Kaikōura flood protection strengthened with 4,000 tonnes of river rock

Large rocks will help reinforce river systems in Kaikōura, along with vegetation clearance, berm strengthening and upgrades to flood protection structures.

It’s not every day that thousands of tonnes of large rocks make their way to Kaikōura - but there’s a good reason for it.

Canterbury Regional Council’s (Environment Canterbury) Rivers team is stockpiling the rocks to help reinforce vulnerable parts of Kaikōura’s river systems and manage how water moves during high flows.

Around 4,000 tonnes of rock are being sourced and transported to site, with deliveries continuing throughout the year. About 2,000 tonnes is expected to be available by the end of June.

This work is part of Environment Canterbury’s flood and river resilience programme in Kaikōura.

Alongside the rock supply, the programme also includes vegetation clearance to improve flood capacity, berm strengthening, and upgrades to flood protection structures.

Work to remove wattle trees from the Kowhai River channel and berms is also getting underway, helping water move more freely during flood events. The contractor is expected to start this work in July, with further clearance planned later in the year.

Together, this work helps keep the Kaikōura community safe by reducing flood risk and protecting homes, businesses and critical infrastructure.

Funding helps future planning

This work is co-funded through the Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund, administered by Kānoa – Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit.

Co-funding means the Government covers around 60 per cent of project costs, with the remaining 40 per cent funded locally. This helps accelerate projects so improvements can be delivered sooner.

Environment Canterbury, alongside the regional sector, continues to advocate for greater shared investment to support projects like those now underway across Canterbury.

Councillor Ian Mackenzie, Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards Core Service Lead, acknowledges the difference government co-funding has made to Environment Canterbury's ability to deliver projects like this sooner.

"Working with our communities means planning ahead and investing in the kind of work that makes a real difference when it matters most.

"Thanks to this co-funding, we’re able to get on with strengthening Kaikōura’s river systems now — helping to manage flood risk and give people greater confidence that their homes, businesses and infrastructure are better protected into the future," Councillor Mackenzie said.

Find out more about flood protection and community resilience.