Water July/August 2021

water MAY 2015 | ISSUE 189

JULY / AUGUST 2021 ISSUE 220

Stormwater Conference celebrates 20 years Boosting Auckland’s water supply Taking a culturally-led, science-informed approach to freshwater management

The Taniwha in the valley: A look at the health of the Hutt River

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CONTENTS WATER NEW ZEALAND

President: Helen Atkins Board Members: Troy Brockbank; Garth Dibley; Lorraine Kendrick; Priyan Perera, Iain Rabbitts, Dr Deborah Lind, Tim Gibson

water Issue 220 JULY / AUGUST 2021

Chief Executive: Gillian Blythe SIG Co-ordinator: Katrina Guy Administration Officer: Pip Donnelly Technical Manager: Noel Roberts Principal Data Scientist: Lesley Smith Training Development Manager: Mumtaz Parker Communications Manager: Debra Harrington Marketing Co-ordinator: Renee Butler Administrator: Paris Elwood SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS Backflow: Jim McGibbon, M: +64 22 010 3195

INSIDE 4 President’s comment – Beginning the long journey to water reform 6 Water New Zealand celebrates Matariki

10 Big changes ahead for backflow 12 Towards a zero-carbon water future 16 Stormwater Conference coverage

8 An update on Taumata Arowai

Climate Change: Jon Reed, P: +64 9 300 9267 Smart Water Infrastructure: Michael Howden, P +64 4 473 7551 Modelling: Fiona Macdonald, M: +64 21 390 781 Small Wastewater & Natural Systems: Sandy Ormiston Stormwater: Kate Purton, P: 021 0375 872 Water Service Managers’ Group: Martyn Cole, P: +64 27 555 4751 Young Water Professionals: AKL: Olivia Philpott, P: +64 22 043 2419 WLG: George Beveridge, P: +64 21 718 173 CHC: Liam Allan, P: +64 27 385 7003 WeCan: Christine McCormack, P: +64 22 512 3553 WATER JOURNAL Managing Editor: Alan Titchall M +64 27 405 0338 alan@contrafed.co.nz Contrafed Publishing

FEATURES 18 Stormwater Award Winners

52 Reducing plastic at home and work

24 Retaining talent and expertise

54 Mussels set to help clean Auckland

30 Let’s shed the lead 34 Waikato A treatment plant to boost Auckland’s water supply 44 Help wanted from skiers and snow bunnies 46 The taniwha in the valley: Hutt River is both threatened and threatening, but is it just misunderstood?

Harbour 58 Culturally-led, science-informed water management 64 Sydney Water biomethane deals points to renewable energy future 68 Super-critical considerations for steep stream design 74 Education: An opportunity to inspire

Contributors: Mary Searle Bell Advertising Sales: Debbie Laing M: +64 27 455 0223 Design: Contrafed Publishing 1 Grange Road, Mount Eden,

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77 Training – Workforce training

Distribution: Pip Donnelly

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P: +64 4 472 8925 DISCLAIMER: Water New Zealand reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising material submitted for publication.

The opinions expressed in contributions to Water are not necessarily those of Water New Zealand. The information contained in this publication is given in good faith and has been derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, neither Water New Zealand, nor any person(s) involved in the preparation of this publication accept any form of liability whatsoever for its content including advertisements, editorials, opinions, advice or information. This extends to any consequences from its use. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or ink–jet printing without prior written permission of the publishers.

ISSN 1179-2949 (Print) ISSN 2382-1906 (Online) www.waternz.org.nz

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‘Ka ora te wai, ka ora te whenua, ka ora nga tangata’ ‘If the water is healthy, the land is healthy, the people are healthy’

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The official journal of Water New Zealand – New Zealand’s only water environment periodical. Established in 1958, Water New Zealand is a non-profit organisation.

JULY / AUGUST 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

3

WATER NEW ZEALAND FROM THE PRESIDENT

Beginning the long journey to water reform Helen Atkins President, Water New Zealand

T

he release last month by the Department of Internal Affairs of the latest modelling by the Water Industry for Scotland (WICS) on the cost of closing our infrastructure gap confirms what most of us already knew: that we’re facing a daunting road ahead of us.

While the precise needs of our communities in the future will evolve over coming years, it’s pretty clear that we’re going to have to dig deeper into our collective pockets to ensure that everyone has access to safe drinking water, and the environment is protected from all damaging discharges including wastewater and stormwater in the case of our sector.

WICS based its eye-watering $120-$185 billion estimate on detailed information from our councils about their projected population growth, investment plans and the current state, to the best of their knowledge, of the pipes in the ground.

Competing budgetary pressures have meant that many of our councils have taken an ‘out of sight out of mind’ attitude to pipe depreciation and it’s only when sewage pours into our harbours or down our main streets that the issue can no longer be ignored.

It is soon to be the case that our new regulator, Taumata Arowai, will start to hold utilities to account for a failure to meet drinking water standards. The time has therefore come for water services to become a priority in our council chambers. We can no longer expect that we will be allowed the latitude we have had in the past where, in essence, we have been turning a blind eye to expired resource consents and wastewater discharges.

The specific regulatory framework that will apply to water services fits into a much bigger picture.

A myriad of new environmental regulations and legislation are heading our way – the Climate Change Adaptation Act, and the successors to the Resource Management Act, the Zero Carbon Act, as well as the review of local government. Importantly, the concept of Te Mana o te Wai, that I have previously discussed, and the governance and stewardship role Maori will have in the new regulatory environment will see a fundamental shift in the way

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water services are managed and regulated.

In short, we are in for a once in a generation shift. This will come with the obvious need for increased workforce capacity – a workforce that is already creaking at the seams despite the influx of returning New Zealanders as a result of the pandemic.

Whichever way the Government’s reform process unfolds, it’s very clear that there will be a need for more people and that will be more wide-ranging and specialised roles including emerging roles we once thought were in the realm of science fiction.

In partnership with Connexis, Taumata Arowai and the Department of Internal Affairs, Water New Zealand has begun working on a workforce development strategy that will help us map out the skills required over the next 10 years to meet the demands of the new environment.

This strategy has been needed for a long time but we’ve managed to get the go-ahead thanks to Covid-19 response funding. Closed borders – possibly for some time – means there is even more of a need to know what skills we require into the future and, importantly, be able to plan for them.

This is certainly a welcome move and something we will keep you up to date on.

And this is where I put in an unashamed plug for our Water New Zealand Conference and Expo in Hamilton in September. As always this is a must-attend conference.

This year we will again be running an important full day preconference workshop where you will get the opportunity to talk about the new regulatory environment with Taumata Arowai and listen to the Department of Internal Affairs discuss the implications of the reform process – so two critical big picture discussions you won’t want to miss.

I look forward to seeing you in September.

Ngā mihi o Matariki, te tau hou Māori. (Happy Matariki) Helen Atkins President

Key Speakers include

Register Now Registrations for the Water New Zealand Conference & Expo Tuesday 21 – Thursday 23 September 2021 are now open and the preliminary programme is online.

Pre-conference Workshop Monday 20 September

Taumata Arowai and Department of Internal Affairs will discuss the pillars of the reform programme.

Hon Nanaia Mahuta Local Government Minister

Dr Souxsie Wiles Guest Speaker

Bill Bayfield Chief Executive of Taumata Arowai

Traci Houpapa Chair – Federation of Māori Authorities

THANK YOU TO OUR PREMIER PARTNERS

An Auckland Council Organisation

GO TO WWW.WATERNZCONFERENCE.ORG.NZ TO REGISTER OR FIND OUT MORE

WATER NEW ZEALAND UPFRONT

Celebrating Matariki There are three stars in the Matariki star cluster with the deep connection to water: Waipuna-ā-rangi – the spring in the sky. Rain from Waipuna-ā-rangi helps nourish the land and waterbodies and is returned through evaporation. Using the water cycle, Waipuna-ā-rangi reminds us that manaaki (generosity) that is given to others, will eventually be returned.

Waitī – rainfall from Waipuna-a-rangi nourishes the freshwater bodies watched by Waitī before they flow out to the saltwater bodies of Waitā.

Waitā – associated with the oceans and salt waterbodies which receive the flow of water from the freshwater bodies on the land, reminding us that our actions upstream can have adverse effects downstream.

Matariki marks the beginning of a New Year, a time to remember those who have passed during the past year but also a time for celebration and looking ahead. Matariki hunga, Matariki ahunga nui - Matariki has many admirers, Matariki brings us together.

Jake Hewitt, commercial and operations manager, civil infrastructure, Aecom Matariki is a time where I reflect on my whakapapa and how fortunate I am to have this heritage in Aotearoa.

When Matariki and the six sisters emerge, I’m reminded of the amazing voyages they took into the unknown across expansive oceans with the stars as their primary form of navigation. Stars, water, wind all combine for wayfinding – an epic skill. A time for celebration, sharing kai with family and friends and looking forward to the year ahead.

David Rei Miller, activity manager – water, Palmerston North City Council For me, Matariki represents looking ahead together. It is a time to celebrate and focus on what we have, and to look forward to the future as the beautiful Puanga or Matariki rise into the heavens before the first light of day.

I was privileged to be asked to speak at a Puanga event in Hāwera in 2012, after attending the Transit of Venus Forum. This was a time to look back on our nation’s history, and our shared pathway forward. I was delighted to see people of many backgrounds get together for stories and kai at the Hāwera observatory in the hours before dawn, to watch the rise of Puanga. As someone of Māori and European descent, it was both important and inspiring to me.

