Flood protection - asset management

Land management and licensing

Land was acquired for the various flood protection schemes as far back as the 1920’s with the Waihou Ohinemuri River Improvement Scheme.

Land acquisition and development of the flood protection schemes continue today, as required for stop bank design flood level maintenance in sinking soils, channels widening or pump upgrades in flood prone areas. 

The Land Management team, part of the wider asset management team, manages council’s interests in land and ensures that the necessary agreements, easements and encumbrances are in place and that the portfolio is managed to the prescribed levels of service. Standards are in place to protect the interests of all parties involved, including Crown agencies, iwi, district councils and the general public and to meet council’s responsibilities under legislation including health and safety impacts.

Iwi and crown co-management

Arrangements between the Crown and iwi ushered in a new era of co-management of the Waikato and Waipā rivers and the lands surrounding them. Waikato Regional Council has five Joint Management Agreements (JMAs) and one Co-managed Lands agreement with Waikato rohe iwi. These derive from the provisions within the iwi specific Treaty Settlement legislation. Read about the Waikato River and Waipā River co-management.

The land management team:

• regularly inspects the land portfolio and promotes best farm and property management practices
• liaises with councils engineers in scheme impacts on lands, renewals & maintenance planning
• ensures grazing licences are managed to meet terms and conditions
• negotiates new acquisitions and disposals
• conducts and presents annual and five-yearly licence fee reviews and presents alternative land use options to council and co-management policies
• implements the Land Management Strategy (under development).

Scheme areas

There are currently 285 existing licences and 60 proposed licences. These are all for land located in the Waihou, Piako and Lower Waikato zones.

Select an area below to see a map showing licensed land locations.

• Lower Waikato 
• Waihou
• Piako

Contact us online for more information, or call 0800 800 401 and ask for our Council Lands Officer or Land and Licenses Assistant.

Are you prepared?

Find out if you live in a flood prone area

• Get a land information memorandum (LIM) for your property from your district or city council. Any known hazards that may affect a property will be on a LIM report.
• Check your regional council rates bill to see if you are paying for flood protection and/or land drainage. If you are, there is a reason for that.
• Check out our Hazards Portal (see link on this page) to learn where river flood hazard zones are. 

Before a flood (if you are in a flood prone area)

• Keep assets and other structures away from flood prone areas. This may already be restricted by planning permission but if not you may save yourself future insurance difficulties and damage to your property.
• Identify your closest high points for emergency evacuation, for people and animals, including pets and livestock.
• Plant vegetation in areas where rainwater may run off to stabilise the ground and help absorb water. If you’re a landowner with a stream on your property and need help with or advice on debris removal, erosion protection and planting, please speak to one of our river management officers. Call 0800 800 401.
• Sign up to our flood warning service if you live in an area that could potentially be affected by floods. The council electronically monitors a number of its rivers to track water levels. When they reach a nominated level, an SMS or email alert is sent to anyone in the area who has signed up for alerts.

During a flood, or if flood is imminent

• Keep up to date with weather events as they unfold on Flood Room Live. Flood Room Live gives information on weather, rainfall, river levels, road closures, emergency contacts and Civil Defence.
• Listen to the radio for latest information.
• Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and sturdy shoes. The most common injury following a disaster is cut feet.
• Move valuable household possessions to upper floors or safe ground if time permits, and fill bathtubs, sinks, and jugs with clean water in case water becomes contaminated.
• Move livestock to higher ground and prevent animals from accessing pooled water where there is a risk of contamination from effluent or chemicals.
• If Civil Defence says to evacuate, do so immediately. Leave early enough to avoid being marooned by flooded roads.
• Never try to walk, swim, or drive through swift water. Many flood fatalities are caused by people attempting to drive through water, or people playing in high water. If it is moving swiftly, even water 15 centimetres deep can sweep you off your feet. As little as 30cm may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.