Lower Kaituna Re-diversion 2018-2022

The Kaituna River Re-diversion and Maketū Estuary Enhancement Project was established to significantly increase the volume of freshwater flowing from the Kaituna River into Te Awa o Ngātoroirangi/Maketū Estuary and re-create 20ha of wetland.

Tangata whenua, Maketū schoolchildren, and other locals gathered together today with contracting staff, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council representatives, to celebrate the return of freshwater flows from the Kaituna River into Te Awa o Ngātoroirangi/Maketu Estuary.

Kaituna re-diversion gate testing, public celebration, and Ford Rd closure. Kaituna River re-diversion construction works are almost complete, with final checks and tests being run on the control gates from 28 Jan – 9 Feb.

Ford Road boat ramp open from 24 December. Ford Road boat ramp, on the Kaituna River near Maketu, will be open for public use from 24 December 2019.

Community tour and Ford Road opening. The Kaituna River re-diversion project is now more than 90 percent complete and a public walking tour of the construction site is being held at 5.30 pm on Thursday 12 December.

Kaituna River re-diversion before (2018) and after (2020) drone video comparison.
The new control gates that allow freshwater flows from the Kaituna River into Te Awa o Ngātoroirangi/ Maketu Estuary were officially opened with a public celebration on 12 February 2020.

We are partially restoring freshwater flows from the Kaituna River into Te Awa o Ngātoroirangi/Maketu Estuary after they were cut off in 1956.
It will make the estuary healthier for fish, wildlife and people to enjoy.

Project reaches another milestone
The Kaituna River rediversion project marked a significant milestone on 26 June, with the opening of the first of 12 culverts to restore freshwater flows into Te Awa o Ngatoroirangi / Maketu Estuary.

Ford Road closures during whitebait season. Whitebait fishers are being asked for their patience again this season, so that speedy progress on the Kaituna River re-diversion project can continue.

We’re making Te Awa o Ngātoroirangi/Maketū Estuary healthier for people to swim and fish in.

The project aims to bring back 20 per cent of the Kaituna River and recreate 20 hectares of wetlands. In 1956, the river was diverted out to sea with benefits for land drainage. But over the last 60 years, the estuary has suffered as a result.

J Swap Contractors and the project team continue to make excellent progress and are on track for Stage 1 commissioning of the new culverts before Christmas, about six months ahead of schedule.

We’re paritially restoring freshwater flows from the Kaituna River into Te Awa o Ngatoroirangi/Maketu Estuary. It will make the estuary healthier for fish, wildlife and people to enjoy.

A new camera has been installed above Bay of Plenty’s most dangerous bar – the Kaituna Cut, giving boaties an up-to-date look at the bar conditions.

More than 136 kilometres of Bay of Plenty waterway margins have been protected from stock access in the past year through riparian management partnerships between private landowners and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

The Kaituna River and Ongatoro/Maketu Estuary Strategy was developed with the community in 2009. The vision identified in the Strategy is: “to ensure that as a wider community our policies and plans, our activities and actions celebrate and honour Kaituna River and Ongatoro/Maketu Estuary life as taonga – Whakanuia, whakamawawatia te mauri o te Kaituna me Ongatoro hei taonga.”

While local fishermen have settled in to new spots for boat launching and surfcasting since the temporary closure of Ford Road took effect on 1 August, Regional Council staff are encouraging whitebaiter fishers to also look for new options with the opening of the whitebait fishing season this week.

A look at the goals of the project, current status, project updates and background information to the project.

Ford Road access to Te Tumu Cut and Maketū Spit will be closed from 1 August until 20 December, to enable construction work that will restore 600,000 cubic metres of freshwater flows into Te Awa o Ngatoroirangi Maketū Estuary on every tidal cycle.

More than 100 people, including representatives from six Te Arawa iwi gathered at Tukotahi Marae yesterday, beside the Kaituna River, to celebrate the start of construction works that will return freshwater flows from the river into Te Awa o Ngatoroirangi Maketū Estuary.

Welcome to our first e-update on Regional Council’s work in the Kaituna, Pongakawa and Waitahanui catchments. In this issue: First sod turned on Kaituna River re-diversion, Closures during construction, Community update meeting – 1 August, Archaeology discovery – Otaiparia Pā, Kaituna River Document launched, Papahikahawai planting days, Landowner action for cleaner water, Watch out for waka, and Te Pourepo o Kaituna wetland progress.