See the latest edition of Water online, our Water New Zealand 2023 events – what you need to know now, and get a good deal to OzWater.
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Latest Updates
Latest updates - New edition of Water out now, Modelling Symposium underway, Stormwater 2023 Earlybirds closing, Drinking Water Protection Conference brought to you by the Water New Zealand Backflow Group Call for Abstracts, Water New Zealand Conference and Expo Call for Abstracts, and Conference Awards, Ozwater deals, World Water Day next week, latest Tāwara o te Wai, Allan Prangnell - ask me anything, do you want us to submit to the EPA on POPs? And more
News - Modelling for an uncertain water future, Stronger protections needed for drinking water, Aucklanders set to pay more for water, New Wellington Water boss says reforms must happen
Events - Water Sector in 2050 – establishing a transformation vision, Water New Zealand's Digital Badges, YWP Auckland and Wellington events, A decade of flood recovery and resilience: the Queensland experience, Introduction to Environmental Product Declarations, Water Services Managers Group Meeting, Taumata Arowai update, Cultural Significance and Importance of Wai Module. See these and more events
Read our latest edition of Water where we focus on stormwater, floodwater and why our "wet and forget" attitude to flooding needs to change. We also at look green infrastructure, the forgotten 20 percent of New Zealanders who rely on their own on-site wastewater systems and how co-governance, planning, collaborating and problem solving is restoring the health and mauri of the Kaipara Moana.
Water New Zealand’s largest ever Modelling Symposium got underway at Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington yesterday with record numbers. Modelling plays a vital role in how we can create resilient communities, as well as understand, define and communicate flood and other climatic risks.
Don't miss out on great deals. Register now for Stormwater 2023.
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.
Drinking Water Protection Conference 2023 - Call for Abstracts
1 - 2 August | Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
This is a great opportunity to present your research, project or new initiative to sector colleagues. The 2023 Drinking Water Protection Conference is brought to you by Water New Zealand's Backflow Group, and focuses on Drinking Water Protection - from the source to last flowing tap.
We'll be covering a range of issues that affect backflow - design, competency, rural water supplies, what happens when things go wrong, as well as how change brings opportunities as well as uncertainty. We've even got room for wildcard presentations. So go to our website for more information. Call for abstracts close on Sunday 30 April.
Call for nominations - 5S Emerging Professional Conference Attendance Prize
This 5S (Gold Shovelers) prize offers a Water New Zealand recent graduate or student the opportunity to attend the Water New Zealand Conference and Expo or the Water New Zealand Stormwater Conference. This is a great opportunity for a young professional to broaden their knowledge, and gain greater appreciation of the water environment, water management, water engineering and the water industry at large.
Nominations are welcomed from recent graduates, tertiary students and/or individuals who have recently studied or are studying for a certificate or diploma in a water-related field.
Go to our website to find out how to enter. Nominations and entries close on Friday 5 May.
Entries and nominations for Water New Zealand Excellence Awards go live in June.
Ozwater'23 invites Water New Zealand members to enjoy special rate
Water New Zealand members can receive a special discounted deal to attend OzWater’23 in Sydney on 10 – 12 May.
The 2023 theme ‘United by Water’ will focus on twelve key sub-themes with many presentations and discussions linked to resilience and water security, communities of the future, asset management and operations, delivering a circular economy and responding to climate change and extreme weather events.
If you are interested in attending and would like to benefit from the Water New Zealand discounted rate, please notify amy.samuelu@waternz.org.nz by 9am Wednesday, 22 March to receive further information.
Accelerating change – World Water Day 22 March
Do you have a project that helps get us closer to Sustainable Development Goal 6 – ensuring access to water and sanitation for all by 2030?
This year’s World Water Day theme is Accelerating Change, because we need to go faster if we want to ensure all people have access to water and sanitation before the end of the decade.
We want to hear about some of the great work that our members and others in the sector are doing that we can celebrate and acknowledge on our website and social media pages ahead of World Water Day.
This year we're continuing our podcast series, Tāwara o te Wai, which we started in 2022. You can go to our website to listen to our two most recent podcasts. Our first discussion for 2023 explores how one region in Aotearoa New Zealand is developing and nurturing relationships with local iwi. In our second podcast, Water New Zealand CEO Gillian Blythe discusses the Scottish experience of water reform with Water Industry Commission for Scotland CEO, Alan Sutherland.
The Environmental Protection Authority are inviting submissions on two consultation documents concerning persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
POPs are a group of toxic compounds that remain in the environment intact for a long time. 30 chemicals are listed as POPs including pesticides and industrial and manufacturing chemicals. The consultation is important for anyone using, transporting or disposing of POPs. There are limitations on their use and importation into New Zealand and most have been replaced with alternatives.
Let nicci.wood@waternz.org.nz know before Monday 20 March if you would like us to submit on behalf of the sector.
Draft Transfer Principles - survey
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.
