Draft Water Research Roadmap
October 2025
A roadmap for collaboration and co-investment in research and innovation for the water sector
Priorities for water research in Aotearoa New Zealand, A Water New Zealand report supported by research prepared for Water New Zealand by Tania Domett 1
Foreword
Aotearoa New Zealand’s water infrastructure, including stormwater, wastewater, and drinking water, is foundational to the health, prosperity, and resilience of our communities and economy Yet the sector faces increasing pressures: decades of underinvestment, urgent climate adaptation needs, more demanding regulation, and communities calling for greater value, reliability, and environmental stewardship
Addressing these challenges demands sustained investment, innovation, and collective effort. Projections indicate up to 24% growth in water sector project spending and $47.9b investment in new water infrastructure over the next 10 years [1]. International benchmarks show that research and development are proven catalysts for sector growth, resilience, and efficiency: private R&D returns average at least 14%, while public research delivers even higher social and economic benefits[2]. In the water sector, benefits are measurable and significant - OECD evaluations note that every dollar invested in research typically delivers five to tenfold returns, and studies from Australia demonstrating that every research dollar can deliver up to $13 in quantifiable benefits[3] In New Zealand and globally, evidence confirms that research drives better performance, resilience, and cost efficiency
Collaboration and alignment are the keys to impact This Research Action Plan is deeply rooted in extensive consultation; over 200 sector representatives, from diverse backgrounds, have contributed their insights and priorities. The result is a genuinely sector-driven agenda that supports national and regional strategic objectives, aligns with international best practices, and ensures research funding is targeted to areas of highest need and value.
Critically, the report’s findings have practical application for a wide audience: Funders and investors can use the priority areas to identify where resources will deliver greatest impact and align with sector transformation strategies Researchers can leverage the evidence and insights to develop proposals with clear sector relevance and achieve better partnership with end-users The wider sector benefits from shared knowledge, innovation, and an agreed set of challenges and research targets, ensuring a united response to future demands.
This report, supported by research commissioned by the Water Services Managers Group, provides evidence-based direction to help navigate the sector’s most pressing challenges. The expertise, passion, and partnership of those who contributed to this mahi are shaping a smarter, safer, and more sustainable water future for all.
Signed, Mark Hall, Chair, Water Services Managers Group Gillian Blythe, Chief Executive, Water New Zealand
Executive Summary
The Water Research Roadmap, commissioned by Water New Zealand and developed with research support from Cogo, establishes a collective framework for research investment and collaboration to build a resilient, sustainable, and world-class water sector. It responds to the sector’s most pressing challenges, climate adaptation, infrastructure renewal, and public confidence, by defining a shared agenda for evidence-based action.
Aotearoa New Zealand’s water sector stands at a pivotal moment. With water infrastructure investment projected to reach over $5 billion annually, the need for research that enhances efficiency, capability, and long-term value has never been greater Yet current research remains fragmented, underfunded, and insufficiently aligned with national science reform This roadmap draws on insights from more than 200 sector experts, ensuring that the priorities identified reflect real-world challenges, local expertise, and national aspirations
Strategic Focus
The roadmap defines twelve priority research areas grouped under three integrated themes that align with the Towards 2050 Transformation Vision:
1 Water Resilience and Infrastructure – Generating evidence-based guidance for planning, investment, and adaptation to deliver climate-ready, resilient water systems.
2.Governance and Social Impact – Developing governance models, partnerships, and workforce capability that strengthen sector leadership, equity, and public trust.
3.Water Intelligence and Technology – Advancing innovation in data, modelling, and treatment to improve decision-making, safeguard health, and enable open, reliable, and interoperable systems
Together, these priorities highlight where new knowledge, investment, and partnership will deliver the greatest benefit for people, the environment, and the economy Strong foundations already exist in climate adaptation, cultural partnership, and digital readiness, but several challenges persist:
Research activity across the sector is underway, yet fragmented and difficult to access.
Limited coordination and short-term funding restrict long-term progress. The workforce lacks the capacity to meet future regulatory, technical, and infrastructure demands.
Recommended Actions
To address these challenges and realise the sector’s research vision, this roadmap recommends the following actions:
Align national and sector research priorities to strengthen coordination, reduce duplication, and deliver shared outcomes.
Establish sustainable funding pathways to support long-term, mission-led research and innovation that address critical sector challenges.
Deepen collaboration across the sector by connecting councils, iwi, academia, and industry through coordinated research hubs and shared initiatives.
