Stormwater 2023 - latest conference update, see our draft submission on PFAS management, read about options for managed retreat, as well as plenty of training and development opportunities
Member ID
WNZ006
Category
WNZ Staff
Latest Updates
Cyclone Gabrielle
Once again, our thoughts are with our members, other colleagues and residents battling against flood waters and storm damage. It’s been a very tough start to 2023 and it's particularly difficult to see such devastation so close to home. These weather events also highlight the need for more focus on stormwater and floodwater management as an increase in the frequency and intensity of major storms is inevitable. Kia kaha.
Register now for great Earlybird Deals
Join more than 400 professionals with an interest in sharing ideas and learning how to create a healthy, liveable water resilient future.
Find out the latest in innovation, best practice and meeting the aspirations of Te Mana o te Wai.
At Stormwater 2023 you’ll learn about the latest cutting-edge stormwater information, science and management, create business opportunities and network with peers.
Designing to Support the ‘Nature’ in Nature-Based Solutions
22 May | 9 am – 12:30pm
This workshop will provide background and oversight of what Nature Based Solutions comprise and how these can be delivered to support community and ecological resilience and support the aspirations of Tangata Whenua for freshwater.
Designing and Building Safe, Economic, Functioning and Maintainable Green Stormwater Infrastructure
22 May | 1 - 4:30pm
This workshop will use case studies to illustrate some of the common issues identified in vested assets - raingardens, ponds and wetlands along with design and construction solutions to avoid expensive remedial works and to improve safety.
These workshops have been designed to be complementary to each other as well as the site visits.
These awards celebrate excellence in stormwater practice, technical writing and outstanding commitment. They recognise people who are at the very top of their field or just starting out.
Stormwater Innovation Presentation and Award
Celebrate and acknowledge new ways of thinking or doing - aimed at improving stormwater outcomes across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Do you have a project, process or innovative solution you’d like to share with an audience of stormwater professionals?
Do you or your colleagues deserve recognition for outstanding contribution to the stormwater sector? Make sure you enter in one of the following two categories:
Aurecon Stormwater Professional of the Year and Beca Young Stormwater Professional of the Year
Winners will be announced at the Stantec Conference Dinner on Wednesday May 24.
Entries and nominations close on Thursday, 20 April.
The Call for Abstracts for Stormwater 2023 is now closed
Thank you to everyone who provided an abstract. We had an overwhelming number of very high calibre papers presented. Our technical committee now has the hugely important task of going through the proposals and later this month we'll be letting applicants know if they've been successful. The programme is expected to be released shortly.
Water New Zealand Conference & Expo 2023 - Save the Date
October 17 - 19, Tākina, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington
This year the biggest event on the water sector calendar will be held in Wellington - for the first time in more than two decades!
We look forward to welcoming you to the brand new Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre in the heart of the capital. This is looking to be a great venue and our expo sites will be going on sale later this month. We hope to have the website live in the next week or so and the call for abstracts will go out in early March.
LGOIMA amendment provides for better hazard information
In our submission on the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Amendment Bill, Water New Zealand supported the objectives of the amendments:
ensuring that LIMs provide natural hazard information to property buyers that is clear, concise, nationally consistent in its presentation, and easily understood.
providing certainty for local authorities about sharing natural hazard information in LIMs and reducing exposure to legal liability.
The LGOIMA amendments, supported by wider Government initiatives, will enable clear, concise, nationally consistent hazard information to be included on LIMs.
New Taumata Arowai chief executive Allan Prangnell, along with colleagues Noah Hensley, Melinda Sando and Rachel East spoke at a Water New Zealand webinar this week about Drinking Water Safety Plans, exemptions and incidents and responses.
PFAS National Environmental Management Plan submission
The National per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) National Environmental Management Plan (PFAS NEMP) version 3.0 is now open for public consultation. It proposes changes to the investigation, assessment, and management of PFAS in wastewater, biosolids, tradewaste and the environment.
Water New Zealand has drafted a submission on the NEMP changes and is now seeking members feedback. Read our draft submission here.
Entity A Iwi Regional Representative Group officially named and launched
Waipuna aa rangi has been officially launched.More than 200 people from Northland and Auckland had planned to gather in the Waitangi Treaty Grounds’ as part of the formal launching of Water Service Entity A’s iwi regional representative group. However, organisers postponed the event until further notice due to the extreme weather in the north.
The National Transition Unit is keen to hear the views of the sector on the transfer of assets and liabilities, in particular unanswered questions and other matters not covered by the principles.
Comments on the Water Services Legislation Bill are best directed to the Select Committee but there is also an opportunity to provide feed back through a short survey.
