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Northland region

Water Quantity

Northland has an extensive network of rivers and streams with over 1,400 individual source to sea catchments.   Northland's narrow land mass means most rivers are relatively small and short run catchments reflecting the varying topography and geology.   Northland has relatively high rainfall during the autumn and winter, with prolonged dry spells during summer.   This seasonal rainfall can lead to very low flows in smaller catchments while other catchments maintain a  relatively high base flows due to groundwater.  Northland's rivers and streams provide habitat for a range of indigenous flora and fauna, as well as being an important water supply for communities, horticulture, agricultural, and industrial demands.

Several of Northland’s catchments have relatively high levels of allocation for a variety of consumptive uses.  The Council is required to balance demand for water resources with the need to safeguard the life-supporting capacity of aquatic ecosystems and provide for other important environmental bottom lines.  Historically the Council has had policy requiring maintenance of instream flow, however this policy is not absolute and lesser flows have been regularly set.  The current plan has no allocation limits.  The Council’s Water and Soil Plan is currently being reviewed and through this process the absence of limits will be addressed along with ensuring compliance with the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.

Regional Summary
Water quantity data in this region

Regional councils collect information about how much water is available and manage resource consents for those wishing to take water from rivers or groundwater supplies. Use the buttons below to view regional information on: how much water is available, where it comes from and how its used.

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Rainfall {{waterAvailable.rainfall}} Runoff to sea {{waterAvailable.runoff}} Groundwater available: {{waterSource.groundwater}}
{{waterSource.groundwaterPercentAvailable}}% of total available Surface Water available: {{waterSource.surfacewater}}
{{waterSource.surfacewaterPercentAvailable}}% of total available Irrigation
{{waterUsage.irrigationLabel}} Industrial
{{waterUsage.industrialLabel}} Stock
{{waterUsage.stockLabel}} Hydroelectrical
{{waterUsage.hydroLabel}} Town supply
{{waterUsage.drinkingLabel}}
  • How much water is there in this region?

    Rainfall and runoff in this region

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    Rainfall and runoff

    Relative Volume Source Volume
    Rainfall total:
    {{waterAvailable.rainfall }}
         		rainfall Rainfall Total {{waterAvailable.rainfall}}
    Runoff total:
    {{waterAvailable.runoff }}
         		runoff Runoff to sea {{waterAvailable.runoff}}

    The table above shows the average amount of rainfall the region receives each year and how much of that flows out to sea. These are approximate figures only.

  • Water consents: where does water come from?

    The split between surface water and groundwater

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    Consented water by source

    Relative volumes
    Amount available to consent Surface water:
    {{waterSource.surfacewater}}
    available to consent         Groundwater:
    {{waterSource.groundwater}}
    available to consent
    Volume consented Surface water:
    {{surfaceWaterConsented()}}
    volume consented         Groundwater:
    {{groundwaterConsented()}}
    volume consented
    Source Amount available to consent Volume consented Consented as a percentage of available
    surface water ground water {{item.source}} {{item.amountAvailable}} {{item.volumeConsented}} {{item.percentageConsented}}
    {{waterSource.total.source}} {{waterSource.total.amountAvailable}} {{waterSource.total.volumeConsented}} {{waterSource.total.percentageConsented}}

    The table above shows how much water is available to use compared with the amount that is actually consented for use. It also shows how much of this water is surface water and how much is groundwater.

    The Northland Regional Council is in the process of establishing allocation limits.  Until such time as allocation limits are set, water availability can not be accurately reported.

  • Water consents: How is water used?

    Consents by use in this region

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    Annual consented water use by type

    Overall annual volume for {{waterAvailable.year}}
    Relative breakdown
    Activity Percentage of total consented Total volume Number of consents
    {{item.displayText}} {{item.displayText}} - - No data available {{item.breakdownPercentage}}% {{item.totalVolume}} {{item.numberOfConsents}}
    Total {{waterUsage.total.percentageConsented}}% {{waterUsage.total.totalVolume}} {{waterUsage.total.numberOfConsents}}

    The above table shows the proportion of water consented for irrigation, industrial, stock, town supply and other. It excludes hydro electricity. In this region/management zone {{hydroUsage.totalVolume}}/year is consented for hydro-electricity and makes up {{hydroUsage.percentageConsented}}% of the total water volume consented for this region/management zone

    Please Note:  The Northland Regional Council is in the process of updating their reporting services.  Until such time annual figures will differ from  their SoE report.

    Consents displaying 1111.00 m3/year (map on left handside), are being used as placeholders until such data is updated via the new reporting services in the near future.

 Surface Water Zones
Surface Water zones in the Northland region

Select the water management zone you'd like to see information on by clicking the buttons below or navigate using the map.