Increase research impact and inclusivity by embedding mātauranga Māori, promoting open-access data, and applying consistent impact reporting across projects
Alignment with National Science Reform
This roadmap complements the Government’s reform of the science, innovation, and technology system, particularly its emphasis on mission-led, impact-driven research that delivers measurable economic and environmental outcomes. Water research aligns strongly with these national priorities, offering opportunities to drive productivity growth, reduce infrastructure costs, and deliver high public returns on investment. International evidence shows that every dollar invested in water research can generate five to tenfold economic and social benefits.
Looking Ahead
The Water Research Roadmap provides a clear pathway for collective action; uniting research, policy, and practice to deliver measurable progress toward a sustainable and equitable water future. By aligning investment, capability, and innovation, it supports the realisation of the Towards 2050 vision: a resilient, connected, and culturally grounded water sector that delivers enduring benefits for all New Zealanders.
About Water New Zealand:
The country’s largest water industry body, with over 3,400 members across councils, PROs, consultants, suppliers, and researchers.
About Cogo:
A New Zealand research agency with experience in sectoral strategy, stakeholder engagement, and roadmap development.
Introduction
The Towards 2050 Transformation Vision provides a unifying blueprint for how Aotearoa New Zealand’s water sector can evolve over the next generation from fragmented systems and short-term responses toward a future defined by shared stewardship, equity, and innovation. Developed through extensive consultation with members, iwi, government, and communities, the transformation framework outlines the collective outcomes the sector seeks to achieve by 2050: sustainable services, empowered capability, enduring partnerships, and the restoration of trust in water management.
The Water Research Roadmap builds directly on this foundation It translates the aspirations of Transformation 2050 into a focused programme of research and innovation, identifying where investment and collaboration will make the greatest difference By aligning research priorities with the long-term transformation goals, this roadmap ensures that the sector’s knowledge base evolves in step with its institutional and cultural reforms creating a continuous feedback loop between evidence, practice, and policy.
The roadmap also responds to the rapid changes now shaping the water landscape climate adaptation, digital transformation, new regulatory settings, and the integration of mātauranga Māori and science. Rather than restating the challenges, it provides a structure for action: identifying the research needed to build resilience, strengthen governance, and accelerate the technologies and workforce capability that will define the sector’s future
The twelve research priority areas identified in this document are therefore not standalone initiatives but coordinated pathways toward the 2050 outcomes These are organised into three centres of focus (integrated themes) Water Resilience and Future Infrastructure, Water Governance and Social Impact, and Water Intelligence and Emerging Technologies each capturing the key areas where targeted research can drive systemic transformation.
Integrated Theme 1: Water Resilience and Future Infrastructure
Focuses on planning, risk management, infrastructure, and adaptation. Priorities include national resilience standards, communication of risk, condition assessment technologies, and adaptation strategies for climate change.
Integrated
Theme
2: Water Governance and Social Impact
Explores iwi partnerships, governance models, workforce capability, and public perception. Priorities include mātauranga-driven water management, workforce pathways, and insights into community engagement and behavioural change.
Integrated Theme
3: Water Intelligence and Emerging Technologies
Addresses innovation in treatment, data, and modelling Priorities include managing contaminants, developing AI and predictive tools, improving data accessibility, and advancing research on emerging pollutants and technologies
Developing the Roadmap
The project, funded by Water New Zealand and the Water Services Managers Group, aimed to guide funders and leaders in targeting research investment.
Approach:
Mapping of the water sector and existing research. Thirty personal interviews with key sector stakeholders. Thematic analysis to identify common research areas. Validation through feedback loops and a survey with 164 respondents. Data used to refine and finalise research priorities.
In early 2025, Cogo were engaged by Water New Zealand to support the development of a Research Roadmap that identifies and sets out priority areas of research for the water sector to action The main purpose of the Research Roadmap Project is to enable funders and researchers to better understand where to target efforts to support the sector’s ongoing development in line with the Transformation 2050 strategic goals. Water sector and other infrastructure leaders, researchers and government - both domestically and internationally - are key audiences for the project outputs.
