Land Categorisation Shift

The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has shifted Wairoa’s Land Categorisation to provisional 2C from 2A. The shift is based on a shortlist of flood mitigation options being identified for Wairoa.
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The updated map showing the Wairoa land category change from 2A to 2C.

Options are still being considered, and a preferred solution will be shared with the community for further engagement and feedback. The final flood mitigation solution may adversely impact some property owners, which requires further consideration and community consultation before a decision is made on a preferred solution.

Flood mitigation work will draw on the $70 million in funding tagged by the government for Wairoa to develop flood mitigation to a 1:100-year level, which would result in shifting Wairoa’s Category 2A properties to Category 2C and, in future, Category 1.

HBRC will share the preferred solution with the community for further engagement and feedback. Public presentations will include the range of options explored and the rationale behind the findings and recommendations.

Final stakeholder and community preferences will then go to the Tripartite Partners, comprising Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust and Wairoa District Council, with the final decision resting with the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council as the authority responsible for flood protection.

Meanwhile, resolving insurance claims can be difficult, particularly for homeowners whose properties have recently shifted from Land Category 2A to 2C.

If you need help with an insurance claim, the New Zealand Claims Resolution Service can help you access the services you need. They provide free advice, case management where appropriate, and access to legal, engineering, and wellbeing support tailored to individual needs.

The Wairoa Recovery team is also available to help with your insurance needs. There have been cases of miscommunication and different messaging, so please feel free to reach out to the team for assistance or go to nzcrs.govt.nz for more information.

If you have any questions about what the change from 2A to 2C means for you, please contact Hawke’s Bay Regional Council at project.enquiries@hbrc.govt.nz or visit the dedicated land categorisation website: https://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/land-categorisation-hb

Land Risk Categorisations Produced by the Government

Land Risk Categorisations were produced by the Government following Cyclone Gabrielle.
The Land Categorisations aim to provide people with information around how they can move forward.
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In the Wairoa district, mainly in the North Clyde area with pockets at Frasertown, hundreds of properties have been labelled as Category 2A which is described as needing ‘significant further assessment is required’.
​To move to 2C, or even 1, Wairoa needs flood mitigation and protection and the town has been identified as a priority for flood mitigation investment.

By categorising most of the flood-affected areas of Wairoa township as 2A, a full range of mitigation approaches can be explored. Wairoa’s flood risk relates to the lower area of the Wairoa River where the town is located, as the awa looks to ‘cut off’ a loop in the river just to the northwest of the town when in flood, running through North Clyde as it finds its way back to the river.

The Wairoa District Council, Hawkes Bay Regional Council and Tātau Tātau o te Wairoa are working together to negotiate with the Crown on a local solution for Wairoa that links into a regional model.

You can also visit the land categories website for more information: 

Land Categories Website