EnviroSchools Water for Life

Kaipara District Council has completed its deliberations on the future delivery model for water services.

Kaipara District Council has lifted water restrictions for Baylys Beach and Dargaville properties on town water supply.

The announcement of a boost for water projects in Northland will provide a resilient water supply for Dargaville’s future generations. 

Dargaville and Baylys Beach residents have taken the level 4 water restrictions in their stride with daily water usage decreasing further.

A major upgrade has been completed on a Ruawai stopbank.

Those on town supply in Baylys Beach and Dargaville are now in level 4 water restrictions – essential use only. Water can only be used for drinking, cooking, washing clothes and showering. 

Lower than expected rainfall and extremely low river flows are edging Kaipara District closer to drought conditions.

Council is asking residents in Dargaville and Baylys Beach to reduce their water use immediately to protect the water supply.

Residents in Baylys Beach and Dargaville on town water supply are asked to conserve water use as we enter level 2 water restrictions.

A major upgrade to the Raupō drainage system to protect highly productive fertile land has made significant progress.

A new observation tower for Baylys Beach will improve the response times and working conditions for volunteer lifeguards on the popular west coast beach.

The relationship agreements Kaipara District Council holds with Te Roroa and Te Uri o Hau were terminated by the Council at its September meeting, with a view to start afresh with new agreements.

A new strategy developed by Northland’s four local authorities looks to improve accessibility across the region, which has the country’s second highest rate of disabilities and impairments.

It’s Welcoming Week, an opportunity to make our communities more welcoming to all those who choose to call Aotearoa New Zealand home.

A suite of recovery and resilience projects underway in Kaipara District is set to benefit from more than half a million dollars in central government funds.

Kaipara District Council and Whangarei District Council are developing a joint panel of contractors to complete the remaining emergency recovery repairs, helping to save money and time for both councils.

Downer is working hard to get construction done through the winter period, in time to have the third phase of the shared path open for use when summer rolls round again.

Close to 100 people came together at the southern tip of the Pouto Peninsula to celebrate the opening of a new wharf in Kaipara.

More than $3.2million of external funding will be redirected into Kaipara District’s waters infrastructure budget after Council deciding to redirect existing uncommitted Better Off and Transition Support funding.

Dargaville and Baylys Beach residents have responded to the call to preserve water under Level 3 water restrictions.

Work on Pouto wharf has been progressing well during weather and tidal windows, with the crew taking every opportunity to complete piling works, concreting, and install bearers. With most of the piles now in place, the crew are focused on completing the bracing and joists over the next fortnight.

Residents in Dargaville and Baylys Beach are urged to reduce water use after use has risen slightly since Level 3 water restrictions came into force on 12 February.

Water restrictions have been introduced for Dargaville and surrounds, with residents across the entire Kaipara district being urged to use the precious resource wisely.

A number of infrastructure renewals and upgrades completed in recent years have strengthened water security in Kaipara.

Soon, Dargaville and Te Kopuru locals will see little libraries popping up around the community.

Summer is on its way and it’s time to start preparing for a drought. Meteorologists are predicting a dry windy summer.

A new collaborative project has arisen from the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle, which aims to build Northland’s resilience to future adverse weather events by tackling the problem of fallen and at-risk trees.

Sunny weather and an incoming tide provided the perfect backdrop to open the Mangawhai boardwalk to a large gathering last week.

The boardwalk is the second phase of the Mangawhai shared path project, connecting the village to the heads, and making it safer and easier to travel by foot, bike, or scooter along busy Molesworth Drive.

An update from Kaipara District Council and Northland Regional Council.

Progress has been tracking well on the second phase of the Mangawhai shared path, with the boardwalk section now stretching right across the water by the causeway.

Work to improve the resilience of Maungaturoto’s water network is almost complete.  

Contractors working on the finishing touches for Poutō wharf have had to down tools until conditions are more favourable to complete the remaining piling and wharf head.

Kaipara District Council Parks and Open Spaces team manage six of the district’s cemeteries and recently funded community-led work to repair the gates to their former glory.

A sunny day set the scene for the official opening of Stage One of the Kaihu Valley Trail (KVT), which was celebrated with a blessing and ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by Ahikiwi Marae on Saturday 10 June.

What do you want to see on the water tank at Moir Street?

Construction of the permanent upgrade for Wood Street will take place next year, after Council has signalled prioritising emergency works over planned projects for the upcoming Annual Plan 2023/2024.

