Council endorses Closed Landfill Management Plan, another step forward
Published on September 12, 2025
Horowhenua District Council has endorsed in principle a plan setting out how the Levin closed landfill will be managed over the next 30 years.
The Levin Closed Landfill Management Plan confirms that the site on Hōkio Beach Road, which was closed in May 2023, will remain permanently closed. The plan outlines how Council will continue to manage the site and address long-term environmental risks.
While Council unanimously decided to close the Levin Landfill in May 2023, adopting the plan sends another strong signal to the Hōkio community. Alongside the Long-Term Plan 2024–2044 and other Council strategies and policies, it makes clear that the landfill’s closure is firmly embedded in the future of our District.
One of the key challenges is leachate – the liquid that forms when rainwater flows through old waste. While testing and monitoring to date have shown no apparent effects on the Hōkio Stream, Council acknowledges the community’s concerns and is committed to ongoing monitoring and transparent reporting, and to doing right by the environment and the community of Hōkio.
Horowhenua District Council Chief Executive Monique Davidson acknowledged the significant role of iwi partners Ngāti Pareraukawa and Muaūpoko Tribal Authority, alongside key community partners such as the Project Management Group and Neighbourhood Liaison Group.
“I want to acknowledge the many voices who have been part of this journey. Managing the closed landfill is not just about technical solutions – it's about honouring the concerns and aspirations of our iwi partners and community. We’ve had multiple rounds of feedback in the past year, and your voices will continue to guide the path ahead,” said Davidson.
Council officers will now consider expert advice alongside iwi and community perspectives to recommend specific actions later this year. These could include leachate treatment options, comprehensive engineered capping of the landfill and purchasing adjoining land to create a wetland that further protects the environment. Officers will report back to Council in December 2025.
The Levin Closed Landfill Management Plan is a living document. It will continue to evolve, reflecting new information, technology, and community input as we work together to protect Hōkio Stream and the surrounding environment for future generations.