Regional Council secures second round of central government co-investment into flood protection

Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council has successfully secured a second round of Central Government funding to support critical flood protection projects across the region.

This co-investment was allocated through the Before the Deluge programme, a collaborative initiative by regional and unitary councils to gain Central Government support for regional infrastructure projects that enable long-term resilience, productivity and economic prosperity.

Regional Council Chief Executive Fiona McTavish says this funding will help deliver essential upgrades, while remaining future focused in the face of climate change.

“Flood protection infrastructure is our first line of defence against increasingly frequent and severe weather events,” says Ms McTavish.

“Investing upfront in resilience is far more cost effective than responding to the impacts after the fact. These projects are about protecting lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure, and ensuring our communities are equipped to adapt to a changing climate.”

The co-investment is allocated from the Regional Infrastructure Fund and covers up to 60% of the budgeted project costs. The remaining costs will be funded primarily through rivers and drainage scheme targeted rates.

This latest round of projects includes:

• Rangitāiki-Tarawera Rivers Scheme: $5.2M total project cost, with $3.12M co-investment. Includes upgrades to stopbanks and canals across several river sections at Kōkōhinau, the Tarawera River, and Rangitāiki River and Canals.
• Whakatāne-Tauranga Rivers Scheme: $4.4M total project cost, with a $2.64M co-investment. Includes upgrades to Whakatāne Canals, Trident stopbank and Awatapu area.
• Kaituna Catchment Control Scheme: $3.3M total project cost, with a $1.98M co-investment. Focused on erosion protection works along the Ohineangaanga Stream.
• Ōpōtiki township flood protection infrastructure: $2.3M total project cost, with $1.38M co-investment. Includes stopbank upgrades around Duke St West and State Highway 2 works, with delivery by Ōpōtiki District Council. 

This latest round of co-investment follows Central Government’s commitment to invest in the resilience and economic prosperity of the regions through its $1.2 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund. In 2024, $101.1M was allocated to 42 flood resilience projects nationwide, of which the Regional Council was the successful recipient of $20M for three major projects.

Ms McTavish says these projects are a priority for the organisation and are a key part of the Regional Council’s long-term resilience strategy.

“We need to be future focused in every decision we make today,” says Ms McTavish.

“That means designing infrastructure that can withstand tomorrow’s climate conditions, not just today’s. It also means embedding nature-based solutions, smarter spatial planning and long-term thinking into everything we do.

“Central to our success is working in partnership with Central Government to deliver solutions that benefit the whole country. This is co-investment is a powerful example of what we can achieve when we work together.”

For more information about the Regional Council’s flood protection work, visit www.boprc.govt.nz/flood-defences

Additional notes

• The Regional Infrastructure Fund is a $1.2 billion capital fund administered by Central Government via Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit. It prioritises projects that improve regional resilience, including flood protection, water security, and infrastructure that supports economic growth.
• Flood protection schemes across New Zealand safeguard around 1.5 million hectares of land and protect families, marae, businesses, and public infrastructure in over 100 towns and cities. As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of flood events, ongoing investment in these schemes is essential.
• Bay of Plenty Regional Council provides flood protection and drainage services through the management of five major rivers and drainage schemes across the region and the infrastructure assets within these schemes. While nearly 55,000 targeted ratepayers living in these scheme help fund the flood protection and drainage services, these schemes support the economic, environmental, social and cultural wellbeing of the whole region.

ENDS