Hirini Reedy, Wairua strategist Water is not just a resource, it is the source of life. From the amniotic waters of our mothers’ wombs to the great oceans on Earth where the human species gestated. It deserves our utmost respect. Matariki is about the

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origins of water in our part of the universe. In the DNA of our beings. The star intelligence inside our cells. We still have not evolved much. Just look at the state of the water on the planet right now. It says a lot about us. Time to wake up. Kia hiwa ra, kia mataara, kia Matariki te wairua.

Kate Walker, environmental scientist, Pattle Delamore Partners For me Matariki is about remembering loved ones who have passed on in the past year as well as the years before. Celebrating them and reflecting on the knowledge and values they instilled in me that has helped me get to where I am now. Matariki is also a time where I am reminded of the greatness of our Tipuna and how amazing it is to be Māori.”

Troy Brockbank, Pou Ārahi Māori advisory lead, Pattle Delamore Partners Where I am from in Te Tai Tokerau (Northland), it is more common to celebrate the start of the tau hou (new year) with the rising of Puanga (Rigel in the Orion constellation) - which rises approximately one week prior to Matariki around the Oturu moon phase. This is due to visibility from my iwi/hapū location on the west coast.

For me Puanga and Matariki signal a time to reflect on the past, be present in the now, and look forward to the future. It’s a time to remember our loved ones e riro atu ki te pō (departed to the night/ darkness), celebrate life with our living colleagues, friends and whānau with a hakari (feast), and plan our goals and vision for the coming year.

Puanga kai rau - Puanga of abundant food, Matariki ahunga nui - Matariki brings us together.

Ruatara Paapu, software development manager, Mott MacDonald Matariki is a time for planning and beginning. My hapū just had our first hui for planning the poupou for our new marae, Matariki is perhaps the most fitting time to start this.

Mumtaz Parker, training development manager, Water New Zealand To me, Matariki means a new year, new beginnings and needs to be celebrated. There is so much change happening, let’s use this as an opportunity to participate and be a champion for positive impactful change.

Nanaia Mahuta, minister of local government Matariki is an opportunity to reflect on the past and embrace and celebrate the future, which can be summed up by this whakatauaki: “Tirama mai rā e Matariki i te rangi, horahia mai rā ki te whenua, ki te moana, ki a tātou katoa. Aio ki te Pō, ka ngaro, ka ngaro. Kānapanapa ki te Ao, Kōkiritia, whakatipuria!

“Shine your guiding light oh Matariki as a beacon to illuminate the pathway ahead for us all, by land, by sea, by sky. Let those who have departed go in peace.

Let those who remain, gleam with hope and go forth to prosperity”.

Gillian Blythe, chief executive, Water New Zealand Originally from England, my first introduction to Matariki was through my children at Northland School, Wellington. The school celebrates the beginning of Matariki with a shared breakfast. This July, I will enjoy taking the time to reflect on the past and future – seeing Matariki during early morning runs on Wellington’s waterfront.

The Water Stars of Matariki 19 June — 11 July 2021

Matariki Waipunārangi rain

Waitī freshwater

Waitā seawater

Within the star cluster of Matariki there are three stars associated with water and all that rely on it.

Linked to each other through the water cycle, rain falls into the freshwater streams, flowing into the seawater, and then evaporating into clouds to produce rain and so the cycle goes on.

WATER NEW ZEALAND UPFRONT

An update on Taumata Arowai

By Ray McMillan, head of regulatory, Taumata Arowai With the Government’s Three Waters reforms gathering pace, the current water services regulatory landscape remains, excuse the pun, fluid and dynamic.

We know Taumata Arowai – the new water services regulator – will have a vital role in the reform of three waters. But it is important to remember we are not driving these reforms.

As we await the final shape of the Water Services Bill and outcome of the Three Waters Reforms, our role as the nation’s independent water services regulator is to build operational capability and a team passionate about better outcomes for the health and well-being of water, people, and all our communities.

Since we became an independent Crown entity on March 1, this year, Taumata Arowai has been hard at work. Here are some important developments over recent months: New regional offices: Taumata Arowai will have regional offices in Hamilton, Palmerston North, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Team leaders have recently been appointed for each of these offices. The national team is based in Wellington.

Independent board: Dame Karen Poutasi has been appointed to chair the inaugural Taumata Arowai board. She brings considerable experience in management and governance, with crucial experience as a member of the Havelock North Drinking Water Inquiry panel. Other board members are Troy Brockbank, Riki Ellison, Brian Hanna, Virginia Hope, Loretta Lovell, and Anthony Wilson.

Māori Advisory Group appointments: In mid-June Minister Kelvin Davis, as acting Local Government Minister, announced appointments to Taumata Arowai Māori Advisory Group. The group will be chaired by Tipa Mahuta, who has over 25 years’ experience in environmental and health governance. Tipa brings an extensive background in Resource Management Act and water conservation, with service to the boards of iwi Māori mandated entities, the Waikato District Health Board and as a Waikato District Councillor. The other members are Bonita Bigham, Riki Ellison, Ian Ruru, Frank Hippolite, Loretta Lovell, and Pita Paul.

Current workstreams • Te Mana o te Wai Taumata Arowai is developing key enablers to ensure it meets its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and gives full effect to Te Mana o te Wai. This includes work being developed to start up the Taumata Arowai Māori Advisory Group, to operationalise the regulatory framework and how the treaty and Te Mana o te Wai is valued as part of the culture shift expected of the water services sector.

• Water Safety Planning Taumata Arowai proposes a culture shift, from water safety plans to continuous water safety planning. Considerable work is underway to provide guidance on the Taumata Arowai approach to water safety planning, the culture change we want to see, and our expectations of water suppliers.

• Source water risk management plans Similarly, considerable work is underway to understand what will be required of water suppliers, how Te Mana o te Wai is considered in source water risk management plans, and the guidance to be provided to water suppliers.

• New standards and rules The pre-Christmas 2020 drafts have been amended in response to feedback from four Taumata Arowai reference groups. We hope to have these to the sector soon, but this, of course, will be dependent on the timing of the Water Services Bill.

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Our role as the nation’s independent water services regulator is to build operational capability and a team passionate about better outcomes for the health and well-being of water, people, and all our communities.

Ray McMillan, head of regulatory, Taumata Arowai

• Water quality monitoring Work is underway to build a web-based portal for all water suppliers to report outcomes of water quality monitoring. The next step will be user acceptance testing, then wider exposure to the sector.

• Notifications, incidents, and emergencies We are currently working on policies and procedures for managing notifications, incidents, and emergencies, also detail about how water suppliers will notify these to us.

• Regulatory approach Taumata Arowai will behave in a manner that is proportionate with the scale, complexity and risks associated with water supplies. Our approach will be set out in a document, available for all water suppliers to see on our website.

• Taumata Arowai IT system Behind all Taumata Arowai activities will be an IT system that tracks the activities we undertake and the outcomes of those activities. A registration portal is under construction and data gathering and analysis systems are being built.

Connecting with communities Not only will we have regional offices, but our leadership group is meeting with stakeholders throughout the country.

There is huge value in engaging with people in their own locations and communities; these visits provide us with the opportunity to see and hear about what matters to people the most. Recently, we’ve visited Tai Tokerau, Queenstown, Gisborne, and an Auckland area marae. There are more city and regional visits coming up.

The difference between areas can be great – geographically, the nature of the communities, and their issues, as water suppliers and consumers.

Taumata Arowai/Water New Zealand webinars We have now had three in the series of six-weekly Water New Zealand webinars, with our principal technical advisor Jim Graham joining me to answer questions.

The huge number of questions sent through show the thirst for information on how the new drinking water regulatory space will work. Also, these questions help inform us on what needs to be communicated.

The next webinar is on Monday 2 August at 11am. Please join us then. If you’re unable to make the live event, a recording is posted on Water New Zealand and Taumata Arowai websites soon afterwards.

To find out more about Taumata Arowai, go to www.taumataarowai.govt.nz.

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JULY / AUGUST 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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WATER NEW ZEALAND UPFRONT

Big changes ahead for backflow Water New Zealand’s Backflow Group chair, Jim McGibbon, says the new regulatory environment signals a long-awaited and much-needed shift towards better safety protection from backflow contamination.

The new Water Services Bill will forever change how New Zealand regards water, and the spotlight will finally go on areas that have been overlooked for far too long, such as backflow. The sector needs to be prepared for the changes ahead.

For a long time, the backflow of water through either back siphonage or back pressure has been an overlooked feature of water quality here and it has been seen as more of a bolt-on than a must-have by both water suppliers and property owners.

But this isn’t the case on the international stage.

Why? Is the risk simply lower in New Zealand than elsewhere?

No, it isn’t.

In more litigious societies (for example North America), backflow prevention is a serious concern as the consequences of illness or death through contamination can have extreme legal ramifications, with class action lawsuits featuring in many backflow incidents. Simply put, it is too expensive not to have a backflow programme.

Across the Tasman, Australia has taken a proactive approach to backflow prevention and embedded the philosophy into the standard operating procedure. Once ingrained, it has become the norm.

These different steps have underpinned the requirement to keep people safe and now, finally, a robust legal framework has been crafted to get Kiwis to up our game.

This framework borrows from both models and though the method of implementation is not yet crystal clear, the fact that it has to be implemented is inescapable.

So, what will this mean for the industry in terms of backflow prevention?

