Have your say on the new Water Services Entities Bill, find out more about economic regulation in the water sector and see who won this year’s photo competition
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Latest Updates
New water entities reform legislation in Parliament
The first piece of legislation paving the way for the establishment of the four new water entities has been introduced into Parliament. The new Water Services Entities Bill is expected to have its first reading today. See further down under Industry News for more details and how to ensure that your views are heard as the bill makes its way through Parliament.
Congratulations to this year's photo competition winner
This year's overall winner was Antoine Foulon, for this stunning photo of the Waitakere dam at the end of a stormy day when the water level rose to the spillway to create a remarkable waterfall.
Thank you to all our entrants. Once again, we received so many fantastic photos and we will make sure we use as many as possible in our publications throughout the year. You can go here to see the category finalists.
Save the date! Earlybird registrations open soon
18-20 October 2022
Te Pae Ōtautahi Christchurch
Get in early for great earlybird deals! We hope to see you again for the Water New Zealand Conference and Expo 2022. And if you missed our two big events this year - the Water New Zealand Conference and Expo 2021 Part 2 and the Stormwater Conference earlier in the month, you won't want to miss out again, earlybird registrations open on July 15.
Great to see you at our recent Water New Zealand Conference and Expo 2021 Part 2
Well, we finally got there! May was a busy conference month but it was fantastic to see everyone at both our Stormwater and Water New Zealand Conference and Expo part 2. We've had great feedback and we're delighted everyone found them both a very worthwhile use of time.
Following the Water New Zealand Conference and Expo in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, Water New Zealand board member Troy Brockbank talked on Radio Waatea about the many opportunities and wide range of roles for iwi, hapu, and whanau in the water sector. Listen to the discussion
Wellington's Owhiro Bay water activist, Eugene Doyle, was one of the presenters at the Water New Zealand Conference in Kirikiriroa Hamilton. He told the audience about the need for councils and utilities to genuinely work with local communities. Read the Stuff article
This is part of the newly funded Endeavour Research Programme: Fish Futures. It is managed through the Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management at the University of Canterbury, and a cross-institutional team of researchers affiliated with the Fish Futures project.
The PhD focusses on social-ecological dimensions of freshwater fish management.
The Department of Civil and Natural Resources of the University of Canterbury is seeking applications for PhD scholarships.
Applicants are required to identify general area(s) of interest for their study from the list provided on the website.
Virtual Coffee Catch-up
Did you miss our latest online Virtual Coffee Catch up? They're a great way to keep up with what's going on at Water New Zealand. If you're a member, you can go here to catch up on the latest happenings.
Industry News
Water Services Entities Bill introduced
Water New Zealand chief executive Gillian Blythe says it's vital that the water sector continues to have input into the new water entities legislation introduced to Parliament last week.
The Water Entities Bill is the first of several pieces of legislation to establish the four new water entities. Water New Zealand will be making a submission to the Select Committee and we encourage all our members to ensure you have a say over the future direction of our sector.
If you would like to contribute to our submission, please email Katrina.Guy@waternz.org.nz and put Water Services Entities Bill submission in the subject line.
The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) has released its exposure drafts of proposed changes to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM) and the Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Freshwater) Regulations 2020 (NES-F). Read more
Napier estuary part of NIWA research project into contaminants
Te Whanganui-a-Orotu (Ahuriri Estuary) will be part of a study into contaminants that may help guide future policy settings for central and local government.
Female staff key to success of country's critical infrastructure projects
Critical infrastructure projects across the three waters, civil, energy, and telecommunications sectors rare facing a severe staffing shortage and women are part of the answer.
2022 Building Code update - plumbing and drainage proposals
MBIE is consulting on proposed changes to building code compliance. The proposed changes for plumbing and drainage include looking to limit the allowable lead content in certain plumbing products, reducing the risk of hot water scalding injuries, and protecting potable water supplies.
The consultation will run until Friday 1 July 2022.
Shitovation: solving sanitation challenges where sewers don’t exist
Seeking practical solutions for those without safe sanitation, Water For People has created a fund that supports creative, innovative solutions that are achieving great success and disrupting the narrative around how SDG 6 can be achieved.
Economic regulation discussion with Alan Sutherland
21 June 22 | 4.30-6.30 pm
Wellington
The Water Service Entities Bill was introduced into Parliament on 2 June 2022. Further legislation will follow to provide for economic regulation and consumer protection regimes relating to the new water services system
Join Alan Sutherland (Chief Executive, Water Industry Commission for Scotland), Bill Bayfield (Chief Executive, Taumata Arowai), Tina Porou (Poipoia) & Andy Burgess (GM, Infrastructure Branch, Commerce Commission) for a panel discussion on water reform and economic regulation in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Venue: Chapman Tripp, Level 17, 10 Customhouse Quay, Wellington. Numbers are limited so register early!
On 23 May, new Australian – New Zealand Flushable Standard (DR AS/NZS 5328:2021) came into effect.
Join Greg Ryan, current Chair of the Australian Standards Committee, Colin Hester from Queensland Urban Utilities and Noel Roberts from Water New Zealand.
The presentation will outline the background and key elements of the Standard, including disintegration, drain line clearance and domestic pump testing.
It will also describe the new labelling requirements and how these can be used to improve consumer behaviour, along with the support we are seeing from manufacturers.
If you wish to purchase a copy of the standard please click here
Taumata Arowai are holding their third webinar for whānau, hapū and iwi. You’ll hear an update on their engagements and conversations with small Māori water suppliers across the motu.
This is a fully online course designed to assist you with a basic understanding of stormwater and the people and processes involved. By the end of this course you will have a basic understanding of stormwater in New Zealand, understand the history of stormwater, what’s happening in the stormwater environment and get an overview of some of the roles in stormwater.
