Key Takeaways:
- The Tasman District is expected to spend $50 million on recovery efforts after back-to-back floods caused widespread damage in June and July 2025.
- The floods, described as the worst in 150 years, damaged farms, rural properties, and infrastructure, with over 60 roads closed and hundreds of homes assessed for damage.
- The recovery process is expected to take up to two years to complete, with the council working to repair and rebuild river infrastructure, roads, and other damaged assets.
- Private landowners are also facing significant costs, with many struggling to recover from the floods and prepare for future severe weather events.
- The Insurance Council of New Zealand reported 2807 claims totaling $37.4 million from the June floods in the South Island, bringing the total cost close to $100 million.
Introduction to the Floods
The Tasman District in New Zealand is still reeling from the effects of back-to-back floods that occurred in June and July 2025. The floods, which were described as the worst in 150 years, caused widespread damage across the district, with record rainfall and swollen rivers inundating farms, rural properties, and infrastructure. The recovery process is expected to be a long and costly one, with the council estimating that it will take up to two years to complete and cost around $50 million.
The Extent of the Damage
The floods had a devastating impact on the district, with over 60 roads closed due to flooding, landslips, and fallen trees. Hundreds of homes were assessed for damage, with 36 yellow-stickered and five red-stickered, indicating that they were uninhabitable. The floods also caused extensive damage to farms and rural properties, with land lost to swollen rivers, crops inundated with silt, and fences washed away. The total cost of damage to river infrastructure was estimated to be between $23 and $25 million, while the cost of damage to roads was just over $20 million.
Recovery Efforts
The Tasman District Council has been working to repair and rebuild damaged infrastructure, including river infrastructure and roads. The council’s recovery manager, Richard Kirby, said that the rivers team had done a stocktake of the river network and prioritized critical areas that were susceptible to future floods. Around $6 million had been spent on river work so far, with a focus on stop bank work, in-river work, and rock shoring to stabilize banks and prevent further erosion. The council is also working to improve its records of river assets and infrastructure, which were highlighted as a weakness in a report by the Office of the Auditor-General.
Road Repairs
The floods also caused significant damage to roads in the district, with over 4500 roading jobs completed since the storms. There are still 1000 jobs left to address, with close to 30 people working on the roads each day. The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has been working to rebuild and strengthen sections of road, address erosion risks, and improve drainage. Four roads across the district remain closed, including the Graham Valley South Branch Road, which provides access to the Kahurangi National Park. The road is managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), which is working on a repair plan with the support of the council and NZTA.
Impact on the Rural Community
The floods have had a significant impact on the rural community, with many farmers still recovering from the damage. The Top of the South Rural Support Trust has been working to support affected farmers, with chair Richard Kempthorne saying that it had been a busy six months. The trust has spoken to 220 farmers, many of whom had land beside rivers and waterways and had been affected in various ways. The trust has also been working with Enhanced Task Force Green, a Ministry of Social Development initiative, which has seen two teams of nine working for the last six months to clean up properties.
Ongoing Challenges
Despite the progress that has been made, there are still many challenges facing the community. Many farmers are struggling to recover from the floods and prepare for future severe weather events. The trust is working to support landowners in making sound decisions about the use of their land and assets, and in navigating the complex process of recovering from the floods. The council is also working to improve its preparedness for future floods, with a report by the Office of the Auditor-General highlighting the need for better planning and mitigation measures. The recovery process is expected to be a long and difficult one, but with the support of the community and the efforts of the council and other organizations, the Tasman District is working towards a brighter future.