For a start, there will be clearer definitions given by Taumata Arowai. Though the wording in the new Water Services Bill is not too dissimilar to that in the current Health Act (which gives a demarcation between the responsibility of the water supplier and that of the property owner that has been flexibly interpreted), the rules that will accompany this portion of the Bill give even greater insight.

Still at the draft stage, these rules will push for properties to be surveyed to establish that all protections are accounted for, not just those at the boundary.

It is hoped that these surveys will join up both the Building Act and the Bill to bring accountability and understanding for all aspects of backflow prevention.

Once alerted, property owners will have a legal obligation to mitigate the risks to both occupiers and the network supply.

Second, this change brings with it a requirement for training.

Having competent inspectors, surveyors, independently qualified people (IQPs) and plumbers will be a high priority and there is a great educational opportunity here that should not be missed.

Ask any plumber or IQP who has dealt with backflow devices and they will tell you horror stories of bad installs, remote testing and flagrant

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non-compliance. All of this can end if we have the passion for it and if we are able to train people to a higher standard we can all benefit from it.

For me, the greatest aspect of being part of a backflow group is that shared knowledge and experience that has come with years of training. I learn something new every time we meet and my fervent hope is that the people undertaking this training will have that same experience.

Third, it also brings a great opportunity for three disparate parties to come together. It’s no great secret that there has been a three way split over backflow device testing with IQPs, the fire industry, and the supplier each pulling the rope in different directions.

Compliance agents (and their IQPs) have staked their claim to some devices, the fire industry has clung to theirs, and the water utilities have invoked the Health Act to test what they deem to be boundary devices.

At the start of May 2021, I had my contractors audit a backflow device on a property boundary that had been tested under the Building Warrant of Fitness by both an IQP (under SS7) and a fire engineer (under SS1) in the same week. The customer was double charged for this. This level of confusion and territorialism has led to a fractious relationship and that must cease if we are to move forward successfully.

For too long IQPs have felt powerless to raise issues as they are only there at the behest of the compliance agent or customer and thus are answerable to both.

If an IQP identifies a problem on site, be it a cross connection or devices that are not featured on the Compliance Schedule they are seen as trouble makers and as a consequence can find themselves out of a job for the next round of testing.

Honesty and integrity can be seen as a poor career choice. That must be a difficult position to be in and though some registrars set ethical parameters as part of IQP registration, adherence to those can be problematic if you end up losing work as a result.

The fire industry faces a similar issue. Some fire professionals are of the opinion that devices connected to the fire lines should be upgraded to testable units; something that will doubtless now happen in the new regime. However, this view makes them unpopular with their colleagues who state that the units were installed to standard in the 1970s and as a consequence should not be played with for fear of pressure loss, hydraulic adjustment and substantial cost to the customer. Sure, the device may not be sufficient to stop stagnant water getting into the building in the event of a backflow incident, but it isn’t leaking and therefore it’s compliant. You have to feel for the people stuck in the middle on this issue as it cannot be an easy position to be in when your raison d’etre is protecting the lives of your customers.

Then you have the water suppliers, some of whom may have barely

Chlorinated tap water wins best tasting title

functional backflow programmes that are at the mercy of poor funding, a lack of skilled professionals, and no oversight by any current regulators.

Under the new Bill and accompanying rules, these suppliers will have a short time to get themselves compliant and will need guidance and assistance from other suppliers to make this happen.

Again, this provides a tremendous learning opportunity and a chance to get us all on the right path to keep all New Zealanders safe.

Finally we should not overlook the role of Water New Zealand in this.

Professional insights, directed leadership and robust training packages are firmly in their wheelhouse and it is hoped that Water New Zealand will be seen as key drivers.

Taumata Arowai will point the way, Water New Zealand will lay out a clear map and identify the hazards, and then all water professionals will make that journey with the knowledge that the voyage is necessary and the route is safe.

The country’s best tasting tap water was decided in Napier back in May after the Water Industry Operations Group (WIOG) hosted the Ixom 2021 Water Taste Test competition.

Numerous water suppliers from around the country submitted samples of their drinking water, which was judged on qualities including colour, clarity, odour and mouthfeel.

And the tap supply in the small township of Pleasant Point in the Timaru District was named the best tasting tap water for the second time (previously in 2019), along with an unnamed supply from the Waimate District as one of the two other finalists, also for the second time.

Judges noted the winning sample’s good clarity, clean taste, and soft mouth feel.

Timaru District mayor Nigel Bowen says in the two years between awards for the township, chlorine has been added to the supply. “It shows that you can have really safe water, and it can taste really good as well.”

Pleasant Point Community Board chair and Timaru district councillor Richard Lyon adds that the chlorination was necessary for “the safety of our residents.”

The judges were Graeme Thacker, founding member and life member of WIOG; Mike Monaghan, former WIOG chair and water operations manager at Palmerston North City Council; Seaton Rolleston, sales manager water and energy at Ixom; Jim Graham, principal technical advisor at the new national water regulator; and Richard Painter, winemaker, Villa Maria Estate.

WIOG chairman Nick Hewer-Hewitt says: “The competition is a fun way to raise awareness of the quality of New Zealand’s tap water, and to recognise the efforts of local water operators and their teams to deliver safe, clean drinking water to their communities.”

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JULY / AUGUST 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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WATER NEW ZEALAND UPFRONT

Towards a zero-carbon water future Water New Zealand staff member and active member of the Climate Change Group, Lesley Smith, outlines the work the group is doing to help navigate the water sector towards a zero carbon future.

Scientists tell us that this decade, 2020 to 2030, must be the decade of action on climate change. With He Pou a Rangi providing its first set of advice to government ‘Ināia tonu nei: a low emissions future for Aotearoa’, you won’t have missed the headlines on the myriad of actions needed to transition us towards that goal.

Interdependencies between water and carbon are highlighted in the report as an area warranting special focus. They point to opportunities for a low carbon transition to support goals for freshwater health, and the role of water availability in dictating land use and renewable energy opportunities.

Pleasingly, the report also recommends the government work in partnership with Māori and local government to develop a strategy that addresses climate change, water and land issues in parallel.

Notwithstanding the urgency of action, and the myriad of interactions between water and carbon, the need to address the carbon impacts of water infrastructure (both embedded in our assets and operationally) is left largely unaddressed.

Water New Zealand’s Climate Change group is keen to ensure that this gap is not left unfilled. Initiatives currently underway are:

Previous webinars can be accessed through the webinar section of the Water New Zealand library, including, introducing climate change, Māori world views on climate and carbon pathways, and the Anglian water experience.

You can also join the chair of the Climate Change Technical Working Group, Nick Dempsey, for the next webinar summarising tools available to help you understand and reduce emissions.

Standardising wastewater treatment plant emissions Currently there is no standardised approach to assess emissions generated by wastewater treatment processes. To fill this gap, a consortium of consultants is developing a standardised approach for determining wastewater treatment processes, discharge and sludge greenhouse gas emissions.

The project is being delivered by consultants from Toitū Envirocare, GHD, Beca, Mott MacDonald and WSP, with funding assistance from the Water Services Managers Group, supplemented by pro-bono contributions from each of the consultancies.

Development of low carbon guidance for the water sector

Addressing research gaps in wastewater emissions

The purpose of the guidance document, “Navigating to net zero: Aotearoa’s water sector low carbon journey”, is to help guide water service providers and their supply chains on the journey to a low carbon future by outlining steps to mitigate carbon emissions from operations and capital works programmes. The pathway will be launched at the Water New Zealand conference in September.

We know it’s possible for wastewater treatment plants to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Now we need to figure out how.

The Climate Technical Working Group has developed a compendium of research questions addressing gaps in our understanding of wastewater emissions and how to reduce them. We are connecting with research providers from around the country to explore where these can be matched with research expertise. If you have experience in this space, we would love to hear from you.

Climate symposium

Hosted on June 23, this climate-friendly event was held online and at virtually connected regional hubs around Aotearoa. Speakers from the youth climate action movement, the Water Services Association of Australia, Taumata Arowai, and the special interest group came together to share knowledge, inspire action, and workshop solutions.

Output of the workshop will further inform the low carbon guidance referred to above.

Climate change webinar series

The Climate Change Communications Group, chaired by Andrew Springer of WSP, has launched a thought-provoking webinar series, traversing a broad range of water and climate related issues.

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Conference workshop

Building on its launch at the 2020 conference, the Climate Change Group will be hosting a workshop at the Water New Zealand Conference and Expo 2021. This is an ideal opportunity to hear about the work the group has underway, build on this momentum, and grow your network of peers to ensure that climate issues remain front and centre of our sector priorities.

The Climate Change Group is a collection of passionate volunteers from across the water sector, who co-ordinate our work programmes online. To register your interest contact the group’s administrator katrina.guy@waternz.org.nz.

Industry supplier starts charitable trust

First pipe laid for Central Interceptor

Asmuss, one of the country’s largest suppliers of steel and flow control products, is celebrating 100 years. In addition to hosting nationwide celebrations for staff, suppliers, clients, and partners, Asmuss’ board and fourth-generation family member Derek Brickell announced the launch of a charitable trust.

The trust will provide financial support to local communities where the company has a physical presence. Supporting areas such as financial literacy, budgeting services, cultural, leadership, youth development focused on employment pathways and young family support.

CEO Dean Brown says the Asmuss Charitable Trust will continue the company’s commitment to create a stronger New Zealand by helping customers, communities and people succeed.

In June, a micro–Tunnel Boring Machine (mTBM) called Domenica started digging and laying the first pipe for Auckland’s Central Interceptor wastewater tunnel project.

