • What you are seeing.
  • Is the water clear or muddy?
  • Is there soil or stone particles in the water? If there are particles in the water it may mean that the water is scouring its way through the ground making a path for the water to travel through.

It’s also helpful if you have a photo or video to send through.