TrapBag Solutions in New Zealand
Rapid-Deployment Flood Barriers
Emergency response crews can deploy TrapBag® for flood protection in a fraction of the time needed for traditional sandbags. Designed to withstand immense water pressure and wave action, these rapid-deployment barriers keep floodwaters away from vulnerable infrastructure and out of neighbourhoods and natural areas.
For city- and county-level organisations throughout New Zealand, TrapBag® is a stronger, faster approach to flood protection when every second counts.
Learn More »Erosion Control
Climate change, rising sea levels, agricultural activity, and human intervention have put New Zealand’s coastlines and riverbanks at risk of washing away. While erosion is a natural process, human activity has exacerbated it to the point where homes and infrastructure are at risk.
TrapBag® erosion barriers preserve vulnerable riverbanks and protect coastal areas from Paihia to Dunedin.
Learn More »Mudslide Diversion
When filled with concrete or other heavy materials, TrapBag® barriers can divert devastating mudflows away from vulnerable communities and buildings in vulnerable areas on the North and South Islands.
Learn More »Projects
Who We Serve In New Zealand
We serve multiple industries in New Zealand with our property, environment, and life-saving barriers.
Emergency Management Crews
Every second counts during a flooding, landslide, or mudflow event. Emergency management crews trust TrapBag® to provide protection where other solutions cannot. These barriers can be deployed in hours instead of days, while offering better defence than traditional sandbags.
Learn More »Environmental Protection Projects
Aotearoa New Zealand’s coastal and freshwater ecosystems are at risk of being forever damaged or destroyed. Environmental protection groups use TrapBag® to protect areas undergoing restoration during severe flooding events.
Learn More »Construction & Infrastructure Projects
TrapBag® is just as good at keeping water in as it is at keeping water out. Construction companies worldwide have used it to comply with local stormwater and runoff detention regulations by forming the barriers into a detention pool or pond.
Learn More »Coastal & Civil Engineers
Coastal roadways, water treatment centres, and other infrastructure are vulnerable to damage during shoreline flooding events. TrapBag® is a safe, cost-effective way to protect these structures and prevent catastrophic damage.
Learn More »Marine Services
TrapBag® has the weight and durability to withstand wave action from inland bodies of water and the ocean alike. It can keep water out during harbor construction projects and minimize the effects of erosion on ports, marinas, and offshore structures.
Learn More »What's At Stake?
Worsening River & Urban Floods
New Zealand’s river systems are prone to increasingly severe flooding due to rapid snowmelt and extreme rainfall. Urban areas from Auckland to Christchurch are facing more frequent overwhelming stormwater pressure that causes drainage systems to overflow. This puts homes, infrastructure, pastures, and natural areas at risk.
Habitat Loss
Native wetlands and coastal dunes in Aotearoa New Zealand protect cities and neighborhoods from flooding. However, without proper intervention, persistent erosion and flood damage from storms could threaten endangered and endemic flora and fauna.
Devastating Mudflows & Lahars
New Zealand is uniquely vulnerable to mudflows and lahars due to rain, seismic activity, and volcanic eruptions. TrapBag® barriers can help divert mudflows when filled with concrete and save lives and property.
Why Choose TrapBag®?
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Fast Deployment
A team of two individuals and a third person operating a skid steer or backhoe can complete a 100-foot (approximately 30-metre) TrapBag barrier within an hour. This gives emergency crews more time to get others or themselves to safety during a flood emergency.
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Reliable Strength
TrapBag uses geotextile technology to hold back tons of water pressure and keep people and properties safe. Each cell supports its neighbours when you fill it with sand or washed gravel.
This also helps it withstand localized damage if a single cell is compromised, unlike traditional sandbag walls, which can collapse altogether and cost millions in damage.
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Efficient Design
Every TrapBag® flood barrier cell is engineered with a pentagonal shape that concentrates 60% of its mass in the bottom half. It enables faster, less labour-intensive installation when time is running short and weather conditions are challenging.
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Tried & Tested
Over 1,000 miles of TrapBag® barriers have been installed worldwide as a form of erosion control and flood protection. Tested by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and trusted by state and municipal governments worldwide, they are a proven system for protecting neighbourhoods and towns throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand from flood disasters.
How TrapBag Compares to:
Sandbags have been used as a method of repelling floodwaters for thousands of years. However, they’re labour-intensive and have a high margin of error compared to improved systems like TrapBag®.
These barriers are designed to be filled with water and have enough weight and pressure to divert floodwaters from vulnerable buildings. However, most water barriers aren’t more than a few feet tall and can’t withstand wave action.
TrapBag barriers start at 1.2 meters tall and can be stacked on top of each other during major flooding events. Their solid fill design provides stability and resilience in the face of wave action and rapids.
Flood walls and floodgates are frequently used in low-lying or flood-prone areas in New Zealand to protect at-risk locations from flood damage. While some are permanent, others are temporary and used during short-term emergencies. However, they can also be costly and challenging to implement on time.
TrapBag® offers a more affordable, flexible alternative for temporary or permanent flood protection.