The 12-metre long mTBM laid the first three metre section of the 2.1-metre diameter pipe at the May Road, Mount Roskill site. Another 328 pipe sections will follow over the next four months to create the first of two link sewers, which will branch off the main Central Interceptor Tunnel.

The mTBM will travel up to 18 metres per day, and digging will take place 24 hours a day, six days per week to complete the first drive. An underground operator runs the mTBM, which uses a pipe-jacking method of construction.

The main TBM will begin its journey digging the major tunnel from Mangere in July.

JULY / AUGUST 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

13

WATER NEW ZEALAND UPFRONT

New strategy seeks to address workforce gaps

By Gillian Blythe, chief executive, Water New Zealand.

Water New Zealand’s technical manager Noel Roberts brings engineering students at Canterbury’s Ara Institute up to date with the three waters reforms and future opportunities in the sector.

Where a career in the water industry can take you

By Renee Butler, marketing coordinator Water New Zealand.

Young water professionals meeting in Auckland recently found out just how varied a career in water can be. More than 65 water professionals heard stories around three very different roles and the inspirations that led to choosing a career in water.

Safeswim programme manager, Holly Foreman, talked about her experiences growing up in the UK in a flood-prone region. This is where she found her passion for the environment and began her career working with government and communities to protect their homes and businesses from flooding. These days, Holly’s role at Auckland Council helps keep Aucklanders well informed about water quality and swimming conditions at their favourite swimming spots.

Brendon Harkness, lead water network planner at Watercare, spoke on his work implementing clean water systems in refugee communities in Sudan and Bangladesh as well as cyclone affected Samoa. This spurred a conversation about how we value water in New Zealand and brought home to the audience just how privileged we are.

Section leader - water and wastewater infrastructure at Jacobs, Kate Simmonds, shared her top tips for a successful career in water. Kate’s key takeaway? Say yes to opportunities, be driven by the desire to improve the world, put your hand up and build your own brand.

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The huge investment in water infrastructure, especially in the new post-Covid environment, looks set to place unprecedented workforce challenges on our sector.

For some time now, the industry has been concerned about the looming shortage of skilled people in the three waters workforce.

This shortage is now threatening to undermine our ability to meet the needs of the future.

The Deloitte report to the Government, released last month, says that the Government’s reforms are likely to result in a growth in the workforce of up to 80 percent over the next 30 years. That’s a big increase, and the risk for the water sector is that we’re not alone.

Right across the country, from construction to transport, there are looming skills shortages, which means plenty of choice and options for people with the right skills. As Bill Bayfield said at the WIOG conference in Napier, if you were thinking of retiring you can’t!

The water sector needs to be recognised as an attractive career choice for new entrants and we need to be able to retain the right people.

In a post-Covid environment, it won’t be a case anymore of simply turning to immigrants to plug the skills gaps – we need to seek home-grown solutions and ensure that the right training is being offered across the sector.

We need to know exactly what skills will be required and where, so that we start planning today to have the skills in place for tomorrow.

It’s with that in mind that Water New Zealand has partnered with Connexis, Taumata Arowai and the Department of Internal Affairs to develop a three waters workforce strategy, funded by the Tertiary Education Commission and due to be completed this year.

As well as mapping out the future needs of the sector, the skills required, and where the gaps are, we will also investigate what needs to happen over the next five to 10 years to attract the right kinds of people into the sector and ensure, once they’re with us, they have a satisfying career with opportunities to grow.

The Government’s reforms have signalled a new urgency. As well as a high vacancy rate, the lack of formal qualifications and career pathways is something that we need to address.

Water is an extremely complex, specialist area and the opportunities for career growth, especially in the long term, are significant. The Deloitte report said there will be a need for increased specialisation and innovation. The workforce opportunities will be broad – ranging from the supply chain, management of the capital expenditure programme, production, resilience and so on.

In tandem with this, Water New Zealand is developing a ‘Working for Water’ website, which will act as a workforce information hub aimed at providing informative access to the opportunities in the sector and the benefits of working in water.

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JULY / AUGUST 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

15

WATER NEW ZEALAND STORMWATER CONFERENCE

Record stormwater conference attendance

By Gillian Blythe, Water New Zealand CEO.

In what is clearly a post-Covid success story, Stormwater 2021 broke all previous attendance records. With more than 400 attendees, we managed to just beat our previous record in Auckland 2019. This was a real bonus for Tauranga after the disappointment of needing to take our August 2020 stormwater event online.

A highlight for me was meeting and catching up with so many members, delegates and exhibitors at Baypark and finding out more about all the innovative, cutting edge stormwater management solutions that underpins so much of this sector.

But it was great to get an update from Local Government Minister

Nanaia Mahuta on the Government’s approach to the three waters reforms, while other keynote speakers Tina Porou and Holly Greening, Nicki Green and Wally Potts provided important and interesting perspectives on their experiences.

Thanks to our conference partners – our premier partner Stormwater360 as well as Dutton Stormwater, Stantec, Intergroup and Instrumatics.

Finally, a huge thank you to the Stormwater Conference Committee abstract and paper reviewers. We’re very aware that these conferences couldn’t happen without your support.

Seeking the best in people and technology This year’s Water New Zealand stormwater conference was a hive of activity as delegates swarmed around the trade displays, flew from presentation to presentation, and caught up with old friends and made new contacts. It was positively buzzing.

Held at Baypark in Tauranga, the stormwater professionals enjoyed being able to gather in person this year, although several presentations were held over Zoom.

However, this meant Holly Greening could deliver her talk from Tampa Bay in Florida, where she’s the executive director and senior scientist of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. She told the audience how, following tremendous growth in the 1970s, Tampa Bay, Florida’s largest open water estuary, was suffering from serious nutrient over-enrichment.

She says half the sea grass was lost by 1982, wading bird species declined, and half the shoreline was altered. Citizens living around the bay called for action and were key in the change that has seen significant restoration work undertaken, along with regulation and the upgrading of all wastewater treatment plants in the area.

Holly says that by 1981, within three years of beginning, there was a 90 percent reduction in nitrogen loading from WWTPs discharging into the bay, and this was a critical kickstart to improving water quality.

Stormwater then became a major source of nitrogen in the bay.

Interestingly, Holly says, although they thought agricultural stormwater was a key contributor, research showed that residential stormwater provided significantly more nitrogen.

Overall, the water quality in the bay has improved – with lower nitrogen levels and less chlorophyll A – even though the population has increased. They have also restored seagrass to 1950s levels – an ambitious goal when first set, but one that was achieved in 2014, something Holly didn’t think she’d see in her lifetime.

She says that having a clean bay contributes 13 percent to the local economy, with one in five jobs depending on having a healthy bay.

The situation in Florida is one that residents in conference host city Tauranga and neighbouring Mount Maunganui can readily relate to, with so much of their

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livelihoods and recreation directly connected to the water around them.

Wally Potts, drainage services manager for Tauranga City Council, responsible for its stormwater and wastewater activities, spoke about the city’s stormwater issues.

He says that with the population expected to grow to 198,000 in the next 25 years, there will be significant pressures brought to the natural environment.

In the Mount industrial area, the land is very flat, and highly modified, with all streams either removed or piped. In the past six to seven years, large pressure pipes have been installed to drain the area as part of future proofing the port area which continues to grow.

Wally says the main Mount shopping and residential area has similar issues, and while the council has installed pipes to deal with current stormwater issues, in the future it may need pumping.

Another challenge is Te Ara o Wairakei, in Papamoa. This waterway was cut off in the 1920s by the railway, leaving it stranded with no discharge, nor is it replenished by any streams. Wally says this can lead to stagnant water during long periods without rain, along with algal bloom and weed growth.

Conversely, in 2017, a very wet year, the whole area flooded. Because it relies on soakage to drain water, short duration, high intensity rain events affect it the most.

He says it is a very popular residential area, and many want to maintain the groomed grass aesthetic, while the council wants more riparian planting to improve the ecology. Subsequently, the council is currently working with locals to increase the ecological diversity.

Working with communities seemed to be a key theme for the conference, whether it be residential groups or local iwi.

It seems many stormwater issues require both the best of people and the best of technology to find the optimal solution for both people and the environment.

Putting water first Tina Porou was a keynote speaker at the Stormwater Conference.

She says now the concept of Te Mana o te Wai is in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, the sector can no longer ignore Māori worldview and The Treaty of Waitangi.

The NPS definition of Te Mana o te Wai ensures that natural and physical resources are managed in a way that prioritises: Protect: First, the health and well-being of water bodies and freshwater ecosystems.

Health: Second, the health needs of people (such as drinking water).

Enable: T hird, the ability of people and communities to provide for their social, economic, and cultural well-being, now and in the future.

“From a Māori perspective, we cannot choose the economic outcomes over the health of the water, and that’s functionally what Te Mana o te Wai and the NPS achieves. But it’s very important to ensure users don’t forget the importance of iwi and hapu in the application, the definition, and operationalisation of Te Mana o te Wai.” Tina says Te Mana o te Wai is about restoring and preserving the balance between the water, the wider environment, and the community.

“If the water is well, the people are well.”

She is often asked by planners how to apply Te Mana o te Wai. “For developers that are not operating consistently within the rules and limits, or who are making applications for consents that are outside the boundaries of giving effect to Te Mana o te Wai, it gives the council permission to make change.