A rigorous stakeholder consultation process has brought together and distilled insights from over 200 representatives of the water sector gathered during indepth one-to-one interviews and an online survey to support the creation of the Research Roadmap Full methodological details are provided in Appendix 1: Methodology
This approach has ensured that the Research Roadmap presents a way forward that is based on current expert advice and industry needs and has the broad support and agreement of the sector, which is now primed for collaboration and action
DEVELOPING THE ROADMAP: THE APPROACH
Mapping
Interviews
Mapping of water sector existing research
Draft List
Personal interviews with selected water sector stakeholders
Validation
Data analysis to create draft list of research areas
Validation of draft list of research areas
Online survey inviting input from all water sector stakeholders Input
Analysis
Analysis of interview and survey data to prioritise research areas
List of final research priority areas
Finalise
The Current State of Play: Key Challenges and Research Landscape
Water Sector Structure:
The governance and management of water in Aotearoa New Zealand involves a wide network of organisations spanning central and local government, regulators, service providers, iwi and Māori entities, and research and advocacy groups (for detail see Appendix 2). Each plays a distinct role in shaping how water is managed, delivered, and safeguarded—from setting national policy and regulating quality, to providing infrastructure services, advancing research, and ensuring that te ao Māori and co-governance principles are embedded in decision-making
Every change in government resets the clock –it’s hard to build momentum when the rules keep shifting.
We don’t know what the final shape of regulation will look like, which makes long-term planning nearly impossible.
Participant quotes
Current research
During the mapping exercise carried out at the outset of the Research Roadmap project, it became clear that much of the research undertaken across Aotearoa New Zealand’s water sector is not easily accessible
The degree of difficulty encountered during the desktop search in accessing publicly-available research documents is reflected in a final compiled list of just 53 documents (see Appendix 3 for summary). Note this is supplemented by the repository of conference papers and technical reports that can be accessed at www.waternz.org.nz/resourcehub
This experience aligns with interview and survey data collected as part of this project that also points to opportunities for greater sharing of information and stronger collaboration across the various entities in New Zealand that are engaged in water research While many do share research outputs there does not appear to be a systematic way to ensure that this happens consistently Many in the sector are largely unaware of what research is being carried out elsewhere in the water sector at any given time leading to one of this report’s key recommendations to establish a sector-wide research platform or hub.
While the main purpose of the online survey was to explore future research priorities, the consultation also provided an opportunity to invite sector stakeholders to share details of current or recent research they are/were involved in or that they believed to be significant for the sector. Many stakeholders wrote in current (89 respondents) or recent (53 respondents) research topics with varying levels of detail Given that these entries were selfreported in an anonymous survey, it wasn’t possible to capture information on who the researchers are or what entity they are from, nor sufficient detail to be able to follow up on the research projects mentioned
Producing a comprehensive catalogue of all research activity in the water sector was beyond the scope of this project, nonetheless the material gathered provides an indication of where water research activity is currently concentrated. The data gathered in the online survey is presented as research areas, ordered by the frequency that they appear as themes in the survey data (see Tables 1 and 2). Further detail and all citations can be found in the accompanying research report on the Water New Zealand website.
Table 1: Research projects underway in the water sector, n=89
Current research
During personal interviews carried out as part of the Research Roadmap Project, water sector stakeholders were asked for their perspectives on the most significant challenges or concerns facing the sector as a whole Collated and analysed data collected across 30 interviews identifies common themes that describe both short-term and long-term challenges according to those in the sector:
Short-Term Challenges:
Funding pressures and resource constraints
Workforce shortages
Policy and regulatory uncertainty
Public trust and expectations
We’re constantly under pressure to deliver with shrinking budgets and rising expectations.
Smaller councils in particular simply don’t have the resources to manage compliance and service delivery.
Participant quotes
Long-Term Challenges:
Embedding Māori partnership and inclusion
Ageing infrastructure and asset renewal
Climate change resilience
Lack of sector coordination
Research and best-practice gaps.
We don’t even have a complete map of where all the assets are, let alone the condition they’re in.
Decades of under-investment mean we are inheriting a ticking time bomb.
Participant quotes
Research Landscape:
Much research is difficult to access or poorly coordinated. Findings support the creation of a shared national research platform
We don’t have agreed standards or clear best practice for many critical areas.
Research is piecemeal – there’s no overarching strategy linking it all together.
