Honorary Life Member

Founding Partner of Atkins Holm Majurey in 2009. Has now established Atkins Law (July 2023).

Helen has been an active Water New Zealand member for some 15 years, coming from a different (Legal) background to most of our members. She has taken a real interest in the Association and provided a substantial professional and personal contribution. Helen has been a regular contributor to the WATER Journal, first appearing in print in September 2005, providing resource management, local government and environmental law and legal insights to the membership for over 17 years. All of us would have read or referred to her WATER legal articles at some time. This contribution has been completed in her own time for the benefit of all Water New Zealand members.

Helen joined the Board as a co-opted member in 2013-15 providing diversity to our governance structure in terms of her legal background. She became an elected Board member in 2016. She has used her contacts and legal skills to support the Associations advocacy and to promote the work of Water New Zealand to both central and local government. Over her 10 years as a Water New Zealand Board member, Helen has provided a great deal of legal support and advice to the Association, which would have been difficult to otherwise obtain.

Helen has provided legal advice and strong governance advocacy and direction to many previous presidents while on the Board and was always willing to help with any problems of issues facing the Association in her own time, eventually serving as our President in 2020/21 and 2021/22 through the Covid period - and is still very active on the Board as our current (2022-23) Past President.

She covered a number of legal and policy aspects to support the submissions, media releases and general enquiries to the Association during the Havelock North process. Helen has also been instrumental in fostering the freshwater quality debate, highlighting the legal and governance implications to members, providing objective views and a respected and professional face on behalf of the Association to other stakeholders. She has contributed to the NZ Water sector and the Association above and beyond the call of duty and her legal vocation and is thoroughly deserving of being awarded Honorary Life Membership.

Wallace Potts (Wally to us) has had a longstanding and active association with Water New Zealand and the local government water sector over the last 47 years and is worthy of receiving the recognition of Honorary Life Member for his contribution to our industry.

Wally has been ever-present at Annual Water New Zealand Conferences, with the status of being one of the familiar faces that is noticed when he is not there. He has been a regular presenter of technical papers and as a session chair. Wally is very supportive of new entrants into the industry and is held in high regard by his peers for his technical knowledge and operational experience.

In 1996 Wally was recognised with the William D Hatfield Award for operational excellence, a prestigious award presented by Water Environment Federation (WEF - USA). Wally is a previous Board member and Past President of Water New Zealand, serving in this governance and leadership role during the period 1997-2003, being first elected to the Board in 1997.

One could say that water and wastewater are in Wally's blood!. In his early years, Wally started his professional career in the world of science as an Industrial Chemist with AFFCO in Hamilton from 1976 to 1982, then with Hamilton City Council as their Laboratory Manager for the next 4 years. An opportunity to head over the Tasman to Logan City Council as a treatment plant manager for a 12-month stint provided Wally with some great experience.

It was in August 1986 that Wally returned to New Zealand joining Tauranga City Council as their Plant Manager for water and wastewater operations, a role he managed for 10 years. In 1996 it was time for a change moving to the mighty Waikato taking up a similar role with Hamilton City Council.

The lure of North Shore in 2002 offered Wally the opportunity as a Group Manager for their 3 water operations and then a wider role covering both Projects, Maintenance, and Operations for Transportation. Horowhenua District Council enticed Wally back to a rural environment in the role of Group Manager Community Assets in June 2010. As a member of the executive leadership team, Wally could see the opportunity he could bring to table with his years of in-depth knowledge and experience across local government.

A vacant position at Tauranga City Council within the City Waters drainage section drew Wally back to Tauranga in 2014 as Manager of the Drainage services, with overall responsibility for stormwater and wastewater activities. He stepped up from this role in late 2021 to become Director of City Waters managing a staff of 110 people, where his key responsibilities include providing leadership and strategic direction to the business.While enjoying a very successful career in the water sector, Wally has always freely given his time, skills and enthusiasm to Water New Zealand and deserves recognition by the Association as one of our Honorary Life Members.

Co-founder, Managing Director and Technical Engineer - Stormwater360

Determined to deliver innovative stormwater solutions, Mike established Stormwater360 with Greg Yeoman in 1996. A crusader for cleaner waters, he was instrumental in introducing the first international stormwater technology to New Zealand. Mike is passionate about stormwater and over the past 24 years has designed, implemented, and tested numerous stormwater solutions across Australasia. Mike has worked with universities, crown research institutes, councils, consultants, contractors, and maintenance providers to continue the evolution of stormwater treatment products over this extended period. Products Mike has been deeply involved in developing are now used in both Australia and North America.

Mike has presented multiple conference papers and journal articles. both within NZ and globally as part of his mission to reduce stormwater pollution. He has also acted as an advocate for change, notably completing submissions to the Auckland Unitary Plan and Network Discharge consents. His submission to the Network Discharge consent highlighted the fact that trash and plastics were not listed as a contaminant of concern, despite evidence of the environmental damage these were creating. As a result, new provisions for gross pollutant management were added to loading zones and garbage areas on commercial properties.

Mike is a long-term member of the Stormwater Special Interest Group and was chair from 2015- 2018. His contribution to the stormwater industry was recognised in 2021 when he was awarded the Stormwater Professional of the Year title.

Mike is nominated for Honorary Life Member status on the basis of his continued contribution and support to the Stormwater SIG and his ongoing commitment to reduce stormwater pollution, not only in NZ but globally.