“From my experience as a planner, what I’ve often seen in councils, particularly when it comes to plan changes or consent changes, there is heavy advocacy for particular agendas of certain industries and wellresourced players to ensure that regional or district plans or consents are aligned with economic outcomes first.

“The reason why we pushed Te Mana o te Wai hard, is that we wanted to give water a chance first. Practically, what this means is, if you are faced with a decision around a resource consent application, you can say ‘this is inconsistent with Te Mana o te Wai’.

Tina says, historically, our methodology was to see how much we could take out of the waterway without it dying, or before people moaned too much.

She says this is the experience of many hapū and iwi around the country – they are seeing the excessive extraction and dry riverbeds.

Tina gives the example of Muriwai village, just outside of Gisborne.

Their traditional river is the Arai, and the Arai is the Gisborne District Council’s main water supply for the city.

“Each summer, the Muriwai village has to buy in tanks of water. They have a very, very low median income in Muriwai and they have to buy their own water back.”

Tina gave a three waters example from her own tribe, Ngāti Tūrangitukua, of how each of the three waters has historically ignored Māori priorities for water and what is being done now to help rectify this.

She says that in 1964, her tribe had 1540 acres of land in Turangi taken under the Public Works Act to build the Tongariro hydro development and permanent town, with little to no compensation to her people.

Subsequently, the Turangi Wastewater Treatment Plant was placed in the middle of Māori land so people had to live right next door to it.

More significantly, it discharges treated wastewater into Lake Taupo, something that is abhorrent to Māori.

“This wouldn’t have happened if iwi had been consulted.”

Taupo District Council are currently working with iwi to see if there is a way to achieve a change – to move the treatment plant and to do a land-based treatment process.

“I don’t know if the conversation would have progressed as well as it has without Te Mana o te Wai. Because of it, we can say ‘there are cultural ramifications of discharging treated wastewater into the lake’.”

Tina says the site where Turangi's drinking water is taken was confiscated by the Crown and returned, in title, in 1996 under the treaty settlement. The tribe is now negotiating with Taupo District Council to share the drinking water consent with them.

Finally, Tina says, until three years ago, all Turangi stormwater was discharged untreated into the Hirangi stream – after which her marae is named. After strong protests from Ngāti Tūrangitukua, a filter system was installed.

“Te Mana o te Wai is giving us opportunities to advocate.”

Tina Porou

JULY / AUGUST 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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WATER NEW ZEALAND STORMWATER CONFERENCE

Stormwater

award winners

1. Mike Hannah, founder of Stormwater360 and passionate advocate for the environment, was named as Stormwater Professional of the Year. Unanimous in their decision, the judges cite Mike’s long-term contribution to industry bodies, in particular the stormwater committee; continued development of new approaches to stormwater treatment and successful implementation of these; and his extensive sharing of knowledge through multiple forums including technical papers, presentations and thought leadership.

“When they called my name as winner, I felt a huge sense of relief and happiness. It is great to be recognised by my peers and not simply seen as a dirty supplier.”

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3 3. L aura Newman-Watt is a water resources engineer with WSP and has spent the past 18 months working on the design of the culverts and stream re-alignments as part of the alliance on the Te Ahu a Turanga Manawatu Tararua Highway Project. Her paper based on that project, ‘Super-Critical Considerations for Steep Stream Design’, won Paper of the Year. See page 68 for an abridged version.

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2. Jonathan Chambers of Harrison Grierson is the Young Stormwater Professional of the Year.

The judges describe him as an outstanding young leader and communicator, with relentless enthusiasm and drive that extend far beyond his specialist skills in flood hazard management, water sensitive urban design, community-scale climate resilience, and sustainability.

4 4. The Innovation Showcase Merit Award went to James Logan of Hygrade Water (pictured between Liam Foster of award sponsor WSP and Water New Zealand CEO Gillian Blythe) for the Slam Lock hydro grate.

The Slam Lock grate was developed following several fatal incidents where members of the public were able to access stormwater catchpits by lifting the grates. The most recent incident, in 2017, was a catalyst for Auckland Council and Auckland Transport to explore the options for a safer, yet functional, catch-pit grate. James says it combined the best features of an existing ductile iron grate with a new innovative latching system.

The new grate meets the council’s requirements for it to be self-locking (without the use of bolts), have an ease of access for the maintenance teams, be flat and cycle friendly in all directions, offer good flow capture with no internal ledges to catch debris, and be a good fit to the concrete sumps, all while complying with Class D 240kN load rating of the AS3996:2019 Standard.

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5. Mathew Gardner (at left) of Land River Sea Consulting (pictured with conference compere Te Radar) won the Innovation Showcase Award with his Optical Bathymetry Toolkit.

The toolkit is an innovative new product coming to market that has been designed to make high quality bathymetric data more readily available to water practitioners.

Due to the high cost and difficulty in obtaining bathymetric survey data using existing methods, it is currently very common for water practitioners to be provided with low resolution underwater survey data for use in modelling and design projects. For many open channels the only available data is widely spaced cross section survey data.

The toolkit is a software product. Users input an orthophoto of any waterway, combined with calibration points of surveyed water depth, and the software then carries out an automated workflow which uses advanced machine learning techniques to find complex relationships between the characteristics of the waterway and depth. The toolkit then automatically converts the image into an accurate and detailed digital elevation model of depth (DEM).

Mathew says the toolkit revolutionises the survey industry, allowing for detailed and accurate underwater surveys to be carried out on large scale and at low cost.

“It allows practitioners to easily access detailed bathymetric models of waterways with the resolution of the outputs being at least an order of magnitude greater than traditional methods.”

The software has been tested in waterways all around the country with imagery datasets collected by different sources, including drones, aeroplanes, helicopters, and satellites. It has also been tested on a wide range of waterways ranging from power/irrigation canals, small stormwater drains and ponds, deep single thread rivers, wide braided gravel rivers, as well as deep lakes.

JULY / AUGUST 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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WATER NEW ZEALAND UPFRONT

Minister addresses stormwater professionals Local Government minister Nanaia Mahuta outlined progress in the government’s three water reforms, when she addressed the Stormwater Conference, and, in particular, the case for the new service entities to have responsibility for all three waters.

Lifting the performance of our stormwater systems is critical to holistically improving water quality – as water flows from the source to the tap and back again – as well as for meeting long term challenges of climate change and urban growth, says the minister.

“That’s why the Government is proposing that the new service entities have responsibility for all three waters – drinking water, wastewater and stormwater.”

She says that the reforms are a “once in a generation opportunity to lift the overall capacity for our national water systems and infrastructure.”

Stormwater professionals would be “aware of the complexities associated with current arrangements for planning, delivering, and funding stormwater services and infrastructure.”

Many of these complexities had not been investigated by governments in the past.

She says the Government is committed to a system-wide, holistic approach to three waters reform that recognises the interconnected nature of our drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems, all sitting alongside freshwater management.

The Government’s proposals for stormwater management under the reforms

are being guided by a Stormwater Technical Working Group, which is identifying future arrangements for the planning and management of stormwater services over the coming decades to be overseen by the new water entities.

Equity across the country

Poor water services disproportionately impact smaller, rural and provincial communities, particularly Māori communities.

She says that everyone should be able to turn on the tap and drink water without fear of getting sick and that we should have reliable wastewater and stormwater networks that conform to our environmental and cultural expectations.

Rights and interests for iwi/Māori

The minister says equitable services to Māori is of paramount importance.

“To date, officials have focused on equitable outcomes in the proposed new water services entities as a mechanism for recognising Māori rights and interests.

Officials have been engaging on these proposals with iwi, hapū, and Māori through both formal and informal hui.

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The response from Māori, in carrying out the reform agenda, is recognising the importance of: • Stronger partnership between tangata whenua and the Crown under our Treaty relationship; • Supporting the ability and capability of Māori to participate in the reform programme; and • Working together to design something that improves the status quo for iwi, hapū, whānau, and small rural communities.

She said that the Government and Māori must recognise each other’s mana and work together to find a solution that benefits both Māori and non-Māori.

Looking ahead

In the coming months, Cabinet will be making decisions on the reforms.

“A large patchwork quilt of 67 local government water providers funding and delivering water services across the country will not be sufficient to address the long-term issues, or realise the significant benefits of reform.”

The minister says the Government’s proposal to transfer water services to publicly-owned multi-regional entities is a bold but necessary step to see long term sustainable benefits for infrastructure, the water sector, and health of our communities.

She said that by drawing on a sustainable funding framework, and guided by professional boards and a te ao Māori perspective, the new entities would be able to deliver more affordable, efficient, and reliable water services.

Particularly, they would be well-positioned to address the long-term infrastructure deficit; respond to the needs of future urban growth; comply with safety standards and environmental expectations; and build resilience in response to climate change and natural hazards.

The importance of scale

Without larger-scale entities sharing the costs across their communities and catchments of interest, smaller council ratepayers would bear a disproportionate amount of cost for their water services.

“Through the advantage of scale, all communities would be able to benefit from the sharing of infrastructure and resourcing costs across a larger population base.

“The net result would see tangible benefits for kiwi households in the longterm, particularly for disadvantaged communities and low-income customers.

Future for Local Government inquiry

The minister says she is mindful of the potential impacts on the traditional role and functions of councils – in particular, smaller rural and provincial councils.

“Three waters, combined with reform of the resource management system, are foremost among a suite of reforms across Government that collectively have the potential to reshape our system of local government.”

That is why the Ministerial Review into the Future for Local Government aims to identify how our system of local democracy and governance need to evolve over the next 30 years to improve the well-being of communities and the environment, while actively embodying the treaty partnership.

