Calling for Local Contractors (Kumeū Area)

15 July. Auckland Council has approved the use of local contractors to undertake essential flood maintenance work in the Kumeū district—a significant win for the local community and a proactive step in improving flood resilience across the Kumeu district.

This decision follows strong community feedback urging the Council to take better care of the Kumeū River and surrounding stormwater systems. You’ve spoken, and the Council has listened!

For the first time, Auckland Council will trial a locally-led contractor model. If successful, this initiative could be expanded to other areas across Auckland. A full-scale dam or tunnel to the Waitematā Harbour was previously ruled out as unaffordable and unworkable, but residents made it clear during a public meeting earlier this year: “We want better maintenance of our river.”

In response, Council is now putting local rates to work—clearing blocked culverts and swales, removing debris, unblocking river flow paths, and making targeted infrastructure repairs in flood-prone areas. These are new services, distinct from what is currently delivered by Auckland Council or Auckland Transport’s existing contractors.

If service level issues become exposed—for instance, if current contractors are only being paid to clear swales every three years or not to check key drains ahead of storms—this new contract can be expanded to fill those service gaps. 

Prioritising Local Knowledge and Capability

Importantly, priority will be given to contractors based in Kumeū, Huapai, Taupaki, Waimauku, and Riverhead. These locals understand the terrain, seasonal flooding patterns, and at-risk zones better than anyone else, and they take pride in protecting their own community.

Proactive river care was a feature of the area before the Super City was formed. As your local councillor, I’ve been advocating hard to have this reinstated—and I’m very pleased to see that work now paying off.

Tender Process and How to Apply

The tender for this work will be advertised from 25 July to 15 August 2025 on the GETS (Government Electronic Tendering Service) platform and also in the local newspapers. Work from this new contract is expected to begin in November.

Interested contractors must demonstrate experience in flood resilience-related work. Council will organise all necessary resource consents in advance for any earthworks.

To apply or request more information, local contractors can email procurement@aklc.govt.nz or call 09 301 0101.

Accountability and Public Reporting

The successful contractor will be accountable to the community through public reports submitted to the Rodney Local Board, which will be published online. While the contractor will proactively carry out work, residents are encouraged to report any issues through Auckland Council’s contact centre (09 301 0101), at local libraries, or online.

Further Work to Improve Drainage

I have also been working with farmers between Huapai and Helensville to get Auckland Council to remove invasive weed growth along riverbanks. During heavy storms, these weeds break free, form large mats, and jam onto bridge piles—effectively acting as a giant bung and exacerbating flooding.

It’s important to remember: no flood protection system is perfect. If over 100mm of rain falls in under seven hours, the Kumeū River will likely breach its banks, causing flooding in low-lying areas. Kumeu has many flood plains that will still flood. However, a well-maintained river system will help delay such breaches and it also allows floodwaters to drain more quickly from surrounding properties during flood events.

Shared Responsibility

Local rural landowners can play a role by keeping their driveway culverts clear—this is their responsibility, not Council’s. Blocked culverts choke the drainage system and increase road damage and flood risk.

Similarly, homeowners must keep overland flow paths on their property unblocked. These routes are essential for stormwater management.

Stronger Policy Needed for Floodplain Development

Finally, I’m demanding Auckland Council and the Government to stop granting building consents on known floodplains.

The law and private property rights allow consents to be granted if a building is “engineered” to be safe. That’s not good enough when lives are at risk. The council is pushing to close this legal loophole in the Unitary Plan so they can legitimately reject applications to build in floodplains without being prosecuted, but that change depends on central Government’s new Resource Management Act laws, expected to be passed by Parliament before the 2026 elections

A locally-led solution is a step in the right direction. It shows that when communities speak and councils listen, we can deliver real, practical change.

Let’s keep working together to make our region safer, stronger, and more flood-resilient for the future.