August 2026
The fish-friendly Archimedes screw pump at Manly Street is now operating, Manly Street has reopened and landscaping around the pump station is complete. Design work is underway for the next stage between the pump station and the Kenakena shops.
Background
We’re improving the stormwater network in and around Te Atiawa Stream in Paraparaumu to reduce the risk of flooding in the Kenakena catchment.
Kenakena Screw Pump
Why this work is needed
The Kenakena stormwater catchment drains into Te Atiawa Stream, which flows through a culvert beneath Manly Street and into the Waikanae Estuary Scientific Reserve.
During heavy rain, stormwater can build up and cause flooding on nearby roads and properties. This is partly due to restrictions within the stream and stormwater network, including undersized pipes and culverts that need more capacity to manage increasingly frequent and intense rainfall.
The wider project is designed to improve the neighbourhood’s resilience and enhance environmental conditions within the stream.
What we have completed
The first two phases of the Kenakena stormwater upgrade are now complete.
Work has included:
- constructing the new pump station on Manly Street
- installing and commissioning a fish-friendly Archimedes screw pump
- completing associated culvert and stormwater improvements under Manly Street
- installing a separate upstream fish passage
- completing landscaping around the pump station.
The new pump is now operating and works alongside the upgraded stormwater infrastructure to help water drain away more effectively. This reduces ponding and the risk of flooding in the Kenakena catchment.
How the pump works
The Archimedes screw pump rotates slowly, lifting water from Te Atiawa Stream to the level of the Waikanae Estuary. It will operate for set periods during normal conditions and run for longer when there is heavy rain.
Lowering the usual water level in the stream creates more room for stormwater during wet weather. It also helps lower the surrounding water table, allowing water to drain away more easily.
The pump configuration provides flexibility to manage larger rainfall events as conditions and needs change over time.
Helping our native fish
The pump has been designed to allow shortfin eel, longfin eel and common bully to travel downstream without being harmed.
A separate fish passage has also been installed to help fish make their way upstream, supporting their movement through the stream and their natural lifecycle.
What happens next
Design work is underway for the next stage of the project, covering the area between the Manly Street pump station and the Kenakena shops.
This stage is expected to include:
- improvements to Te Atiawa Stream
- an upgrade to the culvert beneath Mazengarb Road
- further improvements to fish passage and habitat
- additional stormwater network upgrades where required.
- More information about the scope and timing of this work will be shared as the design progresses.
Project progress
- Site establishment and service relocations at Manly Street: Complete
- Pump station foundations and walls constructed: Complete
- Archimedes screw pump installed and commissioned: Complete
- Fish passage installed: Complete
- Landscaping site: Complete
- Stream improvements between Manly Street Pump Station and the Kenakena shops and Mazengarb Road culvert upgrade is in design with build expected this financial year
Landscape view of the Kenakena pump station and surrounding planting.