Whirinaki

This project will deliver new and upgraded flood defences for the Whirinaki community, including a residential stopbank, an industrial stopbank, and improved drainage. It aims to reduce flood risk to homes, key infrastructure, and the Pan Pac pulp mill – one of Hawke’s Bay’s largest employers. With funding now in place, the project will now move into detailed design and construction planning.

Cyclone Gabrielle showed just how exposed this area is – and how critical stronger defences are. This project will better protect people’s homes, support local industry, and give a vital part of the region the chance to rebuild with confidence. It will also allow the 38 Category 2C properties on Pohutukawa Drive, North Shore Road and Whirinaki Road to move to the greater certainty (and safety) of Category 1.

We’re aiming to begin works in late 2025 and main construction in the early 2026, although there are still land access discussions, consultation, and planning to be done before we break ground. While we’re aiming to start then, some parts of the process sit outside our control, and they may affect the timeline.