‘Don’t waste a good crisis’: Māngere offered hope after disaster

Two years after catastrophic floods, Māngere has become the first suburb in Auckland to break ground on a major climate adaptation initiative.

The two flood resilience projects - Te Ararata and Harania - promise long-term protection for one of the city’s most flood-affected communities. Once complete, the projects will reduce the flood risk for more than 350 homes, including some currently facing an intolerable risk to life.

The work is being carried out as part of Auckland Council’s $2 billion Making Space for Water programme. It will raise the country’s largest sewerage pipe and replace Walmsley Road Bridge to allow stormwater to flow more freely into the Manukau Harbour.

Mana whenua from Te Ākitai Waiohua, supported by Ngāti Tamaoho and Te Ahiwaru, blessed the site at dawn before Mayor Wayne Brown officially broke ground. Brown says it is a relief to launch something positive after such devastation.

“It’s great to feel positive about something that has come out of a terrible day two years ago,”

Brown says. “As that elderly lady said, ‘You learn something from a seriously bad thing,’” referencing Māngere community leader Julia Tu’ineau.

He says Māngere was among the hardest-hit communities, and its resilience makes it a fitting place to lead the programme. Brown says the project reflects a shift in how the city plans growth.

“We’ve had development that’s gone on for years – growth, growth, growth. But you’ve got to be bloody careful because sometimes growth causes problems.”

Māngere was chosen because the solution was ready and viable, he says. “In some places, like Kumeū, there isn’t a doable or economic solution. But here, it all fell into place – and the community has supported it.”

Mayor Wayne Brown with mana whenua after Māngere flood project blessing. Photo/Auckland Council

Brown adds that infrastructure isn’t always politically exciting, but it matters.

“We’re learning not to allow dumb stuff to be done,” he says. “Sometimes you have to say no to some things.” He cites a Muriwai subdivision the council tried to block, but which was approved by the Environment Court – only for the land to shift during a flood a month later.

He also reflected on the role of mana whenua. “We have the iwi involved. It’s not something special – it’s just natural. This is our kaupapa. It’s how we do things.”

Manukau Ward Councillor Alf Filipaina credited strong collaboration – and an emergency Order in Council – for fast-tracking the work. “It got these projects approved and shovel-ready in record time.”

Manukau councillor Alf Filipaina, master of ceremonies at the dawn blessing. Photo/PMN News Mary Afemata

Tu’ineau, who leads the volunteer Tararata Stream Team, says the devastating floods created a rare opportunity for long-overdue change.

“As hard as it is to say, we’re grateful for the crisis because it created the urgency to finally act. Without it, we might still be waiting.”

She says the problems they faced couldn’t be fixed through community action alone. “It needed a change in policy or law, and the flooding has done that. So we are grateful. That’s an awful thing to say, but it’s good for Te Taiao to have some law changes that enforce better water treatment. Otherwise, we just have a dirty, smelly ditch.”

Council’s General Manager of Recovery, Mace Ward, echoes that sentiment. “Don’t waste a good crisis,” he says. “It’s about people, and we’ve known for a long time that every time it rains, families here feel anxious. This project gives people peace of mind.”

Mayor Wayne Brown with local leaders at the launch of Māngere’s first Making Space for Water project. Photo/Auckland Council

Ward says the council is now applying those lessons to streamline future projects across the city.

South Auckland first

Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board Chair Tauanuʻu Nick Bakulich describes the moment as emotional and significant. “This is a big win for Māngere and for South Auckland,” he says. “There’ll be disruption when Walmsley Bridge closes, but it’s short-term pain for long-term gain.”

The night before the blessing, the local group, I Am Māngere, hosted a youth engagement evening to gather feedback for the area’s recovery plan. More than 70 rangatahi turned up for free haircuts, nails and banana splits – but the main goal was to hear their voices.

Mayor Wayne Brown with Stakeholder Advisory Group members supporting Māngere’s flood recovery. Photo/Auckland Council

“We asked: were you affected by the floods? What support did you get? What does your community still need?” says I Am Māngere CEO Toni Helleur.

“Their insights were powerful – we turned it into a visual mural showing what recovery looks like through their eyes.” She says that including young people is essential.

What’s ahead

Construction starts later this month and is expected to be completed by mid-2026. In Te Ararata, Walmsley Road Bridge will be upgraded to improve water flow, a debris trap will be installed, and access will be created for maintenance crews.

In Harania, the embankment between Blake and Bicknell roads will be replaced with a pedestrian bridge and a pipe bridge carrying the Eastern Interceptor, transporting 70 per cent of Auckland’s wastewater from Ōkahu Bay to Māngere. These improvements will allow local waterways to flow more freely and reduce the likelihood of future flooding.

Planning is underway for more blue-green infrastructure across Auckland.

“Today is just the beginning,” says Brown. “This is the kind of project that doesn’t just make a place safer – it makes it stronger.”

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.