Water Legislation and Economic Efficiency Bills
Consultation is about to close on the Water Services Legislation Bill and the Water Services Economic Efficiency and Consumer Protection Bill are open for consultation.
Thank you to members who attended our recent webinars on the two bills. We will be submitting our final comments tomorrow Friday, February 17 (we have been granted an extension) and they will then be available on our website.
Review into the Future for Local Government Draft report submission
Submissions are invited on the draft report, He mata whāriki, he matawhanui. We have some water related suggestions and commentary. Read our draft submission here.
If you have any feedback please contact nicci.wood@waternz.org.nz before Friday 24 February.
Groundwater research
The groundwater team at ESR is working closely with regional councils and the on-site wastewater industry to assess the impact of On-site Wastewater Management Systems (OWMS) on public health and the environment, in particular on groundwater quality.
Project Leader Dr Louise Weaver says that instead of a ‘flush and forget’ mentality, ESR is hoping to shine a light on the risks associated with on-site wastewater.
EDS releases first working paper on managed retreat law
The Environmental Defence Society has released its first working paper as part of its Aotearoa New Zealand’s Climate Change Adaptation Act: Building a Durable Future project. The project is focused on developing recommendations for the content of the new Climate Adaptation Act, now taking on more urgency given recent climate-related disasters in Auckland and Tairāwhiti.
Bemused by the political furore, nay fury, Newsroom's Nikki Mandow went hunting for examples of shared governance in action.
“If you want to break down Three Waters, it’s pretty simple. We want to be able to drink the water, we want to make sure the storm water is going out, and so on. And like what we are doing with Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance, it’s about thinking big, not getting into silos – this little council, this little iwi, says Alliance co-chair David Johnston.
Water New Zealand CEO Gillian Blythe says it's vital that the focus remains firmly on the need to invest in water infrastructure. PM Chris Hipkins has said that the need for reform is unquestionable but that careful consideration is required.
Gillian told NewstalkZB's Kate Hawkesby that the longer we delay investment, the harder it will get and the more complex it will be.
Underwater imaging sonars are an essential technology for ocean exploration, and increasingly inspiration for new devices is coming from marine mammals such as dolphins.
Whānganui river Māori offer support in Colorado River crisis talks
A delegation of Whanganui River Māori is travelling to the United States to support North American Indigenous leaders and tribes of the under-threat Colorado River.
Fourteen young water professionals (YWPs) from around the world are on their way to New York after being selected to take part in the United Nations 2023 Water Conference, taking place on 22-24 March.
Registrations for our upcoming module in March have now sold out. However, you can now register for May - June. This is an extremely popular course. It is run over eight zoom sessions and is designed to help you deepen your collective understanding of connections and interdependencies of wai (water) through a Te Ao Māori lens.
‘Ka ora te wai, ka ora te whenua, ka ora ngā tāngata’ ‘If the water is healthy, the land is healthy, the people are healthy’.
The Drinking Water 201 Digital Badge is a follow on from the Drinking Water 101 or for those who have a basic knowledge of drinking water and want to further their professional development.
Te Kuru Wetland Stormwater and Flood Management Facility Site Visit
21 February | 5.30 - 7.30 pm
Ōtautahi Christchurch
This site showcases Christchurch City Council’s six values approach to surface water management, addressing not only drainage issues, but also enhancing cultural, ecological, recreation, landscape and heritage values.
Transforming the Industry - joint Stormwater, Modelling and SWIG event
22 February | 5.30 - 7.30 pm
Kirikiriroa Hamilton
Agenda includes competency and training, young water professionals in the industry of change, using models to predict damage and digital transformation of the asset planning cycle.
This programme has been designed to identify a framework to raise awareness, learning and development pathways and ultimately drive recruitment and attraction strategies to assure river management expertise for the future.
Water service providers can learn whether they are managing assets that are classifiable dams covered by the regulations and can familiarise themselves with relevant compliance requirements.
Following the 14 February meeting where DIA NTU presented the high level organisational design for the Water Services Entities, this session will provide an opportunity for you to provide feedback. If you are a WUA member, you may like to note the dates and times for the next series of WUA webinar and Face to Face meetings.
We seek an experienced Water Operations Engineer to join our team based in Balclutha. Technically, the work provides great opportunities across the Three Waters of water, wastewater, and stormwater.
In this role you will work alongside a small close-knit team that operates the Invercargill Water Treatment Plant (Branxholme) and associated Reservoirs and Pumping stations in an efficient, safe and environmentally responsible manner.
We have a vacancy for Three Waters Production Manager to oversee the safe and effective operation of the water and wastewater treatment plants at New Plymouth District Council.
Are you looking for a challenging and varied leadership role which makes a direct contribution to protecting the environment and the community's health and prosperity?
