We have flood schemes and associated drainage networks in the lower Waikato River catchment, Hauraki Plains (Waihou Valley and Piako River), Coromandel Peninsula and Taupō district, and oversee a Waipā flood scheme managed by Ōtorohanga District Council.

Waikato Regional Council’s Integrated Catchment Management Committee, which is made up of 10 councillors and meets every two months, has responsibilities that include:

• setting objectives, priorities, and levels of service for the operation, maintenance and renewal of flood protection and land drainage infrastructure through the Regional Asset Management Plan and Land Drainage Management Plan.
• overseeing and monitoring the performance and effectiveness of river management, flood protection and land drainage against agreed strategies and plans. 

The committee also recommends the council’s response to new flood protection or land drainage infrastructure requests.

The Hauraki Scheme subcommittee and the Waikato Scheme Subcommittee have representation by councillors, iwi, local community members and other stakeholders. These subcommittees receive information on the planning and delivery of scheme work programmes and make recommendations to the Integrated Catchment Management Committee.

Did you know?

Our schemes have a replacement value of $1.2 billion. Most of our schemes were built in the late 1950s and 1970s, therefore many of our assets are coming up for renewal at the same time. As we’re going through our renewals programme, we need to consider changing regulations, land use, geological processes, continued regional and national economic prosperity, existing levels of services due to climate change, the health of our wetlands, safe fish passage, and look towards more nature-based solutions where feasible. The cost of maintaining or building new infrastructure has also risen significantly, which means we need to look differently at how we fund our flood and drainage schemes into the future.

We partner with iwi Māori to embed their values, knowledge, and aspirations in flood protection and land drainage efforts.

• Iwi contribute to flood protection through co-governance arrangements and joint management agreements.
• Iwi contribute to flood protection planning through active consultation via hui and wānanga to integrate mātauranga Māori principles.
• Some flood scheme assets are located on settlement lands, reinforcing the need for a collaborative approach. The Toitū te Whenua | Our Waikato-Tainui and Waikato Regional Council Land Management Strategy provides strategic direction for the use and management of Waikato River settlement lands, supporting environmental, cultural, social, and economic outcomes.

Through these partnerships, Waikato Regional Council upholds its Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitments while fostering sustainable and resilient water management.