Works to further improve Maungaturoto’s water network kick off next week.

Late last month a warm Kaipara sun shone on a group of farmers and growers keen to hear about a season of growing squash in Maunganui Bluff, north of Dargaville.  

In the early hours of this morning Awakino River on the northern outskirts of Dargaville breached its banks. 

Salt services, a professional dive team, spent most of a day early last week pulling an old car wreck out of the water. The car had been submerged some years ago and was resting where work was starting on the wharf head.

Improvements to the Poutō Point carpark area can progress in 2023 thanks to further funding from Kaipara District Council.

The growing season for the Kaipara Water demonstration sites has kicked off with the Maunganui Bluff site planted out with squash earlier this week.

Northland motorists are being asked to be patient this summer as the Northland Transportation Alliance battles relentless wet weather while attempting roading repairs.

Summer is here and so are all our visitors. It’s the busiest time of the year for the Taharoa Domain, and we need you to help us look after this beautiful gem.

The four councils in our region are working together on a plan to make our communities more accessible to live, work, play and visit.

The construction of Poutō wharf has really been trucking along recently, with another dozen piles driven in the ground last week.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is encouraging people in Dargaville to get on their bikes with a Transport Choice programme grant of approximately $8,000,000 to be provided to Kaipara District Council, announced on 4 December 2022.

If you live in Poutō or have gone for a drive down recently, you will have seen some of the wharf construction taking shape.

Physical works for Poutō wharf have begun. Earlier in the month, Waikaretu marae led a blessing ahead of construction starting.

A chainsaw course for Dargaville High School students saw wattle and other pest plants removed from Old Mt Wesley cemetery.  

The second phase of the Mangawhai shared path cranks up construction next month, and includes a collaboratively designed boardwalk running alongside the causeway.

Kaipara District Council has confirmed sunflowers and squash for the second growing season of the Kaipara Water demonstration sites.

An update on the Kaihu Valley Trail including fencing progress, funding and latest finds along the trail.

Work to construct Poutō wharf is set to begin shortly.

Government sources estimate that between $120 and $185 billion dollars of investment in three waters (drinking water, waste water and storm water) infrastructure will be needed over the next 30 years to improve the quality of our drinking water and wastewater and stormwater management, across New Zealand.

Find out about the new wharf at an information drop-in session 3 July 2022. 

With the courtesy crossings for phase one now complete, the Mangawhai shared path team and contractors got the spades and mulch out and ticked off the planting, getting the final shrubs and trees in the ground last week.

Te Tai Tokerau councils celebrated a unique milestone in April after the adoption of New Zealand’s first region-wide climate adaptation strategy.

Elected Members have unanimously approved paying the forecasted $265,000 project shortfall for Poutō wharf, funded from the district’s financial contributions reserves.

Check out the latest happenings on the Kaihu Valley Trail progress, including the discovery of some railway artefacts.

Two new footbridges were opened at a double ribbon-cutting ceremony in the Kaipara township of Kaiwaka on Saturday 26 March.

We are aware some Maungaturoto residents have recently experienced events of low pressure or in some instances disrupted water supply to their properties.

Harvesting is underway across the Kaipara Water demonstration sites. 

Ongoing COVID-19 restrictions and other delays to the programme have inevitably slowed the Poutō wharf project, but the team have made progress and are now working through the tail end of the developed design.

At a recent Council meeting, staff gave an update on Gumdiggers Track and the work happening behind the scenes.

At a recent briefing Council staff presented the preliminary financial statements for the upcoming Annual Plan (2022-2023).

Locals and visitors with their boogie boards, beach bags, skateboards and shopping bags piled on board the Mangawhai Village to Beach bus over summer, turning out in even greater numbers than previous years of the trial service.

At yesterday's Council meeting, the Kaipara District Council approved paying the forecasted $487,000 sealing project shortfall to complete Pouto Road Phase 1, from its retained earnings.

Starting today through to Wednesday 23 February a short section of Molesworth Drive from the ITM down to Nautical Heights will go down to one lane, with flow managed using traffic lights.

Last week saw the installation of a temporary sign marking the Dargaville entrance of the Kaihu Valley Trail.

The council is upgrading wastewater systems and is asking people to flush responsibly.

Growth is the word of the day when it comes to the Kaipara Water demonstration sites. The summer months have seen the former grassed paddocks turn into a jungle of green activity on both sites.

The Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has released the $3.5M needed to protect existing stopbanks against flooding, along the western side of Wairoa River between Dargaville and Te Kopuru.

