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Whakatāne, Bay of Plenty

Roofing help in WhakatāneA river mouth, a surf beach and an active volcano offshore.

Whakatāne roofs sit between a tidal river mouth, the surf at Ōhope and an active volcano out in the bay, so salt, ash and the odd earthquake all belong in the conversation about your roof. Most jobs are still the everyday ones: leaks, spouting, tired paint and re-roofs on older homes. Tell us what's going on and we'll find a roofer who covers Whakatāne and specialises in that job if we have one, and say so straight away if we don't.

Find a specialist roofer in Whakatāne

  1. Your postcode and three quick questions
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  3. They call you to arrange a quote. No obligation to go ahead.
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What's different about roofs in Whakatāne

The river mouth counts as coast

NZS 3604, as quoted by MBIE, puts homes within 500 m of the sea, or within 100 m of a tidal estuary or sheltered inlet, in exposure zone D, the high sea-spray band. That can take in streets near the Whakatāne River mouth as well as the beachfront. MBIE has also noted the BRANZ zone maps are a guide only and can be conservative around estuaries, so the zone should be checked for your site rather than read off a map.

Surf at Ōhope

E2/AS1 adds a harsher zone E for beachfronts with breaking surf. BRANZ says homes close to surf beaches need more frequent maintenance, especially washing salt off, and its testing found ocean winds can carry salt more than 20 km inland. Salt doesn't stop at the dunes, so homes well back from Ōhope still benefit from a rinse of sheltered spots now and then.

Whakaari and volcanic ash

Whakaari/White Island is an active volcano. Auckland Emergency Management's ash guidance, which applies just as well here, says ash is much heavier than people expect, that you should disconnect downpipes from the spouting and disconnect rainwater tanks if an eruption is forecast, and that nobody should clear ash off a roof while it's still falling.

Earthquakes and old brick chimneys

The Bay of Plenty sits along a fault line and gets infrequent seismic activity. The Natural Hazards Commission (NHC) says homes built before 1970 most likely have unreinforced brick or masonry chimneys, and its safest option is removing an old chimney right down to floor level, or swapping the part above the roof for a lighter metal flue if you still use it. Removal may need a building consent.

Heavy tiles in a shaky region

NHC's Quake Safe Your Home guide says a single roof tile can weigh up to 4.5 kg. It suggests replacing concrete or slate tiles with lighter roofing such as corrugated iron or metal tiles, or at least making sure tiles are well secured to the framing. If you're re-roofing anyway, that's worth weighing up.

The jobs that usually come up in Whakatāne

Leaks and storm damage are the everyday calls; our roof repairs page explains what a roofer checks. Salt and sun wear out spouting (gutters) and coatings near the coast, which is where roof painting earns its keep on a sound roof.

Older homes bring two specific jobs. Chimney removal for unused brick chimneys, and asbestos checks before any work, because WorkSafe says a home built before 1 January 2000 may contain asbestos. Our asbestos guide explains how to find out, and if the roof is past saving, re-roofing covers the next step.

Ash, quakes and your insurance

If your home policy includes fire cover, you automatically have NHC cover. It insures your home against volcanic activity, earthquake, landslide and hydrothermal activity, among others. After a storm or flood, though, NHC covers only your land, and your private insurer covers the house.

To claim, contact your insurer, who usually manages the NHC part too. You have up to two years, but NHC encourages claiming within three months, because a long delay can affect the assessment.

After an earthquake or ashfall

Don't go up a ladder or onto the roof to check damage or clear ash. A cracked chimney can come down in an aftershock, so keep people away from the ground around it and stay out of rooms where the ceiling is cracked or sagging. Take photos from a safe distance and contact your insurer.

What we'd do in Whakatāne

If the house has an old brick chimney you no longer use, we'd have it taken down rather than wait for the next shake, after checking with the council whether it needs a consent. Near the river mouth or the beach, we'd ask the roofer to confirm the exposure zone in writing before choosing roofing, spouting or fixings. And we'd make sure everyone in the house knows how to disconnect the downpipes from the spouting in case an eruption is ever forecast.

Want a roofer to take a look?

Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.

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How we fit in

We don't do roofing work. You tell us the job and your street, and we pass it to one checked roofer who covers Whakatāne and does that kind of work. Whakatāne is smaller than Tauranga or Rotorua, so the roofer may travel in from further out; ask whether travel is charged, and how they'd handle a follow-up visit.

Building consents for homes here come from Whakatāne District Council.

Questions

Straight answers.

Is volcanic ash damage to my roof covered?
Damage from volcanic activity is part of NHC cover, which comes with any home policy that includes fire cover. Contact your insurer to claim, ideally within three months. We can't promise how a claim will turn out.
Do I have to remove an old chimney?
Not as a rule. NHC recommends it for unreinforced brick or masonry chimneys, which most homes built before 1970 have. Ask the council whether your removal needs a consent before work starts.
Is my house in a sea-spray zone?
If it's within 500 m of the sea, or 100 m of a tidal estuary, it's likely zone D, and surf beachfronts can be zone E. The maps are a guide only, so have your roofer confirm it for your site.

Ready for a roofer to look at it in Whakatāne?

Your postcode and three quick questions. We match you with a local roofer who specialises in your job, and tell you straight away if we don't have one near you.

Related help

Helpful next

Roofers in Bay of PlentySea spray, geothermal air, storms and volcanoes across the Bay, plus councils and consent.Chimney removalTaking an old brick chimney down safely, closing up the roof, and the consent and character rules to check first.Chimneys, earthquakes and when to remove oneWhy old brick chimneys fall in quakes, your options, and the consent and character rules.The Natural Hazards Commission and your roofWhat EQC became, what it covers for a damaged roof, the cap, the excess and how to lodge a claim.Spouting (gutters)Repair or replace, PVC or steel, which profile, and what a good spouting quote should spell out.Is my roof asbestos?The age clue, the materials to watch and how testing works, before anyone touches the roof.

Where this information comes from

Every fact and rule on this page comes from the sources above, checked on the dates shown. How we write and check these pages.

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