Open Day to show community stormwater solution

Published: 11 April 2025

Nearly 300 hectares of farmland is set to become an integral part of managing and treating Napier’s stormwater, and Napier City Council wants people’s views on the project.

On Saturday 3 May, Napier City Council is hosting an Open Day at Lagoon Farm – which is set to become Ahuriri Regional Park - to give people a chance to explore the area, view the plans on site and provide feedback. Consultation on the Ahuriri Regional Park Masterplan is open from 16 April to 7 May.

Deputy Mayor Annette Brosnan chairs the joint committee leading the work on Ahuriri Regional Park, which is a collaboration between Napier and Hawke’s Bay Regional councils, and Mana Ahuriri Trust.

“Ahuriri Regional Park is a really exciting project where 284 hectares of council-owned farmland previously zoned to be industrial will now be moved into a conservation purpose to treat our city’s stormwater,” says Deputy Mayor Brosnan. “It further reinforces our commitment to make Napier a more climate resilient and environmentally conscious city.”

The primary purpose of Ahuriri Regional Park is to establish wetlands of native plantings to filter, polish and clean the ‘first flush’ of urban stormwater before it enters Te Whanganui a Orotu (Ahuriri estuary).

“The rejuvenation and transformation of this land puts the environment and biodiversity enhancement first,” explains Deputy Mayor Brosnan. “Through this proposal, we will see habitats restored and enhanced with a focus on rejuvenating native bird and fish species. The vision for the park also includes spaces for walking and cycling, and places to just sit and enjoy the view. There is the potential to weave in educational and partnership opportunities too.”

Councillor Chad Tareha, who also sits on the joint committee, representing Mana Ahuriri Trust, explains Te Whanganui a Orotu is a site of great significance culturally, historically, recreationally and environmentally.

“It is a true taonga, a special place for our ancestors and for us today and it is so important we protect it for future generations,” he says.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council supported the concept plan for the park at its Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee meeting on Wednesday 9 April 2025.

Councillor Martin Williams speaking at the meeting acknowledged that the community might have questions around the financial case.

“I just really wanted to stress this isn’t a frilly in my view. This is core biodiversity infrastructure. It is core climate adaptation infrastructure,” Councillor Williams said. He noted that the expert view is that “...every urban centre in the world should aim for 10 percent indigenous vegetation if we are to be able to withstand the impacts of climate change.”

Ahuriri Regional Park Open Day is 10am-12pm Saturday 3 May. Access is via the farm gate just west of the Orotu Drive roundabout. Consultation opens on 16 April through sayitnapier.nz.

More information on the proposal can be viewed here.

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