Participant quotes
What the Sector Wants: 12 Research Priority Areas
Based on insights gathered from over 200 water sector stakeholders in response to the broad question – “What research do you believe the water sector must prioritise?”, 12 research areas have been identified as priorities for the sector
Together, these priorities express a shared ambition for a smarter, more connected water sector one that values research not only as a source of technical solutions but as a foundation for sharing, resilience, and sustainable transformation
For the purposes of this report, the twelve priority research areas are grouped under three integrated themes:
Integrated Theme 1: Water Resilience
Priority research areas:
1 1 Risk and Resilience
1 2 Climate Change and Environmental Impacts
1 3 Infrastructure and Asset Management
1 4 Workforce and Capability
Integrated Theme 2: Water Governance
Priority research areas:
2.1 Iwi Partnerships and Co-Governance
2.2 Public Perception and Communication
2.3 Public Behaviour and Risk Response
2.4 Governance and Decision-Making
Integrated Theme 3: Water Intelligence
3 3 Planning and Performance
3 4 Data, Modelling and Economic Tools
A number of research programmes, opportunities for cross-sector innovation, and policy reform or development sit within each of the integrated themes and associated 12 priority research areas These were identified through a process of analysing and coding, using thematic analysis, the many suggestions of specific research topics made by sector stakeholders To further help shape decision making these have been assigned a tiered classification level (high, medium or low priority), based on the frequency with which the research theme appeared in the interview and survey data (shown in detail in Tables 4, 5 and 6 below).
The following visuals summarise what the sector identified as most critical. For each integrated theme the priority research areas and opportunities for future collaboration and investment are detailed (tables 4, 5 and 6). Together, these insights provide a robust evidence base to guide coordinated research and funding decisions across Aotearoa New Zealand’s water sector
Table 4: Water Resilience and Future Infrastructure Theme; identified research priorities
Key Research Areas
1.1
Risk & Resilience
Opportunities for future collaboration and investment
National guidelines/standards on risk and resilience measures and level of service (High Priority)
How to communicate risk to the public and decisionmakers (Medium Priority)
Climate change impacts on water sources and of flood events (Medium Priority)
Identification of Critical assets (Low Priority)
Defining risk and resilience, including through cultural lens (Low Priority)
Better land use planning (Low Priority)
Climate change risk - source waters (High Priority)
Climate change risk – flooding (High Priority)
Adaption strategies to manage climate risk (High Priority)
1.2
Climate Change & Environmental Impacts
1.3
Infrastructure & Asset Management
Communication of climate change risk to public and decisionmakers and national planning (High Priority)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Medium Priority)
Modelling of areas likely to experience water stress in the future (Medium Priority)
Economic analysis of land use change (Low Priority)
Indigenous modelling approaches (Low Priority)
New technologies for condition assessment (High Priority)
Careful use of AI (High Priority)
Investigating better data collection and predictive tools (High Priority)
How to secure commitment from Councils to invest appropriately (Medium Priority)
How to qualify practitioners and deliver practical, operational, NZ/Pacific-specific training (High Priority)
Needs assessment of required skills, workforce capacity building into the future (High Priority)
1.4
Workforce & Capability
How might micro-credentials support the upskilling of the workforce (Medium Priority)
Better collaboration, resource-sharing (Medium Priority)
Tertiary education reform (Medium Priority)
Industry-funded PhDs (Medium Priority)
Comparative research on pathways into the industry and continuous learning (Medium Priority)
Equity of access for women, Māori, Pasifika (Low Priority)
Table 5: Water Governance and Social Impact Theme; identified research priorities
Key Research Areas
2.1
Iwi Partnerships & Co-Governance
Opportunities for future collaboration and investment
How do genuine partnerships and mātauranga-driven solutions support water management and how can relationship-building and processes be improved (High Priority)
How to use mātauranga Māori and western science together to better manage water (High Priority) The potential of the Māori economy for the water sector (Low Priority)
How to recruit and retain Māori and Pasifika into the industry (Low Priority)
2.2
Public Perception, Community Engagement & Communication
2.3
Public Behaviour & Risk Response
2.4 Governance & Decision-Making
Research into the importance of optimal communication and public engagement strategies (High Priority)
Call for insights research that investigates 1) how the Aotearoa New Zealand public perceives water issues and 2) strategies that would bring about behaviour change (High Priority)
Insights research investigating public perceptions and understanding/knowledge (High Priority)
Insights research investigating public behaviour with water, including around events (High Priority)
Critical review of governance and funding models for water assets (High Priority)
How to mitigate impacts of short-term planning caused by political cycle; how to convince decision makers to act (High Priority)
Comparative research on international governance models (High Priority)
Collaboration on research across public/private/academia (Medium Priority)
Inclusion of alternate analytical frameworks and indigenous knowledge systems (Medium Priority)
Table 6: Water Intelligence and Emerging Technologies Theme; identified research priorities
Key Research Areas
