2022 Award Winners

Meet the winners of the 2022 Water New Zealand awards!

Young Water Professional of the Year 

sponsored by Beca

L to R: Clive Rundle - Beca, Ben Lunjevich - Dempsey Wood Civil, Gillian Blythe - WNZ CEO

Ben Lunjevich - Dempsey Wood Civil

Paper of the Year 

Sponsored by Hynds 

L to R: Aaron Hynds - Hynds, Hugh Ratsey - The Wastewater Specialists, and Andre Dine - TRILITY, Phil de Groot - TRILITY, Gillian Blythe - WNZ CEO

Using Remote on-line Data Analytics to Identify Your Sewer Rats 

 Phil de Groot - TRILITY, Hugh Ratsey - The Wastewater Specialists, and Andre Dine - TRILITY

Paper of the Year - runner up 

Sponsored by Hynds

L to R: Steven Apeldoorn - ProjectMax Limited, Robert Blakemore - Wellington Water, Gillian Blythe - WNZ CEO

The Benefits of Formalised Condition Assessment Programmes for Water Utilities Based on Lessons Learned

 Robert Blakemore - Wellington Water, Steven Apeldoorn - ProjectMax Limited

Presentation of the Year 

Sponsored by Hynds 

L to R: Dr Matt Savage - Apex Water, Gillian Blythe - WNZ CEO

Innovative Wastewater Treatment Systems for Extreme Alpine Environments

Dr Matt Savage - Apex Water

Young Author of the Year

Sponsored by TRILITY

L to R: Matt Dawson - TRILITY, Emma Botha - GHD, Gillian Blythe - WNZ CEO

Pathway to Circular Economy - Suggestions for New Zealand's Three Waters in a Time of Transformation

Emma Botha - GHD


Innovation Forum - Te Rere Auaha o Parawhenuamea Award

Sponsored by Water New Zealand

L to R: Noel Roberts - WNZ, Lon Hua - Ubiquitome, Gillian Blythe - WNZ CEO

Using a mobile quantitative PCR machine for recreational marine water quality monitoring

Lon Hua - Ubiquitome

Poster of the Year 

Sponsored by Water New Zealand 

L to R: Lesley Smith - WNZ, Gillian Blythe - WNZ CEO

How Kiwis use Water in their Homes

BRANZ et al., University of Auckland and Water New Zealand

Project Award

Sponsored by Pipeline & Civil 

L to R: Hugh Goddard - Pipeline & Civil, Jason Climo - Veolia Water, Simon Mason - Queenstown Lakes District Council, Gillian Blythe - WNZ CEO

Frankton Flats Trunk Main Rehabilitation - Veolia Water

Health & Safety Innovation Award

Sponsored by Site Safe

L to R: David Smallwood - Site Safe New Zealand, Anna Bridgeman - Stantec, Robert Mackie - Wellington Water, Gillian Blythe - WNZ CEO

Water Industry Specific Asbestos Awareness Training – Wellington Water

Operations Prize 

Sponsored by IXOM

L to R: Seaton Rolleston - IXOM, Nick Hewer-Hewitt - Wellington Water, Gillian Blythe - WNZ CEO

Waiohine Treated Water Reservoir – Wellington Water

Trainee of the Year 

Sponsored by Citycare

L to R: Chloe Edwards - Fulton Hogan, Clark Butcher - Citycare Water, Gillian Blythe - WNZ CEO

Chloe Edwards - Fulton Hogan

Ronald Hicks Memorial Award 

Sponsored by Mott MacDonald 

L to R: Brent Gilpin - ESR, Thomas Haarhoff - Mott MacDonald, Helen Atkins - WNZ Past President

A Pilot Study of Wastewater Monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 in New Zealand

 Brent Gilpin, Joanne Hewitt - ESR



Environmental Sustainability Project Award

sponsored by Morphum Environmental Ltd

L to R: Dean Watts - Morphum Environmental, Alice Monk - Morphum Environmental, Mark Penrice - Christchurch City Council, Peter Christensen - Storm Environmental, Gillian Blythe - WNZ CEO

Eastman Wetland and Cashmere Stream Restoration Project – Christchurch City Council