Flood maps

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House with flooded garden out the front.

Help us improve our flood models with your local knowledge

We live in a district shaped by rivers, low-land sand dunes, and peatlands – making Kāpiti naturally prone to flooding. As our community grows and we experience more extreme rainfall events, it’s more important than ever to understand where floods might happen, how severe they could be, and how we can best plan for them. 

We’re seeking your feedback on our draft flood maps to make sure they reflect what you see and experience at your place and local areas of interest – whether that’s drainage features in your neighbourhood, historic flooding you’ve witnessed, or unique property characteristics our modelling might have missed.

Your input is an important part of reviewing the maps. Where new evidence indicates a need, we’ll adjust the flood models behind the maps before we finalise them. 

We last updated our flood maps in 2011 based on modelling from 2010 LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data and 2007 climate change predictions.

We’re currently updating our flood maps using advanced modelling techniques and the latest data on rainfall, land elevation, groundwater, and 1-in-100-year rainfall scenarios for current climate conditions, and climate change +1.8oC and +3.7oC.

Did you receive a letter in the mail? Find out why your property is shown as potentially flood-prone.

Local flooding outside a property in KāpitiHow we use flood models

We use flood hazard modelling to help determine the likely impact of extreme rainfall on our local drainage and stormwater networks and streams, and associated flooding should these systems become overwhelmed. 

The updated flood models will help us plan and prioritise stormwater upgrades, make more informed planning and development decisions, assist with emergency management planning, and provide residents with local flood risk insights.

These draft models don’t replace the existing rules in Council’s operative District Plan. A flood hazard plan change would require a separate public process under the Resource Management Act.

About our new draft flood maps

Our updated maps model potential impacts from a major rainfall event that has a one percent chance of occurring in any year (often referred to as a 1-in-100-year storm). They show a 100-year rainfall event under current climate conditions, and climate change +1.8oC and +3.7oC scenarios.

Together these scenarios provide us with an understanding of potential flood risks, both in the present and having regard to potential climate change. These scenarios will enable us to plan and respond effectively to whatever the future brings. The range of climate scenarios gives an envelope of impact, where we finally land with respect to climate change will likely fall somewhere between current climate and 3.7oC of warming.

Our draft maps are more refined than our current maps, which means they pick up more ground-level detail. They also include areas we haven’t modelled before and reflect major infrastructure projects such as stormwater network upgrades and State Highway 1 improvements including the Kāpiti Expressway and Transmission Gully.

How you can have your say

We're asking for your feedback on our draft flood maps to ensure they accurately reflect local flood behaviour, ground features, and built infrastructure.

Screenshot of the Flood Model Update Storymap showing title and section of a flood mapStep 1: Explore our StoryMap

Everything you need to know can be found on our StoryMap. It outlines in more detail the history of flooding in our district, explains the evolution of flood modelling, and details how our updated model was built. Learn how to use our Maps Portal where you can compare new flood maps with existing District Plan maps.

Learn more on our StoryMap


Screenshot of the Maps Portal showing a flood map Step 2: View your property on our Maps Portal

Search for specific properties and see how 100-year rainfall events under current climate conditions, and climate change +1.8oC and +3.7oC impact your property and areas of interest on our Maps portal. You can see how different climate change scenarios might affect flooding depths and extents in the future and switch on contour information under the 'Map Layers' button, to better understand the relationship of local topography with flood risks. In addition to helping us refine the model, the Map Portal will provide useful information to help you make informed decisions about your property.

Please note: These flood maps provide preliminary detail on how water moves across the landscape than previous maps. We’ve filtered out some minor features (depths <50mm) to focus on more significant flooding. Please let us know if you notice any inconsistencies in the maps before the consultation closes on Sunday 8 June 2025.

Search your property on our Maps Portal


Step 3: Register for our webinar on Wednesday 7 May, 5.30–6.30pm

Join us for our free online webinar where we'll discuss flood modelling and what it's used for and show you how to view the flood maps and what to look for. Your input is an important part of reviewing the maps before we finalise the modelling behind them.

Please submit any questions you may have ahead of our webinar for us to consider. You'll also be able to ask questions live using the Q&A feature during the webinar, but with limited time, we may not be able to answer all of them. We'll keep updating our frequently asked questions throughout the consultation period.