Ahuroa

1 Site
Awakino

0 Sites
Awanui

9 Sites
Bay of Islands

1 Site
Bream Bay-Mangawhai

0 Sites
Doubtless Bay

0 Sites
East Coast Aupouri

2 Sites
Hakaru

1 Site
Hatea

2 Sites
Hikuranga

1 Site
Horahora

0 Sites
Inner Hokianga

2 Sites
Kaipara Harbour

4 Sites
Kapiro

0 Sites
Kawakawa

4 Sites
Kerikeri

2 Sites
Kirikiri

0 Sites
Kirikopuni

0 Sites
Lower Kaihu

0 Sites
Lower Manganui

0 Sites
Lower Purua

2 Sites
Lower Wairua

0 Sites
Lower West Coast

4 Sites
Mangahahuru

0 Sites
Mangakahia

3 Sites
Manganui

1 Site
Mangere

1 Site
Mill Brook

0 Sites
Molesworth

0 Sites
Morningside

0 Sites
North

1 Site
Northern Wairoa

0 Sites
Oruati

0 Sites
Oruru

1 Site
Otaika

2 Sites
Parapara

0 Sites
Raumanga

1 Site
Ruakaka

2 Sites
Tangowahine

0 Sites
Tauraroa

0 Sites
Te Waiiti

0 Sites
Tutukaka Coast

1 Site
Upper Kaihu

2 Sites
Waiariki

0 Sites
Waiarohia

3 Sites
Waihoihoi

2 Sites
Waikare

0 Sites
Waima

1 Site
Waionehu

0 Sites
Waiotama

0 Sites
Waiotu

1 Site
Waipao

1 Site
Wairoa

0 Sites
Wairua Bridge

0 Sites
Waitangi

5 Sites
West Coast Aupouri

0 Sites
Whakanekeneke

0 Sites
Whakapara

2 Sites
Whangapae-Herekino

1 Site
Whangarei Harbour

1 Site
Whangaroa South

1 Site
Groundwater Zones
Groundwater management zones in the Northland region

Select the groundwater management zone you'd like to see information on by clicking the buttons below or navigate using the map.

Aupouri-Ahipara GW

0 Sites
Aupouri-Awanui GW

0 Sites
Aupouri-Houhora GW

0 Sites
Aupouri-Motutangi GW

0 Sites
Aupouri-Other GW

0 Sites
Aupouri-Paparore GW

0 Sites
Aupouri-Sweetwater GW

1 Site
Aupouri-Waihopo GW

0 Sites
Aupouri-Waipapakauri GW

0 Sites
Aupouri-Waiparera GW

0 Sites
Bland Bay GW

0 Sites
Church Bay GW

0 Sites
Coastal Strip GW

0 Sites
Coopers / Cable GW

0 Sites
Glenbervie GW

0 Sites
Kaikohe GW

0 Sites
Kerikeri GW

0 Sites
Kowharewa GW

0 Sites
Mangawhai Heads GW

3 Sites
Mangawhai South GW

0 Sites
Mangawhai West GW

0 Sites
Ruakaka GW

0 Sites
Matapouri North GW

0 Sites
Matapouri South GW

0 Sites
Matarau GW

0 Sites
Matauri Bay GW

0 Sites
Maungakaramea GW

0 Sites
Maunu East GW

1 Site
Maunu North GW

0 Sites
Maungatapere GW

0 Sites
Moerewa GW

0 Sites
Moureeses Bay GW

0 Sites
Ngunguru GW

1 Site
Ohawini Bay GW

0 Sites
Okaihau GW

0 Sites
Otehei Bay GW

0 Sites
Other GW

0 Sites
Pakaraka East GW

0 Sites
Pakaraka West GW

0 Sites
Oakura Bay GW

0 Sites
Pataua North GW

1 Site
Pataua South GW

0 Sites
Puketotara GW

0 Sites
Ruawai GW

0 Sites
Russell GW

1 Site
Sandy Bay GW

0 Sites
Taiharuru Bay GW

0 Sites
Taipa GW

1 Site
Tapeka Point GW

0 Sites
Tara GW

1 Site
Taupo Bay GW

0 Sites
Tauranga Bay GW

0 Sites
Te Ngaire Bay GW

0 Sites
Teal Bay GW

0 Sites
Three Mile Bush GW

0 Sites
Urupukapuka Bay GW

0 Sites
Waimate GW

0 Sites
Whatitiri GW

0 Sites
Wairoa GW

0 Sites
Whananaki North GW

0 Sites
Whananaki South GW

0 Sites
Whangaumu Bay GW

0 Sites
Whatitiri South GW

0 Sites
Whatitiri West GW

0 Sites
Woolleys Bay GW

0 Sites

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