“It is timely to consider the current role and functions of local government, given the cumulative reforms being progressed and the technological and societal change that has occurred since the Local Government Act 2002 was enacted.”

She reiterates that the transformation of the three waters service delivery system is a step change in service performance, and better outcomes in an affordable and financially sustainable manner.

The end result, she says, would be a world-class three water system that delivers lasting benefits for everyone.

JULY / AUGUST 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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WATER NEW ZEALAND UPFRONT

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1. The opening ceremony included Reon Tuanau of Ngai Te Rangi playing a köauau, a traditional Māori flute; 2. This conference was the 20th Stormwater Conference and Water New Zealand CEO Gillian Blythe celebrated with members by cutting an anniversary cake. Stormwater Conference Committee chair Hannah Breeds is in the background; 3. Guest speaker, Greg Murphy at the Stantec Conference Dinner; 4. Dorcas Adjei-Sasu from WSP delivers her presentation on low impact design, "Put a Lid on it"; 5. Jill Sheehy asks the Minister of Local Government a question following her speech on the water reforms; 6. It wasn't all serious talk of pipes and rain, here comperè Te Radar shares a few jokes with delegates over a evening drink; 7. Joshua Farrant of Hygrade Water talks technical details at the trade displays during a break in sessions.

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WATER NEW ZEALAND THREE WATERS

Retaining talent and expertise The success of the Government’s proposed transition to a new model of service delivery for three waters services relies heavily on the effort, expertise and experience of those working in the sector, now and in the future, writes executive director of the programme, Allan Prangnell.

Recent announcements and the launch of the Government’s public information and education campaign signal that the Three Waters Reform Programme is picking up pace.

Important progress in recent weeks also includes our release of new economic analysis of New Zealand’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services and infrastructure.

This work, primarily by the Water Industry Commission of Scotland and peer reviewed by FarrierSwier and Beca NZ, was prepared using detailed information provided by councils. It gives us the clearest overall picture we’ve ever had of the financial and operational fitness of the three waters sector.

The suite of data and analysis is informing the development of policy and advice to the Government as we work toward reforming three waters services into a small number of publicly-owned, multiregional entities.

You will likely have seen that this analysis has identified that investment of between $120 billion and $185 billion is needed over the next 30 years to ensure drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure and services meet acceptable public health and environmental standards.

These are very big numbers, and while they are estimates and should be regarded with some caution, the general direction for the sector is clear and there is an obvious but very important point to be taken from these headline figures.

Without doubt, we will need many more people working across the three waters sector to ensure delivering of services, replacements, enhancements, and more connections.

And one of the things we can be fairly sure of, based on the experience in Scotland which embarked on a similar journey of reform 20 years ago, is that many of those new jobs will be based in the regions and the communities served. We aim to ensure that as much as possible these new jobs are also filled by people from those communities.

Economic impact and benefits

Analysis by Deloitte gives a more detailed indication how the reform and associated increase in investment will likely affect workforces and the wider economy.

24 www.waternz.org.nz

Deloitte estimates the reform programme will result in the addition of between 5849 and 9260 additional full time jobs on average over three decades, and considerably more than that by the end of the 30-year period.

It’s pleasing that, given the investment requirements throughout provincial and rural New Zealand, Deloitte believes, consistent with Scotland’s experience, that a good proportion of these additional jobs will be required outside of our main centres.

For example, Northland is forecast to gain 134 to 210 full time jobs on average over the 30-year period and Southland is forecast to gain 150 to 220 full time jobs.

But while the Deloitte analysis is encouraging regarding the potential job creation and economic gains from reform, it identifies a number of challenges we need to meet and risks we need to manage.

Prominent among these is the need to ensure valuable capability and institutional knowledge among staff built up over many decades in the council-controlled three waters sector is retained and deployed effectively in the new water services entities or the wider three waters sector where most of the growth in new jobs will occur.

Then there are workforce capacity constraints in construction and specialist water consultancy expertise which need to be addressed in order to implement the massive upgrade of our three waters services which we are now beginning.

Industry transformation strategy

Officials are working with the local government sector and industry to develop an industry transformation strategy, to support and enable the wider three waters industry to gear up to play its part in the reformed service delivery system.

We are mindful that we are already in a constrained environment for large capital projects. As such we may need to draw on international partners to assist. Should that happen, we want to make sure that where possible, those international players employ Kiwis in the first instance. We may need active local procurement policies to ensure this happens.

The challenges and risks identified by Deloitte are being taken very seriously as we work through the design and planning for reform, not

least of all because they underline what those working in the sector have told us directly.

In March this year, we and our local government partners on the Three Waters Steering Committee, held a series of eight workshops across New Zealand for local government leaders and hapū/iwi/Māori.

We held these workshops to present the most up-to-date options and analysis for the Government’s reform of three waters reform proposals.

Given the scale and the scope of the proposed reforms, we had a lot to talk about and importantly, we also needed to listen carefully to what our partners in local government and Māori had to say.

Feedback gained through the workshops has informed and will continue to inform and refine policy advice to decision makers in mid2021 and beyond.

At the workshops we very clearly heard the concerns around the impact of the reforms on those currently working within the three waters sector.

Issues raised included the potential for rural workforces to be urbanised, with flow on effects to the local economy.

Other concerns related to the uncertainty of the reforms leading to the early retirement of an aging workforce.

Beyond workforce retention issues, workshop attendees were also concerned about the market’s capacity to deliver three waters infrastructure needed to get on top of the present deficit.

What is clear is the sector is facing workforce constraints that need to be addressed whether reform goes ahead or not.

Importantly, many workshop participants identified the reforms as an opportunity to grow, up-skill and professionalise the workforce.

In addition, reform was identified as an important opportunity to ensure cultural skills and mātauranga are embedded across the entire workforce as a core competency.

While we were holding our workshops, Deloitte was also talking to water industry participants and sector bodies who provided more detail about the constraints they face now, and which will only become more critical as reform and infrastructure upgrades progress.

Those workshop participants and Deloitte who see reform as an opportunity to tackle workforce issues are on the same page as us here

within the Three Waters Reform Programme and central government.

Workforce development and retention will be a key consideration through the reform programme’s transition and establishment phase, and we’re working closely with local government, Māori, and industry on this.

Building on what we learnt in the March Workshops, Water New Zealand hosted a number of workshops with DIA and water industry professionals to further advance that transition workforce planning.

A major focus for central government, the Three Waters Reform Programme, and our local government partners is ensuring that reform does not result in a loss of current staff, but in fact creates a platform to develop and retain talent and enhance local expertise.

The way forward

We understand that change can be unsettling, but those working in the three waters sector right now should know their work is valued and their interests are being carefully considered.

Cabinet will in the coming months determine principles for how continuity of staff will be maintained to provide early certainty for existing staff regarding their ongoing role in the sector.

When these principles are determined, we will ramp up our work with council staff on how transition will be managed. Further details regarding the staff continuity principles and approach will be communicated as soon as possible over the coming months.

While the three waters workforce challenges are substantial and require considerable work to address, it’s worth noting that the infrastructure investment we need to make is an intergenerational programme of work and will take time to deliver. We do have a little breathing room and time to make sure we get this right.

The reforms offer opportunities to work in new ways to build up our three waters services so they are stronger foundations for our communities, safer for the environment and resilient against environmental risks.

We are embarking on an important transformation that will underpin the health and prosperity of our communities for many years to come. This will be a challenging but rewarding time to be working in the three waters sector.

JULY / AUGUST 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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WATER NEW ZEALAND PROFILE

Going down the drain Mike Hannah says the plastic in our waterways is a stormwater problem, and he’s doing his bit to resolve this one drain at a time. His dedication to the industry over the past 25 years saw him named as the Stormwater Professional of the Year at this year’s conference. By Mary Searle Bell.

Mike began his career with a civil engineering degree but says he didn’t really want to build bridges or buildings.

“As an 18-year-old I was passionate about the environment, so I got into water.”

What that entailed was a job in the drainage department of the Auckland City Council.

“It was 1991 and stormwater was a new thing to be managed. They’d only just started regulating it in Auckland.

“In my job I was asked to design stormwater treatment devices – things like sandfilters and swales and so on.

“These were all very good for new developments, but I wanted to know what we should be doing for existing stormwater systems? They were a source of a lot of pollution.

“I saw an opportunity in the catchpit and an idea was hatched. I was actually at the beach one day with a couple of friends – including Greg Yeoman, an architect– and we were throwing ideas around, and from there Enviropod was born.”

The company’s original product was a stormwater drain inlet filter which fits inside the catchpit with mesh screens to filter rubbish, sediment and pollutants entering the storm-drain system.

“We built prototypes and splashed a lot of water around.

We stealthy installed them in various drains when no one was watching (when you’re a student you don’t ask permission), and we were amazed at what we pulled out of the stormwater.

“We were blown away by the results and excited by the potential, so decided to get a patent for the Enviropod.

“I left my job and we set up in business. I was 22.

“After demonstrating the product, we got acceptance for the Enviropod from some councils and went to conferences to promote it – in fact I went to the very first Water New Zealand Stormwater Conference.

“While at a conference I met some people from Australia who gave me a heads-up about a tender opportunity in Brisbane which was looking for exactly what we had. We put forward the Enviropod and won, and then had to somehow supply 150 units!

“The Brisbane City Council later went on to order a further 600 units, and that was enough to prompt us to set up a company in Australia.”