The Northland Transportation Alliance’s (NTA) Unsealed Road Improvement Project remains on track to approved project milestones with 84.4 km’s of the network’s road pavement layering completed to date. 

Work is progressing well on the raw watermain renewals in Maungaturoto.

Pouto Road phase one and Waipoua River Road will be completed in April, despite delays caused by wet weather in the Kaipara District post the Christmas break. 

Although recent rain has been welcomed by landowners, it is causing headaches for Kaipara District Council’s Raupo stopbank improvement project, in Ruawai.

Construction for the Pahi wharf upgrade ended as it began months ago, with the sky lighting up slowly on the people gathered together. Voices joined in karakia and waiata, led by kaumatua Hone Martin and representatives of Te Uri o Hau swirled around the Kaipara harbour as a dawn blessing was performed to open the wharf’s gangway and pontoon.

With the border opening there will be increased traffic travelling through both of the worksites. Please remind your visitors ahead of their arrival that these are still active work sites in the lead up to the break – give your friends and family a heads up so they can be prepared for possible travel delays and can plan their journeys accordingly.

Kaipara District Council’s externally funded Unsealed Road Improvements Project remains on track with a little over half the project completed. Northland Transport Alliance Maintenance Lead Bernard Petersen says this includes just over 70 kilometres of unsealed surfaces upgraded.

Visitors to the Kaipara Water demonstration sites will spot the beginnings of green growth starting to peek through the soil.

Our Kaipara District Council team is excited to see the sealing start to roll out for Phase one of the Pouto Road project – the upgrade of the northern portion running down to Ari Ari Road junction.

The $8.06M Unsealed Roading Network project that began in May last year, has crossed the halfway mark with completion of the first season’s physical pavement and associated works at a cost of $4.3M to end of October.

A blessing undertaken by Te Roroa last week marked the start of physical works on Waipoua River Road.

Extra low tides earlier this month allowed Huband Contractors to work on some of the timber repairs around the lower parts of the tidal stairs.

An onsite blessing will be held by Te Roroa on Friday 12 November to mark the start of construction on the $1.8m Waipoua River Road project.

Over the next few months, our team and contractors will replace approximately 3,000m of ageing raw watermain pipes.

Findings of the latest LittaTrap audit found an increase of rubbish captured. LittaTraps (a simple, cost-effective net that sits inside a stormwater grate) have been installed around Northland through a multi-agency initiative.

The Huband crew have been working at the end of the wharf recently, preparing the connection for the new gangway, and replacing pile caps and stringers.

If you’re connected to Council’s treated water supply system, your most recent water invoice may have shown an increase in the cost for your first cubic meter of water.

Considerations from Kaipara District about the Three Waters Reforms.

It’s been a hive of activity down at the Pahi wharf recently. The upgrade has started with local contractors Huband carrying out the carpentry and repair work on the wharf.

Ngā mihi mō au korero whakahoki! 

Thank you for your feedback. We had a fantastic response to our recent survey asking for help to select one of the trial crops for Kaipara Water demo site two. The winner by community vote was kaanga ma.

A progress update on the Kaihu Valley Trail.

Council and the Pou Tu o Te Rangi Joint Management Committee are preparing new reserve management plans (RMPs) for the Pou Tu o Te Rangi historic reserve and Harding Park (including the adjoining Old Mount Wesley Cemetery).  

Kaiwaka township has seen a number of safety improvements recently, with our team and contractors Ventia busy working along Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Road.

A significant change in the programme for the much-needed Village intersection improvements will see the work finished in early December, ahead of schedule.

The United Civil team are starting to work in the road (Stage Two of their work staging plan), focusing on the area at the western entrance to the Moir Street / Insley Street intersection.

Winter weather has slowed the reconstruction work to upgrade our unsealed roads, but no time is being wasted. Teams are clearing vegetation and drains in preparation for when reconstruction work can start again.

Kaipara District Council has been awarded a grant from the Creative NZ Local Government Arts Fund to develop an Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy.

Kaipara District Council voted to become a shareholder of Northland Inc. at their meeting on 26 May.

The Kaihu Valley Trail is a 40km walking and biking track being constructed from Dargaville to Donnellys Crossing. It will form part of the Ancient Kauri Trail that extends from Omapere to Maungaturoto and be one of the 23 Great Rides around New Zealand.

An update on the Kaihu Valley Trail progress

Construction work on the Mangawhai Village intersection improvements started this week. 

