The River and Drainage Schemes are defined areas of land where we build and maintain flood defences (such as stopbanks, floodwalls, pump stations, flood gates etc), manage riverbank erosion risks and undertake drain maintenance.
There are four major River Scheme targeted rating areas (Rangitāiki-Tarawera, Kaituna Catchment Control, Whakatāne-Tauranga and Waioeka-Otara) and a major Drainage Scheme covering the Rangitāiki Plains area.
There are 34 minor drainage and pumping schemes on the Rangitāiki Plains and Ōpōtiki area. In the Rangitāiki Plains area, it is common for properties to contribute to three separate schemes (i.e. the Rangitāiki-Tarawera River Scheme, the Rangitāiki Drainage Scheme and one of the minor pumping schemes).