Water SecurityTe Tāwharau Waipuke Hou

Why water security matters for the region

Hawke’s Bay is facing increasing pressure on its freshwater resources due to climate change, growing demand, and competing needs across communities, agriculture, and industry.

Climate projections for the East Coast of the North Island predict overall drier conditions, more frequent and prolonged droughts and reduced river flows during spring and summer.

Regional modelling shows that without intervention, Hawke’s Bay could face a water deficit of around 25 million cubic metres a year by 2040, increasing to 33 million cubic metres by 2060. This has implications not only for drinking water security, agriculture, and industry, but also for the health of rivers and aquifers across the region.

As a major food-producing and export area, reduced water security in Hawke’s Bay would have impacts on the national economy.

Regional Water Security Action Plan

In response, we've developed an integrated Regional Water Security Action Plan. Recognising that no single solution can address the challenge, the plan brings together work to manage water demand, natural water system resilience, and improve the water science that guides long term decisions.

Water conservation and regulation

Our water management work is guided by legislation, national policy statements, and regulations.

Our Regional Resource Management Plan sets minimum flows and allocation limits for most of the region’s waterbodies. We issue consents for water takes, monitor water use, and ensure compliance with consent conditions.

We have proposed an approach through our TANK Plan change for land and water use in the Tūtaekurī, Ahuriri, Ngaruroro and Karamū (TANK) catchments. This remains under appeal to the Environment Court. Preparations are underway for a hearing likely to be held in the first half of 2026.

We also know that water conservation is just as important to improve water security and can be a cost-effective way to help meet the growing needs in a changing climate.

We work with water user groups to promote both irrigation water-use efficiency and training opportunities to improve practices. We have developed an education programme, He Taonga te Wai – Water is Precious, for school students to understand Hawke’s Bay’s water resources. It explores how everyone plays a role in caring for water in the environment and responsible water use.

Managing demand is the fastest way to water security

A key focus is improving how water is used. We work with territorial authorities to reduce leakage in ageing municipal networks, improve water conservation, and support necessary infrastructure upgrades. Urban supplies account for about 19 percent of the region’s water use, and some networks currently lose between 20 and 30 percent of their water through leakage, making this one of the quickest areas to achieve improvement.

The region’s food processing sector also has significant potential to treat and reuse water, reducing demand on freshwater sources. We continue to work with irrigators and catchment groups to improve irrigation system efficiency, on-farm water management and understanding of water use efficiency.

Managing supply by strengthening natural water systems

We're investing in nature-led solutions, supported by targeted engineering where required.

Managed aquifer recharge (Central Hawke’s Bay)

A pilot programme is testing whether aquifers can be actively recharged during high river flows, improving groundwater availability during dry periods.
This project is jointly funded by central government and HBRC and provides valuable insight into how managed recharge could complement other water security measures. Find out about Managed aquifer recharge.

Alongside this, we're increasing investment in natural solutions like wetland restoration, riparian planting, creating space for rivers, and improving catchment water retention, all of which help mitigate flood impacts, improve water availability, and ecosystem health. See more about how we are working to reduce flood risk.

Improving water science

High quality data and modelling are essential to making sound water management decisions.

HBRC is strengthening groundwater and surface water monitoring, understanding of river–aquifer interactions, water use telemetry and reporting systems.

This investment in science underpins the entire Water Security Action Plan, ensuring that future decisions are evidence based, transparent, and defensible.

The Ngaruroro River Natural Recharge Project (Roy’s Hill)

The Ngaruroro River Natural Recharge Project focuses on the crucial section of river between Roy’s Hill and Fernhill, which provides more than 80 percent of recharge for the Heretaunga Plains aquifer. Years of river narrowing, gravel extraction, and bed degradation have reduced the river’s natural recharge capacity. This project is identifying how and where recharge occurs and testing river bed restoration scenarios to rebuild groundwater storage. It is supported by nationally recognised science by Lincoln Agritech and previous MBIE funded research. It is a high impact, nature based initiative that complements engineered options.

Heretaunga Water Storage-Whanawhana

A feasibility assessment is underway on water storage at the proposed Whanawhana water storage facility. The reservoir would take peak winter flows and store them for release into Heretaunga’s waterways and aquifer during periods of peak summer water demand. It would be able to hold 27 million cubic metres of water.

This staged analysis ensures any future decisions on infrastructure are robust and aligned with the wider water security programme.

This is expected to be completed by mid-2026. At the point that a commitment to consenting and the construction of the project is made, development funding would need to be secured by major water users.

Find out more about our Regional Water Security Programmes.

Partnerships and delivery

Water security is a shared challenge that requires collective effort and investment. We lead coordination of the Water Security Action Plan, working closely with territorial authorities, mana whenua, industry groups, water users, and central government.

Over the coming years, we will improve feasibility work on water supply options, continue aquifer recharge trials, grow water efficiency initiatives, and further strengthen water science capacity.

Key investment decisions will be taken through the 2027 Long Term Plan, supported by ongoing engagement with partners and Central Government.