Nine infrastructure renewal projects are being rolled out across Kaipara District this year. 

The Kaipara Kai Hub team have been in the news a lot recently with all their peanut trial mahi!

Kaipara District Council has developed a new formula for unsealed roads that results in a more durable, and lower maintenance, surface.

Some of the works happening around the District. 

A friendly reminder to take only photos and leave only footprints at the Taharoa Domain when exploring the wonderful jewel of Kaipara.

In the first few months of 2021 there’s been a trickle of new information which has led to a substantial update on the long-running story of the debt levels of Kaipara District Council’s Mangawhai Wastewater Scheme. 

An update on what's happening with the Kaihu Valley Trail.  

Kaipara District Council has published a report about the outstanding historic debt and capacity of the Mangawhai Wastewater Scheme (MWWS). 

Our Parks team and local contractors Turf Tamer recently completed work by the Kaiwaka River (north eastern side of the bridge).

Kaipara District Elected Members have voted in favour of a proposal to temporarily store the 157-year-old ship the Daring next to the Mangawhai Museum. 

Work will begin again at the Mangawhai Community Park after the Easter break.

Recently we received the good news that Waka Kotahi NZTA have granted funding to complete phase 1 of our new shared path.

The first part of the Pouto Road sealing project is set to start this week from Wednesday 24 March, kicking off one of Kaipara’s most significant road sealing projects.

We recently started the evaluation for the Wood Street revitalisation project.

Two footbridges are to be erected in Kaiwaka, parallel to State Highway 1 and crossing streams at the northern end of the township.

Construction work for the Pahi wharf upgrade is set to start April 2021.

Mangawhai’s bus service proved hugely popular with both locals and visitors this summer. The bus ran daily 27 December – 17 January and then every weekend and public holiday to 08 February, picking up passengers from Mangawhai Village to the surf beach. 

Kaipara District Council has laid out its vision for the next decade of development in its Long Term Plan (LTP) and is asking the community if they agree.

Earlier this month Rīpia Marae representatives blessed the site of Motu Wheteke, ahead of physical works starting at the quarry. Kaipara District Council contractors are preparing to reopen the site, primarily for the Provincial Development Unit-supported Pouto Road sealing project. 

The Kaihu Valley Trail is one section of the Ancient Kauri Trail that will be developed in stages and eventually link Ōmāpere, on the Hokianga Harbour, to the Mangawhai Coast.

Since our last update, the Kaipara Kai Hub team has been busy managing crop trials, engaging with local growers looking at crop diversification, and supporting the kick-off of local projects. The trial site at Te Roroa’s Kai Iwi farm is looking lush. 

Thanks very much to everyone who took the time to fill out our recent Wood Street survey. We had a good response with a total of 205 people selecting one of four options to reconfigure the parking near the entrance to Wood Street (from Molesworth Drive). 

If you're out and about around Lorne, Pirika, and Haimona Street, you may spot our team and contractors undertaking work on the Dargaville water mains. 

The interim design for the Wood Street revitalisation project has been in place since early December 2020.

‘Water’ will be a word to watch in 2021, as far as Kaipara District Council is concerned. To start with,
low river flows mean water restrictions are in place for our largest reticulated town supply to Dargaville
and Baylys Beach.

Changes at Wood Street are part of the Wood Street revitalisation project, a community co-design that came about after the Mangawhai Business Association approached Council in 2019.  

The FREE Village to Beach Loop bus service is running again this summer. Please let your family, friends, and all your visitors know. The bus service is free for everyone. 

The first concrete pour was completed for the new pathway at Matakohe earlier this month.

Kaiwaka footbridges will form part of the Kaiwaka walking and cycling network and will reduce severance caused by the state highway and rivers. 

After months of planning, the Wood Street revitalisation project really got rolling this month, with key changes implemented following the latest community co-design workshops.

We are go! Traffic is now one way on Wood Street. Entry is via Molesworth Drive (similar to last summer’s trial). Please take care and look out for the new road markings and signs.

From tomorrow (Thursday 03 December) Wood Street will change to a one way traffic system. Entry will be via Molesworth Drive (similar to last summer’s trial). Please take care and look out for the new road markings and signage, which will be in place from this Thursday. Wheel stops are also being installed to complete the improvements to the back carpark. 

See the results from surveys and events we've undertaken recently as part of our Long Term Plan. 

Our contractors and their team are starting work on some of the improvements to the Mangawhai Community Park facilities later this week.