Register for the webinar


Step 4: Share information that will help us refine the maps before we finalise them

Useful information that will help us refine the maps includes:

  • historic flood photos: share pictures of past flooding on or near your property (including date, time and location)
  • land features not in the model: let us know about buildings, retaining walls or private drains on your property that the model may not reflect.
  • certified ground surveys: if you believe our model has the wrong ground-level data for your property, a recent certified survey may be needed.
    Contact our Stormwater and Assets team by emailing flooding@kapiticoast.govt.nz or calling 0800 486 486 before arranging a survey to learn more about this process.

If you believe the maps don’t match what you see on your property or local areas of interest, you can share this information with us by:

It may take us some time to work through all the responses and we'll be in touch if there is a need or when we have an update.

Feedback closes at 11.59pm Sunday 8 June 2025.

Share your feedback



Need more info or assistance?

Greater Wellington Regional Council flood maps and models

Please note, Greater Wellington Regional Council (GW) is currently updating their flood model for major rivers and streams. Their process differs to ours where they will test their models based on historic river flood events for the Ōtaki, Waitohu, Mangaone, Mangapouri and Waikanae catchments. For more information on GW’s project visit haveyoursay.gw.govt.nz

What happens next?

Once this engagement closes, Council will: 

  1. Review all feedback provided.
  2. Where new evidence indicates a need, we’ll adjust the flood model or map details. 
  3. Report to Council a summary of changes – and any implications.
  4. Publish final maps. Updated maps will appear on our online mapping portal, ensuring the public has access to the most accurate information possible. This may include the latest LiDAR information.
  5. Eventually we’ll use the maps to inform decisions about stormwater upgrades.

In the future, Council will update the Kāpiti Coast District Plan to reflect the finalised flood model, including the updated flood mapping of major rivers and streams currently being prepared by Greater Wellington Regional Council. The separate plan change process will include its own public consultation, in accordance with the requirements of the Resource Management Act (RMA). 


Keen to stay updated? Register to join the conversation, and sign up for Everything Kāpiti, to get the latest on what's happening across our district straight to your inbox – including events, grant funding opportunities, and other ways you can get involved.

House with flooded garden out the front.

Help us improve our flood models with your local knowledge

We live in a district shaped by rivers, low-land sand dunes, and peatlands – making Kāpiti naturally prone to flooding. As our community grows and we experience more extreme rainfall events, it’s more important than ever to understand where floods might happen, how severe they could be, and how we can best plan for them. 

We’re seeking your feedback on our draft flood maps to make sure they reflect what you see and experience at your place and local areas of interest – whether that’s drainage features in your neighbourhood, historic flooding you’ve witnessed, or unique property characteristics our modelling might have missed.

Your input is an important part of reviewing the maps. Where new evidence indicates a need, we’ll adjust the flood models behind the maps before we finalise them. 

We last updated our flood maps in 2011 based on modelling from 2010 LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data and 2007 climate change predictions.

We’re currently updating our flood maps using advanced modelling techniques and the latest data on rainfall, land elevation, groundwater, and 1-in-100-year rainfall scenarios for current climate conditions, and climate change +1.8oC and +3.7oC.

Did you receive a letter in the mail? Find out why your property is shown as potentially flood-prone.

Local flooding outside a property in KāpitiHow we use flood models

We use flood hazard modelling to help determine the likely impact of extreme rainfall on our local drainage and stormwater networks and streams, and associated flooding should these systems become overwhelmed. 

The updated flood models will help us plan and prioritise stormwater upgrades, make more informed planning and development decisions, assist with emergency management planning, and provide residents with local flood risk insights.

These draft models don’t replace the existing rules in Council’s operative District Plan. A flood hazard plan change would require a separate public process under the Resource Management Act.

About our new draft flood maps

Our updated maps model potential impacts from a major rainfall event that has a one percent chance of occurring in any year (often referred to as a 1-in-100-year storm). They show a 100-year rainfall event under current climate conditions, and climate change +1.8oC and +3.7oC scenarios.

Together these scenarios provide us with an understanding of potential flood risks, both in the present and having regard to potential climate change. These scenarios will enable us to plan and respond effectively to whatever the future brings. The range of climate scenarios gives an envelope of impact, where we finally land with respect to climate change will likely fall somewhere between current climate and 3.7oC of warming.

Our draft maps are more refined than our current maps, which means they pick up more ground-level detail. They also include areas we haven’t modelled before and reflect major infrastructure projects such as stormwater network upgrades and State Highway 1 improvements including the Kāpiti Expressway and Transmission Gully.