The course has been structured into a combination of reading, videos, resources and activities for you to complete over a four-week period at times that suit you. It involves four to six hours time commitment.
The Australian Water Association and International Water Association Young Water Professionals Conference will bring together tomorrow’s leaders to explore how they can leave their mark on our Water Future.
This is a fantastic opportunity for Young Water Professionals to showcase their contributions, plan and inspire change among industry leaders and their peers.
Click on the registration button to go directly to conference webpage where you can download the program and view the abstracts.
This is our latest digital badge. It will give you a basic understanding of backflow - what it is, its history, regulations, best practice and how to prevent backflow.
The course has been structured into a combination of reading, videos, resources and activities for you to complete over a 4 week period at times that suit you.
Cultural Significance and Importance of Wai learning module
12 Oct - 7 Dec
Online
Our next module starting this month is now fully booked. However you can now secure your place for the following session starting in October.
The course is online and held over eight zoom sessions of no more than 2 hours each.
Through this course you will gain greater cultural awareness, respect and understanding of Te Ao Māori within the water sector and what it means to give effect to Te Mana o te Wai – a concept introduced in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM 2020) and included in the water services legislation.
This module is designed to help you deepen your understanding of connections and interdependencies of wai (water) through a Te Ao Māori lens.
This is a fully online course designed to assist you with a basic understanding of drinking water and all the people and processes involved prior to it reaching your tap.
The course has been structured into a combination of reading, videos, resources and activities for you to complete over a four-week period at times that suit you. It involves four to six hours time commitment.
This is a fully online course designed to assist you with a basic understanding of wastewater and the components relating to wastewater disposal and the impact on communities and the environment.
By the end of this course, you will have a basic understanding of wastewater in Aotearoa New Zealand, understand what happens beyond flushing the toilet, have an understanding of what wastewater treatment plants do and get an overview of some of the roles in wastewater.
You need to book out your evening on 14th July because it is the annual Wellington Region ‘Game of Thrones’ Pub Quiz. And no, this is not a quiz about the Games of Thrones TV Programme. As you are a water expert you should get the clever play on words! This event is open to members and non-members within your organisation to form a team of six (maximum).
Put your thinking caps on and get together with your colleagues to take the trophy from last year’s winners from Envelope Engineering. Plus, it is a great chance to meet the Water New Zealand team, reconnect with industry peers
As the Senior Advisor Service Delivery (Treatment) you will establish and lead an operational improvement programme for the treatment plants that are managed in house.
In this role, you will provide Three Waters (water, wastewater, and stormwater) advice and information to meet growth demands in an integrated, affordable, innovative, sustainable way.
Team Leader Land Development Inspections and Connections
In this role, you'll undertake a high component of continuing 'to do' work to carry out inspections and oversee new connections, while working with our stakeholders, managing escalations, support business and financial planning and implementing continual process improvements.
As the Senior Advisor Service Delivery (Treatment) you will establish and lead an operational improvement programme for the treatment plants that are managed in house.
The purpose of this role is to support the Operations Group with project management, incident/emergency response management, asset maintenance planning, technical support, planning & undertaking network investigations to resolve complex customer service and network operational issues.
The purpose of this role is to assist with the day-to-day operation of our Drainage networks, ensuring a continual drainage service, with minimal interruptions.
Working across your region, no two days will be the same! You will be responsible for maintaining the water reticulation system and ensuring a continual supply of quality water with minimal interruptions.
The purpose of this role is to assist with the day-to-day operation of our Drainage networks, ensuring a continual drainage service, with minimal interruptions.
Working across your region, no two days will be the same! You will be responsible for maintaining the water reticulation system and ensuring a continual supply of quality water with minimal interruptions.
The purpose of this role is to assist with the day-to-day operation of our Drainage networks, ensuring a continual drainage service, with minimal interruptions.
Working across your region, no two days will be the same! You will be responsible for maintaining the water reticulation system and ensuring a continual supply of quality water with minimal interruptions.
Council is seeking to appoint a Water Services Manager within the Infrastructure Unit to lead the team responsible for managing Council’s water, wastewater and stormwater assets and operational service delivery.
This role is responsible for overseeing our 3 Waters data through our data toolset and SCADA systems, the planning, design and monitoring of operational and capital expenditure works, as well as project managing the delivery of minor capex works.
We need your people skills and technical expertise to lead the team in the management and operation of Gisborne District’s stormwater and wastewater networks.
This role encompasses responsibility to meet the Council's Levels of Service around consenting relating to waterways in particular, and guiding customers to the appropriate means of arriving at consented activities.
The main function of our Asset Engineer role is to provide input to manage and implement Council's Asset Management Plan for water, wastewater and stormwater systems.
You will be responsible for monitoring and operating Councils Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system in order to regulate the City's water distribution system and respond to faults on the wastewater and stormwater systems.
Deliver effective water and wastewater services through the development and implementation of the Water Conservation Plan & Wastewater service initiatives.
The role has a key responsibility of ensuring our internal customers are continually supplied with steam and utility services to keep their operations running daily.
This role will develop and implement strategies and asset management plans for Council's strategic/long term infrastructure planning as it relates to water, wastewater and stormwater assets.
This position is responsible for ensuring that the district's water and drainage networks are operated and maintained in an effective manner, that customer service enquiries are dealt with in accordance with Council policy, while also carrying out specific projects and works as required.
This Assets Engineer role will see you managing the waters infrastructure assets for the South Taranaki district. With the ability to look at the big picture, you will plan for the replacement and renewal of the water and stormwater assets, as well as coastal structures.