Opportunities for future collaboration and investment
Biosolid reuse (High Priority)
Microbial and chemical health risk management (High Priority)
Needs of small rural water and wastewater systems (High Priority)
Emerging contaminants (High Priority)
Water reuse/recycle (Medium Priority)
Microplastics (Medium Priority)
3.1
Water Quality & Public Health
3.2
Contaminants & Treatment
Innovations
Workforce capability (Medium Priority)
Better/cheaper monitoring techniques and regulatory systems including on a small scale (Low Priority)
Holistic/Cultural approach to understanding water quality (Low Priority)
Health risk assessment especially chemical e.g. nitrates in drinking water (Low Priority)
Agriculture risk/pressure (Low Priority)
Focus on New Zealand-specific contaminants and/or leverage international research more (High Priority)
Assessment of current treatments and emerging technologies (High Priority)
·Emerging contaminants and how to treat them (High Priority)
·Contaminant-specific risk management e.g. PFAS (Medium Priority)
·Nitrates including their impact on health (Medium Priority)
Microplastics and other organic chemicals (Medium Priority)
Antibiotic microbial resistance and new technologies (Low Priority)
Emerging contaminants other than PFAS (Low Priority)
Feasibility of national research collective or agency to streamline research planning and investment, with different funding pathways explored e.g. levy (High Priority)
3.3
Planning & Performance
3.4
Data, Modelling & Economic Tools
Aligning management standards and best practice at national level (High Priority)
Aligning data standards (High Priority)
Better collaboration and knowledge sharing/coordination (High Priority)
Economic research on capital investment required (Medium Priority)
New systems for onsite wastewater treatment (Low Priority)
Methods for accessible storage and utilisation of data, including standardisation (High Priority)
Investigation of economic valuation methods and economic evaluation of specific aspects e g green infrastructure, rainwater tanks, managed retreat options (High Priority)
Methods for identifying data needs (Medium Priority)
Modelling requirements against changing New Zealand population (Low Priority)
While we sought feedback on priority areas, it is worth noting that although the analysis presents a unified picture, there are multiple, differing priorities across different areas. In reality, all the research priority areas identified as part of this work have been identified as important by the water sector stakeholders participating in this consultation and it is important to ensure that future investment decisions are not constrained by the priority levels that have been assigned, but also take into account current strategic priorities and obligations as well as the funding opportunities that may be available for specific projects
The twelve research areas build directly on the Towards 2050 Transformation Vision, which identifies seven levers for system-wide change: Te Mana o te Wai; Capability and Education; Environment and Climate; People and Community; Digitally Enabled; Planning and Standards; and Smart Buyer. The research priorities translate these transformation levers into actionable focus areas balancing practical needs such as asset resilience, data quality, and workforce capability with longer-term goals for innovation, collaboration, and knowledgesharing (see Table 3 below). The table also consolidates the highest-priority research needs across each focus area and expresses them as research questions While not intended to be comprehensive, it identifies areas where research could generate rapid and meaningful impact
Table 3: Mapping Research Priority Areas against Transformation 2050 themes
2.1 Iwi Partnerships and Co Governance; 2.2 Public Perception and Communication
How can mātauranga Māori and Western science be integrated to strengthen co-governance and water decision-making? What approaches best embed Mātauranga concepts into practice and build enduring partnerships? How can communication and engagement better reflect community values, enhance public trust, and encourage behavioural change?
How can training and qualification pathways be designed to build a skilled, locally relevant New Zealand –Pacific workforce? What skills and capabilities will the sector need in the future, and how can they be developed equitably and sustainably?
1.2 Climate Change and Environmental Impacts; 3.1 Water Quality and Public Health
How will climate change affect source waters, flooding, and system resilience across regions? What adaptation and communication strategies best help communities and decision-makers manage climate risk? How can the sector better monitor and manage biosolids, emerging contaminants, and microbial health risks, including in small rural systems?
Te Mana o te Wai
and Community 2.3 Public Behaviour and Risk Response; 2.4 Governance and Decision-Making
Digitally Enabled
1.3 Infrastructure and Asset Management;
3.4
Data, Modelling and Economic Tools
How do people perceive water issues and respond to water-related risks? What governance and funding models best build public confidence and long-term resilience? How can the sector reduce short-term political influence and strengthen evidence-based decisionmaking through community participation?
How can digital technologies, including AI and predictive analytics, improve asset management and planning? What standards and frameworks are needed for consistent, secure, and accessible data sharing? How can modelling and valuation tools better assess infrastructure performance and the benefits of green or nature-based solutions?
How can national guidelines and standards for risk, resilience, and service levels be developed and maintained? How can data-driven condition assessment and predictive analytics improve long-term planning and investment decisions? How can research coordination, management standards, and data systems be aligned to improve collaboration and investment planning?
