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To help reduce flood risk in the Kumeū area and make sure resources are used where they are needed most, we have:
- prioritised additional funding for stream and stormwater maintenance
- developed projects to support the local community to help them prepare for floods.
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Ongoing maintenance
Since the 2023 weather events, we continue to:
- check areas that we know are at high risk of flooding
- remove debris and potential blockages from streams across the region
- check stormwater drains before and after storms to make sure they are clear
- work with Auckland Transport - who share responsibility for roadside drains.
We also inspect Kumeū River and key culverts A stormwater pipe not connected to the main stormwater system. These are normally used under roads or driveways. quarterly.
Our area of focus is Riverhead Road to west of Oraha Road. This is where the public land is next to the river and runs through the Kumeū township.
Using drones
We also use drones to look for major blockages in the Kumeū River that might require works.
Using drones is:
- faster than walking around the site
- safer for our staff
- more cost-effective.
Community initiatives
As part of the Making Space for Water programme, we are working on projects that use local knowledge and involve the community to:
- improve flood resilience
- reduce flood risk in the region.
Kumeū flood resilience works contract
We have selected Yakka Contracting to deliver the flood maintenance works in the Kumeū area. They bring a lot of experience in civil and maintenance work including:
- stormwater maintenance
- drainage improvements and erosion control.
Their work will include:
- clearing vegetation
- cleaning culverts
- removing debris from land drains and channels.
This decision reflects our commitment to involve locals who know the area best to do this work.
Community-led Flood Data Pilot
In April 2025, Auckland Council launched the Kumeū River Flood Data Pilot. We are working closely with Kumeū Emergency Network (KEN) to:
- increase flood risk awareness
- improve resilience in the community.
The goal is to:
- provide KEN with real-time flood information for Kumeū River
- share timely information to help the community prepare for heavy rain.
This will help people prepare better for flooding events and protect their homes and property.
The pilot is in its early stages and will run until 2026/2027. During this time, council will regularly check how well it is working.
Blue-green project investigation
After the extreme weather events in 2023, we looked into ways to improve flood resilience in the Kumeū-Huapai township. One option was a large-scale blue-green infrastructure project. We identified potential infrastructure options and assessed their costs and benefits.
We focused on three main options:
- extending the existing floodway
- diverting Kumeū river
- building a dam.
The investigation showed that there is currently no practical solution to reduce flood risk. Because of this, we have decided not to move forward with the plans for a large-scale project. We understand that these decisions may disappoint some, however we will continue working to find ways to keep people safe.
Challenges of flood management
Read about the challenges of flood management.