Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is asking residents to help decide the next steps to shape the future of flood resilience across the region. Following Cyclone Gabrielle and the Hawke’s Bay Independent Flood Review findings, the Council is asking for community guidance on reducing flood risk for current and future generations.

Regional Council’s Group Manager - Asset Management Chris Dolley says: “Extreme weather is one of the biggest climate challenges in Hawke’s Bay. Cyclone Gabrielle showed us that past protection levels may not be sufficient in the future. We are asking for our community’s assistance to plan what future flood resilience looks like.”

The Reimagining Flood Resilience project focuses on Heretaunga Plains and Upper Tukituki flood control schemes, which together help safeguard the majority of the region’s population.

The Regional Council is inviting the public to participate in shaping priorities for the 2027 Long Term Plan and guiding future flood protection investment. Community representatives will help evaluate options including engineering solutions like stopbanks, nature-based approaches, and incorporating Māori knowledge (Mātauranga Māori) into decision making.

How to get involved

· Join a Stakeholder Reference Group (SRG): Anyone can sign up, with participants randomly selected to reflect community diversity. These groups will put forward ideas, review options and guide priorities for flood mitigation. Sign up is open 8 - 30 September 2025.

· Complete the community survey: Share your priorities and concerns about flooding in our area. The more voices and different experiences we hear from, the better our flood resilience planning will be. The survey will be available from 3 November 2025.

The Regional Council is committed to an inclusive and transparent process. “These are complex decisions - what to do, where to focus, and how to pay for it. We are asking our communities to help us find the right answers,” says Mr Dolley.

The region already has $450 million in flood resilience infrastructure, with around another $250 million spend planned by 2027. Climate change is increasing severe weather frequency and intensity, requiring additional investment. Implementing all potential engineering solutions could cost $600million - potentially doubling rates if fully funded by ratepayers.

“This is about making informed decisions with our community that balance flood resilience improvements and affordability. Everyone has a role to play.”

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