Have you seen Pipeline+ yet? This is our recently launched members-only video catch up. If you haven't had a chance to view it, it's a great opportunity to keep up with what's happening at Water New Zealand as well as key issues and events in the wider water sector. We'll be updating Pipeline+ each month, so remember to keep an eye out for the latest edition.
Ask me anything - Taumata Arowai CE Allan Prangnell
As part of our new Pipeline+, we're offering our members the opportunity to ask key industry leaders a question about any burning issue. We're starting this new feature in next month's Pipeline+ and our first industry leader is Taumata Arowai chief executive Allan Prangnell. So if you're a member and have a question you want to ask Allan, you can send an email to Paris.elwood@waternz.org.nz and we'll endeavour to get your question answered.
Taumata Arowai update
In the second Water New Zealand Taumata Arowai update this year, Ray McMillan, head of regulatory, and Michael Howden, data and insights manager, gave a general update and spoke about monitoring and reporting requirements, including an overview of what and how to report along with timeframes.
You can also register for our next Taumata Arowai webinar by scrolling further down to Upcoming Events.
Thank you to our members for sharing their expertise
This has been an extraordinarily busy summer on the legislative calendar and as a result, we've been hugely busy preparing and presenting submissions on a whole range of new bills and regulatory changes. Thank you to everyone who gave time and expertise to help with our submissions. Your input was highly valuable and much appreciated.
Access to quality data to identify future climate risk is vital if communities in Aotearoa New Zealand are to cope with the challenges of our rapidly changing climate.
Cracks in the system: stronger protections needed for our drinking water
by research fellow Marnie Prickett and senior research fellow Dr Tim Chambers from the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago
Recently published research from GNS, found that about 10 percent of 435 groundwater sites sampled nationally had nitrate levels above the guidelines and a third of more than 1000 surface and groundwater sites sampled were found to be over half the guideline value (5.65mg/L).
EDS calls for creation of an Environmental Defender’s Office
EDS has published a new report titled Environmental Advocacy in a Future Resource Management System. The report investigates how advocacy could be improved as part of the reform process replacing the Resource Management Act and, in a key recommendation, calls for the creation of an Environmental Defender’s Office.
Hawke’s Bay environmental groups applaud rejection of 15 million cubic metre groundwater take
Environmental groups are celebrating a hearing panel’s decision to decline the application from eight parties to take 15 million cubic metres of groundwater from the Ruataniwha basin. Read the Hawkes Bay Today report.
Japanese onsen spa apologises for filthy bath water changed twice a year
The manager of an 19th-century Japanese guesthouse has apologised after its 158-year-old spa bath was found to be teeming with poisonous bacteria.
Water Sector in 2050 – establishing a transformation vision
The establishment of new water services entities presents a unique moment of time to influence the direction we take as a sector.
To help ensure the reforms are informed by a collective sector vision, Water New Zealand is hosting four workshops across the country (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Kirikiriroa Hamilton, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington and Ōtautahi Christchurch).
The Water Services Entities CEOs will join the workshop and networking drinks in their respective Water Services Entities area.
What outcomes should we be targeting for 2050? What milestones should we see enroute?
Our fully online digital badges are a great way to get to grips with the basics of Three Waters. Wherever you work in the sector, the badges are designed to ensure you have an understanding of the basics of the many varied areas that make up our water delivery services. They're designed to be comprehensive,and to allow you to complete them at times that suit you. Each badge takes around four to six hours to complete.
A decade of flood recovery and resilience: the Queensland experience
22 March | 5.30 - 7.30 pm
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
Find out about Queensland's approach to recovery, reconstruction and resilience developed over the past decade following the catastrophic 2010/11 Queensland flood event. The flooding resulted in 35 people losing their lives, with three-quarters of the state (one million square kilometres) being declared a disaster zone and 130,000 people displaced. Sponsored by AECOM and DHI.
Introduction to Environmental Product Declarations
24 March | 12 - 1 pm
Webinar
Informing product manufacturers, suppliers, and water network managers and operators of the purpose of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and the fundamentals of how they are produced and used. This session is suitable for all those wanting to understand EPDs and how to use them in production or procurement.
Lowland Drainage Operations and Riparian Management - Field Trip
3 April | 8 am - 5 pm
Tauranga
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.
Cultural Significance and Importance of Wai Module
2 May- 29 June | 10 am - 12 pm
Online
This popular module is designed to help you deepen your collective understanding of connections and interdependencies of wai (water) through a Te Ao Māori lens. It is divided into eight two hour zoom sessions.
The challenges around leak detection and reducing water loss - three young water professionals working in the field of water loss will give a high level discussion of the work they do to ensure that Auckland loses as little water as possible.
This role requires a passion for leadership, water and wastewater services, and for supporting Council to successfully meet commitments to our community in a positive and focused way.
In this role you will be responsible for mitigating operational management site risk by ensuring that all persons onsite follow site process and procedures and to provide routine compliance and performance analysis reports for all water and wastewater treatment plants managed by NMG in house operations.
