Manawa aa Whenua Clover Drive, Rānui flood resilience project

Auckland Council is working in partnership with Te Kawerau ā Maki on the Clover Drive, Rānui Flood Resilience Project. Te Kawerau ā Maki have generously gifted 'Manawa aa Whenua’ as an ingoa (name) to the project, meaning 'the lifeforce of the land'.

We have developed this project in response to flooding in parts of Rānui, Henderson and Massey due to the 2023 severe weather events. 

This project is part of the Making Space for Water programme and is co-funded by the central government.

About the project 

The project will:

• reduce flooding risk for homes and roads
• give stormwater space to flow 
• better prepare the network for heavy flooding events
• improve the local area by creating more green spaces and connected pathways 
• improve water quality and biodiversity The natural environment and encompasses native plants and animals (flora and fauna), ecology, natural heritage, ecological restoration and revegetation, landforms, geology. .

How we will do this 

We will:

• widen the Momutu / Swanson stream to increase flood carrying capacity
• install a debris Scattered pieces of rubbish or leaves. trap west of Don Buck bridge to reduce the risk of blockage
• replace Don Buck bridge with a new, longer bridge to increase water flow under it
• reuse material from stream widening to raise the surrounding land around Camphora Place
• create a blue-green corridor Part of blue-green network. For example, green space along a river.  along Clover Drive that will help carry floodwaters safely away from homes and roads
• remove a section of Lincoln Garden Close to allow water flow without any blockages through the area and replace it with a new walkway connection to Universal Drive
• upgrade culverts A stormwater pipe not connected to the main stormwater system. These are normally used under roads or driveways. at Glen Road and Don Buck Road to reduce the risk of floodwaters getting on the road and towards Clover Drive.

Proposed project area

We are working closely with the Community Advisory Group which includes:

• representatives from mana whenua and Henderson-Massey Local Board
• residents 
• key community organisations. 

This will help us to make sure:

• we use local knowledge to help design the project
• the developments benefit the community.

Project update 

We are making progress on the project design. This shows that we will need to buy additional properties to deliver the project. These properties are in addition to the Category 3 land council has already bought. 

Purchasing these additional properties will allow us to create a blue-green network. This will better protect the community from future flood events. 

September 2025 

The central government and council approved the acquisition An asset or object purchased or obtained.  of approximately 40 properties that are essential to deliver the project. This includes privately-owned and Kāinga Ora properties. 

November 2025 

We will contact private property owners directly and privately to discuss the property acquisition process. Kāinga Ora will contact their residents, if their property is required. 

If you are a tenant and do not own the property you live in, we advise you to speak to your landlord as we can only discuss acquisition with the property owner.

Property acquisition process 

Our Property Department and our consultants will lead the property acquisition under the Public Works Act (PWA). The Public Works Act 1981 is a law that allows councils and government agencies to buy essential land for public works. It ensures:

• fair compensation Something given, usually money, to make amends for loss, damage, or injury.  and legal protections for landowners
• acquisition process is transparent and follows the law.

We will work closely with the homeowners to reach a fair and transparent purchase agreement. 

What happens next 

Once the property acquisition process is complete, we will:

• start deconstruction or relocation of houses 
• prepare the area for construction.

Alongside this, we will continue to work on the design and consenting process to start delivering parts of the project. 

In late 2026, we will begin early works such as relocating existing power, gas and internet cables.

Construction will start in 2027 and will happen in stages over eighteen months.  

More information 

Email bluegreen@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz for more information about this project.