26 www.waternz.org.nz

While Mike and his partners were excited about the success of their catchpit filter, they knew they needed to improve it and catch more pollutants.

“We found that while councils liked to retrofit our units to existing drains, they weren’t so keen on installing them in new developments. There were also a lot of pollutants to catch that simply couldn’t be seen.

“We met a US company that made an excellent filter that goes with our pod, and this will catch fine particles.”

Mike says working in the field means he knew what pollutants were present in stormwater.

“I knew what the industry wanted and where it was going.”

These days, the Enviropod company nestles Mike Hannah under the parent company Stormwater360 as a separate business for new technologies the firm has invented.

Stormwater360 was established in 1996 by Mike and Greg and offers 15 different stormwater management products.

“We started as me and Greg and a guy cutting up pipe; we now have a highly-skilled team of 30. Our driver is to use technology to get better stormwater outcomes.

“There are a lot of regulations around stormwater management, some of which are hard to implement. We are here to make it easy for operators such as councils and property owners to meet the rules.

“Our success comes from a deep knowledge of stormwater – we understand what the regulations are trying to achieve and, with that in mind, look at various technologies around the world, then work with them to achieve what is needed here in New Zealand.

“I’m really proud of our team and the people we’ve had come through. They can see the vision and are trying to find and develop new technologies to achieve it.”

Enviropod’s signature product, the LittaTrap, released five years ago, was developed in response to the global issue of plastic pollution in the ocean. Its designed to prevent plastics and rubbish from entering the drains and contaminating connected streams and oceans and will capture and retain all plastics and gross pollutants over 5mm.

The company was doing well, with most councils around New Zealand embracing their stormwater management solutions.

However, things were tougher in Australia, so when the global financial crisis hit in 2007, they sold their Australian operation to

the employees there, and consolidated the Kiwi business.

“We made an investment in our business, taking the opportunity to redesign and re-engineer our original Enviropod to create the LittaTrap which we then took to the US, with help from the government and Callaghan Innovation and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

“We were inspired by Ikea – we wanted to make a product that could be flat packed and sent around the world.”

The company was still fairly young and had had limited financial backing over the years. While it had been growing, this growth had purely been organic. However, to tackle the US market, a push was required.

“Greg and I headed to the US in 2017. Our company was strong, and we had good people working with us.

“We also were completely focused on stormwater, where others were more diverse, so we found we needed to educate them on the particular issues with stormwater.

“The world’s rivers, lakes and oceans are choking with plastic, and 80 percent of this plastic comes from land with the major source being stormwater drains. This makes the plastic pollution problem a stormwater problem.”

Stormwater360 set up in Toronto, as a gateway to North America and on the shores of the Great Lakes, the largest fresh water source in the world.

“Canada wanted to take the lead on tackling the plastic pollution problem, so we saw Toronto as an excellent starting point, however, we have found that while their intentions are good, they’re slow to action.”

The company has subsequently also set up in California.

“California doesn’t just talk about things; it does things.

“Plastic discharge has been regulated there for the around 10 years now, and the California State Water Control Board has a zero-trash water quality objective.

“The LittaTrap has been given approval by the California water boards and is one tool to help them reach their objective.

Education is another important part of their plan.

“I guess, because of the litigious nature of the US, people are acting.”

Mike describes the company’s LittaTrap project as a for-profit social enterprise. One funded by Stormwater360.

“We’ve put our hearts into it. I don’t know if we would have persevered if it was simply a commercial operation.

“Plastic pollution is a stormwater problem. And not just the responsibility of councils, but anyone with a drain. We’ve made the LittaTrap cheap enough so anyone could buy it – and buy it because they want to, not because they have to.

“My aspirational goal is to have a LittaTrap in every drain.

If we did, we’d make a significant dent in the global plastic pollution problem.”

WE DON’T SAY OUR PUMPS ARE BETTER THE FACT THAT OTHERS COPY THEM SAYS THAT. 0800 PUMPING

www.macewans.co.nz JULY / AUGUST 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

27

WATER NEW ZEALAND PROFILE

Modelling for change Jonathan Chambers, a 26-year-old environmental engineer at Harrison Grierson, was named as the Young Stormwater Professional of the Year at the recent Stormwater Conference. Mary Searle Bell spoke to him about his career thus far and his plans for the future.

Jonathan’s interest in engineering is something he was born with. He describes himself as a kinetic person and says that as a child always enjoyed “tutu-ing” with things.

“Engineering was a good fit for me, though I got into engineering school off the back of my grades in English and Spanish, basically everything that wasn’t maths or physics.

“Although the fields of civil and mechanical engineering appealed, I wanted to work in whichever field would expose me to the greatest challenges our generation faces.

“Going into environmental engineering was the logical choice as it requires you to have a sound understanding of civil engineering concepts and commercial realities, but you also become an advocate for broader outcomes.”

Complementing Jonathan’s technical bent is his interest in the arts, which has given him the tools to be a good communicator and leader.

Because of his well-rounded skill set, at 24, Jonathan was appointed to Harrison Grierson’s board as an emerging director. During his two-year stint, which has only recently ended, he pitched for and received board approval to develop a sustainability strategy for the business, which will drive change on both strategic and operational levels.

“We didn’t fully understand the impacts of our operations – the office, electricity, commutes, flights, etc. But we really want to address the elephant in the room.

“At our core we modify land, air, and water to create new communities, and have been doing so for 135-odd years, but are we doing so mindfully and responsibly? Do we understand our impacts beyond ‘less than minor’? Are we properly equipped to understand the social, cultural, and economic impacts of our work, and are we advocating loudly enough for step change across the sector?

“We’re becoming more aware of our impacts on the country, and we are exploring how we could do things differently and better.

“I think that having at least a basic understanding of how the work we do influences the climate should be a core competency for anyone working in the built environment.”

Jonathan ended up in the water sector thanks to his student internship at Harrison Grierson, which had him assisting with the delivery of pump station construction and pipeline renewals projects.

“The more I read into publications on our climate crisis, the more apparent it becomes that a strong nationwide response is required. The physical risks associated with the climate crisis (e.g., flooding) are perhaps better understood than transitional risks, because they were the first impacts to be explored on a large scale.

“A great paper I read, linking climate change with social inequality, said that climate change exacerbates inequalities by increasing exposure to adverse effects, increasing susceptibility to damage, and reducing the ability to cope and recover from the damage suffered.

“My early career experiences have been consistent with this concept.

28 www.waternz.org.nz

"We all have a part to play.”

Jonathan recently completed his Masters’ degree, culminating in a research project exploring multi-decadal climate-driven impacts on fluvial inundation hazards to a flood-prone coastal community.

“I had three goals: to help a community or iwi/hapū group in need, to broaden my understanding of the influence of climate on coastal systems, and to equip decision-makers to engage effectively with communities to make robust decisions.

Jonathan partnered with the Waikato Regional Council to model and analyse a range of future flood hazard scenarios for a town that has endured significant losses to flooding since the turn of the century.

“I looked at two likely climate change pathways at four points throughout the next century and then applied modified rainfall and coastal boundary events to a downscaled hydraulic model.

“This gave an understanding of how the source and the significance of the hazard might change for a few hundred properties individually. Then, by aggregating this information, I was able to communicate how the hazard profile might change at a zone or community scale.

Jonathan reported his findings to the community panel, explaining what the study showed and, more importantly, what it doesn’t show.

“It was important to get into the details and make sure there was an understanding of what was excluded from the study and which variables I had drawn a line straight down the middle of. The panel is now using this information to support investment decisions and develop a plan.”

Jonathan’s approach to the problem was considered and empathetic.

“It was important that I didn’t come in, as an outsider, and tell them they’re screwed.

“Yes, there are tough decisions for the community to make. The insurance market and the reform agenda may both have a part to play in the outcome. But the community is actively collaborating with district and regional councils to identify which aspects of that lifestyle are important, and to what lengths they are willing to go to maintain them.”

With the work on his Masters’ now complete and his tenure with the Harrison Grierson board over, Jonathan is pausing for breath while he works out what to do next.

Currently, he’s working on flood modelling and water sensitive urban design to support a range of residential and commercial developments, and is also seeking opportunities to apply his governance experience to assist NFPs or other purpose-driven organisations.

“I sometimes look at technical-minded engineers and think, ‘I’ll never be as good as you are at what you do’. So, it is better for me to work to maximise my strengths – my social and communication skills.

“I know I want to work with the environment, climate change and sustainability, but where do I need to be to have this impact? Here?

Overseas? In the public sector? R&D?” “But fundamentally, I’ve found a field I want to be in; and an opportunity to influence change. “I’ll go where it takes me.”

WATER NEW ZEALAND DRINKING WATER

Let’s shed the lead Water suppliers and the plumbing industry have a shared role in removing lead from drinking water, says Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace, and the government must address the issue as a matter of urgency.

As the East Otago lead contamination event has shown, unacceptably high levels of lead in drinking water are a very real risk. The final report on the investigation is due for release but we already know that elevated levels were found in both municipal and private sources, and that one water sample taken was 39 times the acceptable limit.

This is a matter of shared responsibility. The Ministry of Health’s review of the health system response to the event makes recommendations for both drinking water suppliers and the plumbing industry, including the need for a review of the plumbing standards relating to lead levels in imported tapware and fittings.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there is no known safe blood lead concentration for humans.

Unlike pathogens in water, which can cause sudden, widespread sickness, lead is a cumulative toxin. This makes ongoing exposure through drinking water of genuine concern.