How you can have your say

We're asking for your feedback on our draft flood maps to ensure they accurately reflect local flood behaviour, ground features, and built infrastructure.

Screenshot of the Flood Model Update Storymap showing title and section of a flood mapStep 1: Explore our StoryMap

Everything you need to know can be found on our StoryMap. It outlines in more detail the history of flooding in our district, explains the evolution of flood modelling, and details how our updated model was built. Learn how to use our Maps Portal where you can compare new flood maps with existing District Plan maps.

Learn more on our StoryMap


Screenshot of the Maps Portal showing a flood map Step 2: View your property on our Maps Portal

Search for specific properties and see how 100-year rainfall events under current climate conditions, and climate change +1.8oC and +3.7oC impact your property and areas of interest on our Maps portal. You can see how different climate change scenarios might affect flooding depths and extents in the future and switch on contour information under the 'Map Layers' button, to better understand the relationship of local topography with flood risks. In addition to helping us refine the model, the Map Portal will provide useful information to help you make informed decisions about your property.

Please note: These flood maps provide preliminary detail on how water moves across the landscape than previous maps. We’ve filtered out some minor features (depths <50mm) to focus on more significant flooding. Please let us know if you notice any inconsistencies in the maps before the consultation closes on Sunday 8 June 2025.

Search your property on our Maps Portal


Step 3: Register for our webinar on Wednesday 7 May, 5.30–6.30pm

Join us for our free online webinar where we'll discuss flood modelling and what it's used for and show you how to view the flood maps and what to look for. Your input is an important part of reviewing the maps before we finalise the modelling behind them.

Please submit any questions you may have ahead of our webinar for us to consider. You'll also be able to ask questions live using the Q&A feature during the webinar, but with limited time, we may not be able to answer all of them. We'll keep updating our frequently asked questions throughout the consultation period.

Register for the webinar


Step 4: Share information that will help us refine the maps before we finalise them

Useful information that will help us refine the maps includes:

  • historic flood photos: share pictures of past flooding on or near your property (including date, time and location)
  • land features not in the model: let us know about buildings, retaining walls or private drains on your property that the model may not reflect.
  • certified ground surveys: if you believe our model has the wrong ground-level data for your property, a recent certified survey may be needed.
    Contact our Stormwater and Assets team by emailing flooding@kapiticoast.govt.nz or calling 0800 486 486 before arranging a survey to learn more about this process.

If you believe the maps don’t match what you see on your property or local areas of interest, you can share this information with us by:

It may take us some time to work through all the responses and we'll be in touch if there is a need or when we have an update.

Feedback closes at 11.59pm Sunday 8 June 2025.

Share your feedback



Need more info or assistance?

Greater Wellington Regional Council flood maps and models

Please note, Greater Wellington Regional Council (GW) is currently updating their flood model for major rivers and streams. Their process differs to ours where they will test their models based on historic river flood events for the Ōtaki, Waitohu, Mangaone, Mangapouri and Waikanae catchments. For more information on GW’s project visit haveyoursay.gw.govt.nz

What happens next?

Once this engagement closes, Council will: 

  1. Review all feedback provided.
  2. Where new evidence indicates a need, we’ll adjust the flood model or map details. 
  3. Report to Council a summary of changes – and any implications.
  4. Publish final maps. Updated maps will appear on our online mapping portal, ensuring the public has access to the most accurate information possible. This may include the latest LiDAR information.
  5. Eventually we’ll use the maps to inform decisions about stormwater upgrades.

In the future, Council will update the Kāpiti Coast District Plan to reflect the finalised flood model, including the updated flood mapping of major rivers and streams currently being prepared by Greater Wellington Regional Council. The separate plan change process will include its own public consultation, in accordance with the requirements of the Resource Management Act (RMA). 


Keen to stay updated? Register to join the conversation, and sign up for Everything Kāpiti, to get the latest on what's happening across our district straight to your inbox – including events, grant funding opportunities, and other ways you can get involved.

Ask a question

Please read our frequently asked questions. If you have a question that we haven't covered, you can ask us here and we'll do our best to respond as soon as possible. Please be concise and respectful in asking questions as they'll be available for everyone to see. Some answers may take a bit longer to get the details right.  

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Page last updated: 02 May 2025, 03:53 PM