The weather turned out and so did the people. The Marine Hall was buzzing recently during a community open day for the proposed Pouto wharf. 

Have you ever looked at a verge or berm around your area and wondered why it has a dip in its centre? That subtle depression is doing an incredibly important job – it’s called a swale and they're an essential part of our stormwater services.

Two proposed demonstration sites for the Kaipara Water project have been given the green light from Council, which will serve as real-life working examples of the best ways to irrigate high value horticultural crops.

How can we make Northland more accessible for people with disabilities, older adults, migrants, or families with young children?

Works on the Wood Street interim design will be starting later this week!

Spring has been busy for the Kaipara Kai Hub.

Hats off to the Ngā Uri o Hau Native Nursery team! They have been busy replanting some of the areas down at Mangawhai Community Park recently. 

Construction has started on the new Baylys Beach walkway. The work is led by Kaipara District Council, with a $300,000 grant received through the Tourism Infrastructure Fund.

Find out more about the new Pouto wharf at our upcoming community open day.

The beautiful stretch of weather we’ve been enjoying is great for the beach, but not for water supplies. Being wise with water at the beginning of the season can ease the pressures later on. Let’s streeeeeeech the supply as far as we can.

There’s been a lot of exciting mahi happening in Taharoa Domain recently. This year our Parks team and their contractors have planted more than 12,500 native trees as part of a regenerative planting plan and a successful pest cull has been undertaken around the Kai Iwi lakes area.

Kaipara District Council has used funding under the Te Tai Tokerau Redeployment Package to complete some exciting roadside projects. The funding package, through the Provincial Growth Fund, is providing urgent economic relief for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, by creating immediate work opportunities for local people.

Fire Station cleared in Wood Street.

Kaipara District Council is seeking feedback on proposals to set new speed limits in the Mangawhai and Kaiwaka areas, including the Mangawhai urban area. 

More than $180,000.00 has been awarded in the latest Kaipara District Council funding rounds for Reserve Contributions Contestable Fund, Rural Travel Fund, and the Creative Communities Scheme.  

Collaborative stormwater project kicks off with first LittaTrap installed in Mangawhai

Work is underway at Selwyn Park to upgrade lights.

Work is progressing at pace, as a result of $2.87m recently allocated to Kaipara District from the Te Tai Tokerau Redeployment Package. A total of $9.32 million is allocated across Northland. The funding package through the Provincial Growth Fund is providing urgent economic relief for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, by creating immediate work opportunities for local people and businesses.

Approval from the Provincial Growth Fund and the release of $2.8 million means Kaipara District Council can progress with sealing the second section of Pouto Road (Phase 2).

Kaipara District Council Elected Members opted in to the first part of a reform of the three waters system when they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the end of August.

A total of $132,320.00 has been awarded in the latest funding round for the Mangawhai Endowment Lands Account (MELA).

Mangawhai Community Park work update. 

Minister Shane Jones has announced $15 million for Kaipara District Council for shovel ready infrastructure projects

Councillors this morning voted in favour of the former fire station building at 09 Wood Street to be demolished.

The Council owned building is unoccupied. The Mangawhai Fire Station has been in its new modern premises at 191 Molesworth Drive since late 2019.

Construction work for the new Dargaville pontoon is set to begin next month. The work is part of Kaipara KickStart, an umbrella programme led by Kaipara District Council and funded by the Provincial Growth Fund, to grow the district’s economy and increase community wellbeing.

More than $122,000 has been awarded in the latest Kaipara District Council funding rounds for Community Grants, Rural Travel Fund, and Creative Communities Scheme.

An online talk with NIWA, Plant & Food Research, and Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research will present valuable climate and soil research for the district’s landowners. 

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has awarded funds to Kaipara District Council for the next stage in the Wood Street revitalisation project. The funds are part of the Innovating Streets programme and pilot fund, which supports councils to deliver more vibrant and people-friendly public spaces by employing ‘tactical urbanism’. The grant will fund 90 percent of an interim treatment that will inform a permanent future upgrade in Wood Street.

Approval from MBIE on the Kaipara Water Transport Network and Wharves Feasibility Study and Programme Business Case means the Council can embark on the next stage of the project.

An online talk hosted by the Kaipara District Council will present valuable opportunities for the district’s landowners, and other businesses related to the horticulture industry.

Kaipara Kai, a support base for landowners and the kai industry was opened for business in Ruawai by Hon. Shane Jones today.