This scene is outside the DoC reserve but there is a need to lower the buildup of gravel along the whole west part of the river to deepen the channel to assist flood protection.

(media release / NZ Herald)

Greater Wellington Regional Council is in the early stages of scoping river works in the lower Waikanae River inside a Department of Conservation (DoC) reserve.

“The purpose of the works are to address riverbank erosion caused by the formation of a gravel island within the river,” Greater Wellington director delivery Jack Mace said.

“Once Greater Wellington has scoped the works based on modelling, we will engage with DoC and our mana whenua partners.

“While we would like to undertake the works as soon as possible, they will not go ahead until we have secured support from mana whenua and DoC.”

Greater Wellington undertook river works in the reserve in April 2007 under a resource consent that expired that year, Mace said.

“In 2023, we undertook river works near the new State Highway 1 road bridge under the existing maintenance resource consent.

“Later this year, we are planning more river works in the same area.”

Former Kāpiti representative on the regional council, Chris Turver, who has been pushing for remedial action in the lower river for the last 12 years to restore the river’s health and reduce the threat of flooding, said while Greater Wellington’s intervention was long overdue “it is most welcome”.