How can governance, funding, and procurement models incentivise innovation and long-term resilience? What new treatment technologies and contaminant management approaches are most suitable for NZ conditions? How can lessons from international governance and investment frameworks strengthen national performance and sustainability?
Progress and Ongoing Initiatives
Water New Zealand and its partners already have work underway which supports the priorities identified via the research roadmap consultation phase In summary these include:
Conferences
From the flagship Water New Zealand Conference & Expo and Stormwater Conference & Expo, to specialist events on topics such as backflow, modelling, and climate adaptation, Water New Zealand conferences are a cornerstone of research exchange across the sector. They bring together researchers, practitioners, iwi partners, and policy-makers to share new insights, test ideas, and build collaborative networks. Many sector innovations and policy shifts have emerged from conference discussions, with peer-reviewed papers and presentations made freely available online to extend their impact.
Technical Reports
Water New Zealand’s technical reports provide the sector with trusted, evidence-based insights on emerging issues, standards, and best practice Developed in collaboration with members, industry partners, and subject matter experts, these reports translate research into practical guidance for operators, planners, and decision-makers. Topics range from climate adaptation to asset management and digital transformation.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
The Water New Zealand Special Interest Groups (SIGs) form the backbone of sector collaboration and applied innovation Each group brings together practitioners, researchers, and regulators to share experience, identify sector needs, and develop standards and tools for their discipline SIGs play a vital role in bringing best practice into the sector, shaping policy submissions, and mentoring new professionals Through their leadership, the sector maintains momentum on critical topics such as stormwater management, backflow prevention, climate resilience, and digital water systems.
Webinars and Podcasts
The Water New Zealand Special Interest Groups form the backbone of sector collaboration and applied innovation Each group brings together practitioners, researchers, and regulators to share experience, identify sector needs, and develop standards and tools for their discipline SIGs play a vital role in bringing best practice into the sector, shaping policy submissions, and mentoring new professionals Through their leadership, the sector maintains momentum on critical topics such as stormwater management, backflow prevention, climate resilience, and digital water systems
Other Initiatives
Water New Zealand supports a broad range of initiatives that strengthen the sector’s capability and alignment with the Towards 2050 vision. Through programmes advancing Treaty partnership, published articles, new workforce pathways, and tools for climate adaptation and digital readiness, the organisation helps embed cultural values, innovation, and evidence-based practice Collaborative work on standards, procurement, and community engagement further ensures that the sector continues to evolve in a cohesive, future-focused way; building resilience, trust, and shared purpose across Aotearoa New Zealand’s water network
Key Gaps
The consultation process reveals that currently sector initiatives have strong engagement and progress across multiple research and knowledge-sharing platforms. However, activity remains largely fragmented, with conferences, reports, formal research, and partnerships operating in isolation rather than through a shared coordination framework. Because the work is spread out, it’s hard to see overall progress, spot overlap or opportunities to work together, plan funding in advance, and build the momentum needed for real change
Additionally, limited sector guidance on priority research outcomes means public sector researchers (those in universities, PROs and other publicly funded research organisations) may not fully understand how their work contributes to critical infrastructure planning and investment. Establishing clearer mechanisms for coordination, data sharing, and outcome tracking such as a centralised research hub or common impact framework would enable more coherent and transparent progress across all research themes.
Gaps also exist in long-term alignment, and funding. While dissemination occurs, research outputs are not always valued, easy to locate, reusable, or connected to decision-making Embedding mātauranga Māori varies across programmes, and capability-building efforts are not yet systematically linked to research priorities or national reform objectives Finally, without a long-term funding and partnership framework, current activity is largely supported through short-term, project-based investment, which is typically modest often in the order of $20,000 to $80,000 total for industry-applied research
Action Framework
The priorities identified through this work provide a shared framework for coordinated investment, research, and action across Aotearoa New Zealand’s water sector. This roadmap serves both as a strategic guide and a practical implementation plan, focusing collective effort, mobilising partnerships, and driving measurable progress toward shared outcomes
Strategic investment in research is essential not only for public health and environmental resilience but also for productivity and efficiency, ensuring that every dollar spent on infrastructure delivers lasting value The twelve research priorities outlined earlier form the evidence base for this action framework, directing future activity toward the sector’s most critical knowledge gaps.
Funders can use the 12 priority research areas to target investment where it will have the greatest impact, build enduring partnerships, and strengthen longterm capability.
