Flooding from Cyclone Gabrielle severely damaged 38 properties along the Mangarau Stream and caused more damage along the four other streams that run through Havelock North.
Following this, Hastings District Council established the Karanema – Havelock North streams and dams programme to improve maintenance and increase resilience to weather events.
This work has focused on the recatgeorisation of affected properties from 2c to 1, improving the maintenance regime and resilience of the streams, and increasing communication with the community about how the system works and is being cared for.
As part of this mahi, a community advisory group (CAG) was set up in August 2024 to ensure local residents can actively contribute to decisions on Havelock North’s dams and streams.
Representatives from each of the five stream catchments and council staff meet every second month to discuss the work programme and feedback from the community, serving as a vital link between the community and Council.
Following Frank Engagement’s support to Council during the Cyclone Gabrielle response and recovery, which provided us with a deep understanding of the issues the community was facing, Council asked us to support the Karanema – Havelock North Streams and Dams programme.
We provide the CAG and project team with strategic engagement advice, develop helpful information for the community, including a monthly newsletter, and support direct stakeholder engagement, community events and education campaigns to involve the community in the programme.
Programme Manager, Darren de Klerk, says the approach has helped build trusted relationships with property owners, the dedicated volunteer groups who look after the streams and the wider community – many of whom are still anxious about how weather events may impact them.
“We’ve had really positive feedback from the CAG representatives about how increased engagement has helped residents feel informed about what’s happening with the repairs and resilience building along the streams – they feel reassured that the work is being done and that they can have their say in how the programme develops. Frank Engagement has been a big part of making that happen.”
Image 1 Cleaning debris from the Mangarau Stream.
Image 2: The Karanema Havelock North Streams Community Advisory Group meets every two months. They are (from back left) Darren de Klerk – HDC Programme Manager – Karanema Havelock North Streams and Dams, Hugh McBain – Karituwhenua stream rep, Shannon Bray – Mangarau stream rep, Jacob Laird – School stream rep, Sarah Austin-Smith – Te Mata Park Trust, Craig Mountfort HDC Stormwater Manager, Colin Harris – Te Kahika stream rep, Steve Cave – HDC Three Waters Manager, Councillor Malcolm Dixon – Community Advisory Group Chair, (front from left) David Riddell – Herehere stream rep and Mike Towns – Karituwhenua (Palmbrook Reserve) stream rep. Absent: Nicky Solomon – Mangarau stream rep & Keith Passey Karituwhenua (Kingsgate Reserve) stream rep.
