PULSESURVEY RESULTS
Thisisourfourthsurveytoinformdecisionmakersofthechallengesand opportunitiesfacingourmembers.
ThepurposewastogatheraccurateinformationandinsightsfromacrossAotearoa NewZealandaboutbusinessconfidence,workforcecapacity,thestatusofprojects andfuturecontracts,andactionsthatcouldbetakentosupportthesector
ThesurveytookplaceinNovember2025andcovers84respondentsfrom companieswhoareWaterNewZealandmembers.
Background Keyfindings
Responsesoverthelastsixmonthspaintagraduallyimprovingpictureofbusiness outlook.Businessconditionsandbusinessconfidencewerebothattheirhighest levelssincethissurveybegantwoyearsago,withnearlyhalfnotingan improvementinconditionsoverthelastsixmonthsandanoptimisticoutlook.
Otherpromisingsignsarethat;
Morethanhalfofsurveyrespondentsareexpectingtheirturnovertoincreasein thecomingsixmonths
CouncilandCouncil-ControlledOrganisationexpenditureisexpectedto increase.Ofthe20CouncilandCouncil-ControlledOrganisationswho respondedtothesurvey,14areexpectingtoincreasecapitalexpenditure,and13 toincreaseoperationalexpenditureinthecomingsixmonths
Theproportionofcontractsissuedversuscancelled,deferredorpausedhas improvedmarkedlyfromprevioussurveys.
Morethan60percentoforganisationsreportedvacancies–thehighest proportionsincethesurveybegan
However,improvementisstillneeded.Withmorethanhalftherespondents(53%) expressingnegativechangesinbusinessconditionsandconfidence.Whilethere areanumberofvacanciesavailableformidandseniorlevelworkers,theproportion ofvacanciesforjuniorpositionsisonly12percent-suggestingchallengesfornew entrantstothesectorinfindingpathwaystoworkinwater
Themajorcallfromthesectorwasformorecertainty–withcertaintyoffunding nowlevelpeggingwiththeneedforgreaterpoliticalcertaintyandregulatory certainty.Consistencyinnationalstandardsandvisibilityofthefutureproject pipelinecontinuetorankhighlyonthelistoffactorsthatwouldmakeapositive impactonbusinesses
Respondent profile
Businessconditions andconfidence
Businessconditionsandconfidence–significantliftbutroomforfurther improvement.
47percentofrespondentsreportedsomeorsignificantimprovementin businessconditions,comparedto25percentinMarch2025
47percentofrespondentswerealsooptimisticorfairlyoptimisticaboutthe futurebusinessenvironment
Thiswasasignificantimprovementfromayearago,whenonly12percentof participantsfelttherewassomeorsignificantimprovementinbusiness confidence.
Theexpectationsofcouncilsandcouncil-controlledorganisations arepromising.
63percentofthe16respondingcouncilsexpectedtoincreasetheircapital andoperationalexpenditureinthecomingyear.Onlysixpercentexpected capitalexpendituretodecrease,andnoneanticipatedadecreasein operationalexpenditure.
Changes in business confidence, conditions and turnover expectations
Change in business conditions in the last six months
Change in business confidence in the last six months
Expectations for water related turnover in the coming year
Expenditure expectations
How councils and council controlled organisations expect their expenditure to change in the next year
Changessought
What changes in the sector would have a positive impact on your organisation?
Certainty of funding - Well defined, committed and funded pipeline to support long-term investment
Regulatory certainty - Clear and stable regulatory frameworks to support compliance and investment
Consistent national standardsStandardised regulations and technical guidelines across regions
Visibility of the project pipeline - Improved planning and forecasting to provide industry confidence and investment certainty
Technology and Innovation - Increased support for new and emerging technologies
Capacity - Enhanced training and development opportunities to build workforce capability
Scale of Water Services Providers - Appropriate organisational structures to ensure efficiency, capability, and service delivery
Capability - Availability of suitably experienced staff through improved international recruitment and workforce retention initiatives
Procurement - More transparent, standardised, and efficient procurement processes, including whole-of-life costing and supplier diversity
Contracts
Atotalof724contractswereissuedtorespondentsofthesurvey,withthe largestproportion(244)relatingtogrowth,followedbyrenewals(189).
Respondentsreportedthat120oftheircontractswerepaused,deferredor cancelledinthesixmonthspriortothesurvey,representing21percentofall contractualmovement Whileconcerning,thiswasasignificantimprovement onayearago,when39percentofcontractualchangesrelatedtopaused, deferredorcancelledcontracts.
Number of contracts issued or changed for organisations over the last six months
Purpose of contracts issued over the last six months
Vacanciesinthe sector
Thesurveyindicatedmoreactivevacanciesthanhavebeenreported previously,with60percentoforganisationsindicatingtheyhavevacancies availableatthetimeofreporting.Thiscorrespondswiththeslight improvementinbusinessconfidenceoverall.
Onlyasmallproportionofthesevacanciesprovideopportunitiesfornew entrantsinthesectorhowever,withonly12percentofvacantpositions availabletojunioremployees.
Percentage of organisations with vacancies
Long standing vacancies
Inability to recruit due to organisation restrictions
Nature of Vacancies
Voluntary resignations as people head to other opportunities
Voluntary resignations as people head overseas
Short-term vacancies
What level of seniority are vacancies
Mid, more than 3 years experience but less than 10 years
Senior, more than 10 years experience
Junior, under 3 years experience
Thankyou
Ahugethankyoutothe84respondentsthatcompletedthispulse survey.
Theresultsoutlinedherehaveprovidedinsightfulandvaluable informationthatsupportsourstakeholders’understandingofissues facingoursectorandenablesWaterNewZealandtoadvocatefor robustwaterservicesdeliverysettings.
Kaoratewai,kaoratewhenua,kaorangātāngata Ifthewaterishealthy,thelandishealthy,thepeoplearehealthy