Researchers can align their work with the integrated themes or research questions to ensure relevance, deepen collaboration with iwi and practitioners, and translate new knowledge into practical solutions for the sector
National Context
Aotearoa New Zealand’s science system is being reshaped to improve coordination, capability, and impact across research, innovation, and education
The Science System Advisory Group (SSAG) and MBIE’s Science and Innovation Strategy emphasise the need for a more streamlined and connected research system that aligns science, policy, and mātauranga Māori to maximise public value.
Key reforms include establishing a National Research Council (NRC) to oversee funding, Public Research Organisation New Zealand (PRONZ) to unify Crown Research Institutes, and the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PMSTIAC) to guide national research priorities
Additionally, in support of this shift, new entities, including Innovation New Zealand and Trade and Enterprise New Zealand, are being developed As these reforms are in the early stages of design, the full scope of activities is not yet known
Overall, it is intended that these changes will streamline decision-making, promote collaboration, and embed Māori knowledge as a cornerstone of the national research architecture.
Why This Matters for the Water Research Roadmap
Water research sits at the centre of Aotearoa New Zealand’s mission-led, applied science system supporting national goals for climate adaptation, infrastructure resilience, and sustainable resource use The Water Research Roadmap highlights how water research can contribute to these national missions by identifying the pathways that deliver the greatest environmental, economic, and social benefit
It emphasises the need to build capability across councils, iwi, universities, and public research organisations, while strengthening shared data infrastructure and promoting partnership-based, trust-centred approaches to research. In doing so, it aligns with the Science System Advisory Group’s vision for a more collaborative, inclusive, and impact-driven science ecosystem.
From Strategy to Action
The collective efforts of Water New Zealand, WSMG, SIGs, and the wider research community have laid the foundation for long-term transformation The phased roadmap provides a clear pathway for coordinating sector progress and aligning with national science reform.
Over the coming decades, the sector needs to:
Align and integrate connect sector research priorities with emerging national structures such as the NRC and PRONZ. Secure sustainable funding embed water research within national investment frameworks to enable long-term collaboration
Build collaboration and capability — expand shared platforms, forums, and research hubs to drive innovation and cross-sector learning
Deliver impact embed mātauranga Māori, measure outcomes, and link research to innovation pathways and global practice
The following phased milestones outline how these actions can be realised over time, connecting sector leadership with national reform and delivering measurable outcomes:
Phase 1 – Build Alignment
2025 – 2027
Context: Early SSAG implementation (PMSTIAC and NRC setup)
Sector Priorities:
Map roadmap themes to emerging NRC priority areas; Engage with PMSTIAC consultation processes; Establish links with PRONZ water research streams; Pilot a national water research register and initiate regular review of sector priorities; Advocate for co-funded investment mechanisms to unlock new research streams
Phase 2 – Embed Collaboration
2028 – 2032
Context: PROs embedded and national funding mechanisms finalised
Sector Priorities:
Launch a national Water Research Hub and dedicated sector research forums; Formalise water research partnerships with PROs and universities; Co-develop shared data standards; Integrate roadmap actions into national funding proposals; Support development of collaborative research hubs across key themes
Phase 3 – Accelerate Impact
2032 – 2040
Context: Mature national innovation and research architecture
Sector Priorities
Leverage Innovation NZ and Enterprise NZ to commercialise water technologies; Report sector-wide impact metrics; Align with national research evaluations and international science diplomacy efforts; Embed mātauranga Māori and strengthen workforce capability and research training pathways.
Strategic Actions for Water New Zealand
Through its ongoing role convening the sector and disseminating research through conferences, technical reports, and Special Interest Groups, Water New Zealand is well positioned to lead the next phase of the Water Research Roadmap Building on this foundation, Water New Zealand will focus on four strategic action areas:
Unlock Funding: Champion new research investment models, promote cofunding, and develop partnerships with national funders
Foster Collaboration: Create an open-access research hub, convene sector forums, and strengthen conference and thematic networks.
Identify and Update Priorities: Regularly review research themes, benchmark internationally, and support collaborative research hubs.
Advance Capability and Impact: Evaluate research outcomes, coordinate sector data standards, embed mātauranga Māori, and expand sector training pathways.
Role of Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
Special Interest Groups are the engines of knowledge exchange within Water New Zealand. They provide essential links between best practice, operations, and policy. To maximise their contribution, Water New Zealand will work with SIGs to explore:
Expanding cross-SIG and multidisciplinary research projects to accelerate the translation of findings into practice
Strengthening engagement with iwi, councils, PROs, universities, and international networks to support Treaty-aligned, place-based co-design
Developing and publishing standards that improve consistency in monitoring, benchmarking, and reporting.
