Our history
Waikato River Board and early drainage boards
From 1097
Major floods in 1907 led to the creation of the Waikato River Board and a large number of drainage boards. Their job was to protect roads and rail, reduce lowland flooding and allow the drain extensive swamplands, so communities could grow and move safely.
Working together wasn’t always easy. Disputes were common, and sometimes had to be resolved through the courts. Floodwater from the river made it difficult to drain swamps, while the main drains needed to empty into the river at the same time the river board was trying to build and maintain flood protection.
A commission eventually recommended the river board be disestablished.
Waikato Valley Authority / Waikato Catchment Board
1956–1989
Major floods in 1953 and 1956 prompted a stronger regional response.
The Waikato Valley Authority was created by legislation (the Waikato Valley Authorit Act) to deliver flood and erosion control in the lower Waikato area. One of its major undertakings was the Lower Waikato‑Waipā Flood Protection Scheme, completed in 1983.
By this time, soil erosion had become a growing issue in the upper catchment due to large‑scale land development in the Lake Taupō basin and catchment. The authority expanded its work to include soil conservation and water quality — becoming one of the earliest organisations in Aotearoa to take on what we now recognise as environmental management. In 1988, it became the Waikato Catchment Board, taking over responsibilities previously held by the Ministry of Works and Development.
Hauraki Catchment Board
1946–1989
It’s hard to imagine, but the Hauraki Plains were once an enormous wetland covered in kahikatea forest.
Early attempts at settlement and draining the land were frequently undone by flooding from the Piako, Waihou and Ohinemuri rivers.
Eventually, the Government stepped in with river schemes including stopbanks and canals.
The Hauraki Catchment Board was established to continue and complete this work. The board went on to oversee the Piako River Scheme and Waihou Valley Scheme, and led land drainage, soil conservation, land retirement, water quality and environmental programmes across the area.
United councils
1979–1989
For most of the country, united councils were the first regional level of government since the end of the provincial government system in 1876.
United councils brought together representatives from territorial local authorities to coordinate regional civil defence, planning, and work related to social, economic, environmental and land‑use wellbeing. Their responsibilities depended on what local authorities delegated to them, and they relied heavily on those local authorities for resources.
Three united councils operated in the Waikato region over this decade: the Waikato United Council, Tongariro United Council and Thames Valley United Council.
Waikato Regional Council
From 1 November 1989
Forty former organisations were combined in 1989 to create the Waikato Regional Council (or Environment Waikato, as we were then also known).
These included two catchment boards (Hauraki and Waikato), three united councils (Waikato, Thames Valley and part of Tongariro), 12 noxious plant authorities, 11 pest destruction boards, and 12 drainage boards. Later, the Land Transport Act 1998 added transport responsibilities to our role.
The regional council you see today operates quite differently to when it was first formed.
Today, Waikato Regional Council has two Māori seats at the Council table and joint management agreements with iwi. We work alongside iwi, communities, industry, primary producers, and central and local government partners to sustainably manage the region’s natural resources, enabling a strong regional economy, and a high quality of life for everyone who calls the Waikato home.