Resource consent application for flood mitigation works – Pōrangahau

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC) and Central Hawke’s Bay District Council (CHBDC) have received applications for resource consents from Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s Project Team, for the construction of the flood protection mitigation works at Pōrangahau in accordance with the Severe Weather Emergency Recovery (Hawke's Bay Flood Protection Works) Order 2024 (Order In Council (OIC)).

Applicant’s details

Applicant: Hawke’s Bay Regional Council
HBRC resource consent application number: APP-131608
CHBDC resource consent application number: RM250105

Click here to find out more at the project page – Pōrangahau: Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

Details of resource consent proposed activities

• To undertake flood protection works under the Severe Weather Emergency Recovery (Hawke’s Bay Flood Protection Works) Order 2024.
• To construct a new stopbank and flood wall (north of the river) approximately 1.7 km in length and generally 1 to 5 m in height, and to a 100 year level of service.
• To construct a new stopbank (south of the river) approximately 224 m in length and generally 1.9 m in height to provide protection to the Kaitiwhitikitiki Urupā.
• To construct bunds (earth embankment and/or flood wall) generally 1.8 m in height (Pah Road) to provide protection to the marae and kaumatua flats.
• To construct stormwater culverts and outlets through the stopbanks, and the diversion and discharge of stormwater.
• To undertake diversion of the Pōrangahau River during times of flood arising from the stopbanks.
• To realign (divert) and install a culvert and flap gate within in an unnamed stream (near Keppel Street).
• Vegetation clearance and soil disturbance
• Construction associated discharges, including the discharge of dust and the discharge of drainage water, discharge of solid contaminants (fill) within 20 m of a waterbody, and the take and use of surface water or groundwater for dust suppression and construction purposes.
• Cut and fill measures, including a borrow pit and stockpile site at 18 Jones Street for construction material.
• Disturbance of soil under the National Environmental Standards for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health (NESCS).
• Earthworks exceeding Central Hawke’s Bay District Plan volume thresholds.

The area covered by the OIC is a Controlled activity and the area outside the OIC is a Discretionary activity (See Figure 3 of Resource Consent Application for flood mitigation works Pōrangahau). Consent documents can be found below.

Activity Location

The area of works is alongside the Pōrangahau River, with the Pōrangahau settlement (along Keppel and Jones Streets) located north and the Kaiwhitikitiki Urupā (along Abercromby Street) located south of the river, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Location of Proposed Works

Supporting documents

• 0.RC Application_Porangahau.pdf
• 2. Archaeological Screening.pdf
• 3. Ecological Impact Assessment.pdf
• 4. Landscape Scoping Study.pdf
• 5. Preliminary Site Investigation - part-1.pdf
• 5. Preliminary Site Investigation - part-2.pdf
• 6. Design Report.pdf
• 7. Traffic Impact Assessment.pdf
• 8. Erosion and Sediment Control Plan.pdf
• 9. Pōrangahau Stopbank Borrow Area 3 Material Investigation Addendum - Scanned.pdf
• 10.Proposed Conditions.pdf
• 11. Affected and Adjoining Parties.pdf
• 12. Pōrangahau Communication Record.pdf
• 13. List of Māori entities and Section 15(2)(a) Parties.pdf
• 14. Consequential Flooding Effects Assessment.pdf
• 15. Consequential Flood Assessment - Beca.pdf

Comments on Application

Comments closed at 5pm on Tuesday 13 January 2026.

The summary of comments and response to those comments is included in the s42A Report below.

• HBRC and CHBDC s42A Report OIC Porangahau

The decision for the application was made on 3 February 2026

• Pōrangahau Flood Protection Works Decision