Supporting dissemination and impact monitoring through research liaison roles, accessible summaries, and structured feedback loops.
Actions for the Wider Research System
While Water New Zealand cannot direct the actions of others, this roadmap highlights practical opportunities for researchers, funders, and government agencies to align their work with sector priorities New Zealand’s persistent underinvestment in science described by the Science System Advisory Group as a “parsimonious attitude to research funding” and a key reason for low productivity growth presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
With new water infrastructure investment projected at $47.9b over the next 10 years, even modest increases in research investment could deliver transformative value: international evidence shows returns of five- to ten-fold on public research, with similar studies in Australia demonstrating up to $13 in benefits for every dollar invested
Strategic research can reduce long-term infrastructure costs, strengthen innovation pathways, and unlock the productivity gains that have long eluded New Zealand’s economy Achieving this, however, requires support from the Government and funders to enable co-investment, build research capability, and create innovation mechanisms that the sector, currently constrained by historic underinvestment, cannot deliver alone.
Realising this opportunity will require shared commitment across the system. The following actions outline how researchers, funders, and government can use this roadmap to guide their investments, partnerships, and policies toward a more productive, resilient, and innovative water future.
Researcher/Research Organisation Actions
Researchers are central to transforming the roadmap’s priorities into actionable, high-impact science By aligning projects with sector needs and national missions, researchers can help ensure that water research directly informs policy, practice, and innovation To maximise relevance and impact, researchers can:
Align research focus with the roadmap’s priority themes and the evolving national science and innovation missions. Co-design projects with iwi, councils, industry, and community partners to ensure outcomes are practical, equitable, and regionally grounded. Embed mātauranga Māori and support Māori partnership and leadership across all stages of research design, delivery, and translation. Contribute to open science by sharing data, publishing through accessible platforms, and building collective capability across the sector
Funder Actions
Funders play a critical role in shaping the research landscape by enabling longterm, coordinated investment and fostering collaboration across science, policy, and practice To maximise impact and align with national reform priorities, funders can:
Embed dedicated water research funding within new frameworks to ensure sustained investment and alignment with national research priorities
Support coordinated stewardship research through shared data collection, integrated environmental and human monitoring, and improved natural hazard reporting to strengthen the evidence base for resilient water management.
Incentivise partnership-based approaches by prioritising research that involves iwi/Māori collaboration, co-governance models, and cross-sector participation.
Government Actions
Government has a pivotal role in setting the policy and funding environment that enables coordinated, high-impact water research. To unlock the sector’s full potential and align with national science reform, government can:
Make water a visible national priority by embedding it within research strategies, advisory council agendas, and long-term mission frameworks.
Establish enabling policy and legislative settings that support collaborative, cross-sector research platforms and shared data systems.
Design stable funding and policy mechanisms that increase research opportunities, sustain co-investment and strengthen applied research and innovation pathways
Uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equity principles in all research governance, policy, and funding decisions to deliver inclusive, communitycentred outcomes
Researcher/Research Organisations Water New Zealand
Align research focus
Co-design projects
Embed mātauranga Māori
Contribute to open science
Funders
Embed dedicated water research funding
Support coordinated stewardship research
Incentivise partnershipbased approaches
Unlock funding
Foster collaboration
Identify and update priorities
Advance capability and impact
Government
Make water a visible national priority
Establish enabling policy and legislative settings
Design stable funding and policy mechanisms
Uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equity principles
Conclusion
Aotearoa New Zealand’s water sector is entering a decisive phase of renewal. Delivering lasting solutions to the challenges of climate change, infrastructure resilience, and public confidence will require unified, research-driven action across the sector. The Water Research Roadmap provides a blueprint for this transformation; offering a framework that connects science, policy, culture, and practice. It underscores the value of coordinated, inclusive research, where accessibility, partnership, and embedding mātauranga Māori drive better outcomes for people, the environment, and the sector as a whole
Realising this vision depends on collective commitment As national science reforms take shape, the water sector is well placed to lead by example demonstrating how coordinated, values-based research can deliver measurable impact for communities and the economy alike
Funders, councils, iwi, researchers, and industry leaders must work together to activate the roadmap’s action framework, establish sustainable funding pathways, and invest in shared capability. The sector’s strength will lie in its ability to collaborate openly, value diverse knowledge systems, and translate insight into innovation. With leadership and partnership, Aotearoa New Zealand can build a smarter, safer, and more sustainable water future, ensuring that every research investment delivers enduring benefits for people, the environment, and generations to come