Progressing flood resilience for Rānui, Henderson and Massey communities

Auckland Council is progressing works to reduce flood risk for the Rānui, Henderson and Massey areas through the 'Manawa aa Whenua | Clover Drive-Rānui Flood Resilience Project' as part of the wider Making Space for Water programme.

With over $86 million of council and government funding, the council is working at pace to deliver this significant project for the community says Tom Mansell, Auckland Council Head of Sustainable Partnerships (Healthy Waters and Flood Resilience).

"Manawa aa Whenua is a key blue-green infrastructure initiative under Making Space for Water. It responds to the significant flood impacts experienced during severe weather events in early 2023, when parts of Rānui, Henderson, Massey and Swanson were inundated with floodwaters reaching nearly two metres, resulting in multiple emergency rescues," says Mr Mansell.

"These communities were hit hard during the flood events, and we've been working quickly to address future flooding risks and strengthen the resilience of homes in Rānui, Henderson and Massey."

The initial design was approved by the council and Government in February 2025. Developed design is now underway, with construction scheduled to begin in late 2026. To accelerate delivery and provide early flood mitigation benefits, construction will be staged over several years.

Manawa ā Whenua: The lifeforce of the land

Te Kawerau ā Maki has gifted a name and whakatauki to the Clover Drive, Rānui Flood Resilience Project: Manawa aa Whenua, meaning 'the lifeforce of the land'.

Whakatauki (proverb): Wai rere ki ōna ara, ka ora anō te whenua, ka ora anō te tangata - when water returns to its pathways, the land is healed, and so too the people.

The name and the whakatauki encapsulate the deep connection between people, water and land, and capture the vision of healing: when the waterways flow freely, the land flourishes, and the community is restored in body, mind and spirit to the healing nature of water.

About the project

This project will reduce flood risk to properties in Rānui, Henderson, and Massey by:

• Widening the Momutu / Swanson Stream to increase its flood carrying capacity.
• Creating a blue-green corridor along Clover Drive that will help carry floodwaters safely away from homes and roads.
• Replacing the Don Buck Road bridge with a new, longer bridge to increase water flow.
• Installing a debris rack upstream of Don Buck Bridge to significantly reduce risk of blockage at the bridge.
• Re-using material from stream widening to raise the land around Camphora Place out of the flood plain
• Removing a section of Lincoln Garden Close to let water flow unobstructed through the area and replacing it with a new pedestrian connection to Universal Drive.
• Upgrading culverts at Glen Road and Don Buck Road to reduce risk of floodwaters spilling onto the road and towards Clover Drive.

In addition to the Category 3 properties already acquired under the 2023 storm recovery buy-out scheme, further properties are required to fully deliver the project.

These acquisitions will enable the creation of a blue-green network that improves stormwater management and enhances community resilience.

Beyond flood prevention, the project will enhance the local environment by creating more open spaces, improving water quality and biodiversity, and connecting parklands and pathways for better community uses.

"While this project will not completely resolve flooding, undertaking investment now will reduce risk by providing a greater level of protection against future flooding and ensure we are better prepared for heavy rain events," says Mr Mansell.

"It will reduce flooding risk across 10 hectares of residential land, reducing the likely impact of flooding on people living in the area. The project will also reduce the frequency and extent of nuisance flooding of local roads in and around the Clover Drive area, including Don Buck Road."

Next steps

Alongside the acquisitions, the council is continuing with the design and consenting process to allow us to start delivering parts of the project as soon as possible.

There's some preliminary works planned for late 2026 and wider construction is expected to happen in stages from 2027.

Further areas across Tāmaki Makaurau continue to be assessed and prioritised for future blue-green projects. You can find out more information about these projects on our website or you can reach out to the team at [email protected]

About Making Space for Water

The Making Space for Water programme offers a unique opportunity to leverage significant government funding (totalling $1.984 billion in co-funding) to accelerate flood resilience projects across Auckland. This one-off chance allows us to undertake critical works that would otherwise be delayed or unfeasible due to reliance on ratepayer funding alone.

Auckland Council has identified 12 key areas across the Auckland region that could benefit from a blue-green network. Manawa aa Whenua | the Clover Drive-Rānui flood resilience project has been prioritised due to ongoing flood risk to the community.