Babies and children are most vulnerable, and exposure can lead to serious, irreversible neurological and behavioural effects.

The amount of lead dissolved in drinking water (the plumbosolvency) depends on a number of factors, including water corrosivity and how long the water has been sitting in the pipes.

While water suppliers have a duty of care to ensure the water

30 www.waternz.org.nz

supplied is suitably non-corrosive, the plumbing industry also has vital role to play in ensuring the products it makes, supplies and installs are safe for use.

Lead is commonly employed in the manufacture of brass tap cartridges. In older homes there may also be lead in pipework joints.

Backflow prevention devices and other valves are another source.

Master Plumbers has a simple message: Only lead-free tapware and fittings should be permitted for sale.

This is not an unrealistic expectation. The Australian government is currently consulting on a similar move and the requirement has been in place in North America since 2012, when the definition of ‘lead free’ was revised. Previous to this, any component of a plumbing product in contact with drinking water could be eight percent lead by weight. This was reduced to just 0.25 percent, proving it can be done.

Here, the maximum acceptable value (MAV) of lead in drinking water is 10μg/L (micrograms per litre). This is the guideline value in the 2018 WHO Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality, but is based on feasibility rather than public health.

The guidelines note that “concentrations should be maintained as low as reasonably practical” and go on to state that new sources of lead, such as service connections and lead solder, should not be

“Master Plumbers has a simple message: Only leadfree tapware and fittings should be permitted for sale.” introduced into any new system, and low lead alloy fittings should be used in repairs and new installations.

Other countries have taken heed. In 2019, Health Canada reduced the MAV from 10μg/L to 5ug/L. In December 2020, the European Parliament adopted a revised Drinking Water Directive, which came into effect this January. The directive includes a transitional period for all member states to move to a 5ug/L lead value at the tap for all new materials that come into contact with drinking water “regardless of whether they are to be used in supply or domestic distribution systems”.

The 10μg/L MAV in New Zealand’s Drinking-Water Standards needs to be reduced in line with these other countries, for sure, but there’s an even bigger issue at stake. Plumbing products with lead levels way over the maximum values are freely available for sale.

Although the Ministry of Health acknowledges that metals do leach from plumbing pipes and fittings in people’s homes, the Drinking-Water Standards are not legally enforceable and the Ministry does not monitor them.

Instead it recommends that households flush a glassful from their drinking tap each morning to get rid of lead dissolved in the water. While this is good advice, it is not good enough. Flushing water prior to use only reduces lead contamination. It does not remove lead from drinking water.

So, how do we know plumbing products with unacceptably high lead content are available on the open market? In 2018, Master Plumbers commissioned an independent test of five tapware products sold in New Zealand. Levels of lead leaching

from one product bought online were 70 percent higher than the current limit.

Plumbing and drainage products sold in Australia must be Watermark-certified to show they are fit for purpose, and products are stamped with the Watermark symbol so consumers can clearly identify compliant products.

In New Zealand, the scheme is voluntary. So if a homeowner buys a tap online, how can they tell it doesn’t contain high levels of lead? They can’t.

The Master Plumbers study was later extended through a joint project led by Massey University, the Centre for Integrated Biowaste Research, as well as Water New Zealand. This found that household taps are a significant source of drinking water trace metal contamination.

The study concluded that the obvious route to eliminate this source would be through the Building Code. If the joint Australia-

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JULY / AUGUST 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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WATER NEW ZEALAND DRINKING WATER

New Zealand tapware standard were to be cited in the Building Code, all tapware suppliers would have to comply.

Master Plumbers has raised this issue with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), but has been told plumbing products will be considered with all other construction products as part of proposed amendments to the Building Act. The Bill is in the final stages and there is little or no change to MBIE’s original proposals, despite more than 100 individual plumbing industry submissions with opposing viewpoints.

If the Bill goes through in its current form, suppliers will have to make declarations about the products they sell. However, if the scheme is not audited, it will not work.

In our view, the only way to make a product quality assurance scheme truly effective is to have third-party verification. At least 15-20 percent of products would need to be independently labtested each year. Without this, there is no way of knowing that suppliers are actually meeting minimum standards.

Plumbing products should not be bundled in with timber and nails. Lead in drinking water is a public health issue.

The Ministry of Health is responsible for drinking water quality and MBIE is responsible for plumbing product quality. Master Plumbers is in discussions with both to ensure an overall strategy that will see an end to lead contamination.

Drinking-Water Standards must be updated as a matter of urgency to reduce the maximum acceptable values of lead in

drinking water, and all plumbing products sold here should leadfree and subject to third-party verification by an independent body.

Equally, it would be good to see Taumata Arowai requiring all water suppliers to implement water corrosion controls, as well as testing for sources of lead in distribution systems and lead exposure level sampling, particularly in schools, kindergartens and day care centres, with lead bearing fixtures removed from the system or remedied using measures such as pipe wall treatment.

More than 100 years ago, Master Plumbers adopted the motto ‘salus populi suprema lex’, meaning, the health of the people is supreme. We continue to stand by that motto today.

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WATER NEW ZEALAND INFRASTRUCTURE

Waikato A treat

Auckland’s

Waikato A, a new $145 million Waikato Water Treatment Plant and boost pump station in Papukura, will provide Auckland with an additional 50 million litres of water per day (MLD) from the Waikato River.

By Sven Harlos, programme manager – Waikato A, Watercare; Rob Burchell, director – major projects, Beca; and Matt Stanford, design interface manager – infrastructure, Fletcher.

34 www.waternz.org.nz

The treatment plant, sitting alongside Watercare’s existing plant near Tuakau, is the largest of a series of new water sources brought online following Auckland’s record-breaking drought in 2020.

Others include bringing bores back on-line, water treatment plant upgrades and building a new water treatment plant in Papakura, to draw water from Hays Creek Dam. These measures have all contributed to an additional 106 MLD for Auckland. Proactive leak detection is also saving up to 7.41 MLD. The plant and boost pump station were delivered by Beca, Fletcher Construction, Fulton Hogan, MTL, key suppliers (SUEZ Water Technologies and Solutions (SUEZ WTS), KSB, ABB, Filtec, NDA, Asmuss) and respective subconsultants and subcontractors.

More than 600,000 hours and 100,000-plus hours of off-site manufacturing were required in its design and construction.

It is the forerunner of a $220 million permanent facility – as provided for in Watercare’s 2021 AMP. Watercare chief executive Jon Lamonte says the new plant will

ment plant to boost

water supply

provide a welcome safety net if the weather turns out to be drier than forecasters expect.

“At the moment, forecasters are predicting a normally-wet winter and a slightly drier-than-normal spring. Our Waikato A plant provides a bit of extra security in the event the weather turns out to be much drier than predicted over a prolonged period.

“The Waikato A plant has been on our agenda for more than a decade – part of our plan to meet the needs of Auckland’s growing population – but we’ve brought the first stage of it forward in response to the drought.

“Our plan is to expand the plant in stages – timed to meet population growth – until it can ultimately treat up to 150 million litres a day. To put that into perspective, it’s significantly more water than we get from our five dams in the Waitakere Ranges combined.”

Waikato A draws raw water from the river via a pump station built on a floating pontoon. It is piped 750 metres uphill to a raw water tank and strainer to begin the treatment process which involves ultra-filtration membrane technology. The treated

water is delivered to a new treated water tank via a chlorine contact tank before being pumped through a new pump station that delivers water at high pressure into the existing Waikato No.1 watermain.

For the water to reach Auckland, a new pump station at Papakura will boost water to Redoubt Road reservoir (Manukau).

It was designed, consented, procured, constructed, and commissioned in just under 12 months. To do so required an exceptionally experienced and knowledgeable team, extended designer and contractor involvement, a strong willingness to be agile, bold use of digital technology, and an unwavering focus on the outcome.

Fundamental to the success was Watercare’s ‘Enterprise Model’ culture and principles of collaboration and partnering, which provided the springboard to rapid design and construction.

Finally, the form of contract and commercial model allowed flexibility and acceleration to make best for project decisions, which resulted in on-time delivery at a lower cost than traditional models.

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INFRASTRUCTURE WATER NEW ZEALAND

The right combination of leadership and expertise Getting the right people together with the experience, expertise, and an openness to embrace a truly collaborative partnership was critical to establish a pathway to informed decision-making and project success.

A shared vision and focus on the early defined project outcome goals were central to achieving the best for the project and building trust. Objectives included safety on site and operator and maintenance safety.

The team also set out to respect the vision of the Waikato River as established by Te Taniwha o Waikato and minimise the impact on the existing plant.

A cornerstone for success was that the integrated team was initially co-located at Beca’s offices, later moving on to site. The integration of over 150 designers, constructors, and suppliers supported effective decision-making and resolving issues.

This approach also ensured the project leadership had access to all the information needed to make bold and timely decisions without unnecessary risk and to keep the project moving at pace.

The continuity of key team members and associated retention of knowledge helped the project maintain momentum through design, construction, and commissioning. Individuals migrated between roles, sometimes interchanging roles between businesses to where they could add the most value.

Earlier contractor involvement and extended designer time

One of the greatest differences on the Waikato A delivery was having construction partners, design partners and key supply partners collaborating earlier and for longer to deliver pragmatic, constructable solutions. In particular, the constructor had input into the concept design which reduced the amount of work required by the design team.

Decisions were made collaboratively. Once made, the team committed to it, developed it, and made it work. This avoided excessive optioneering, which resulted in a more focused design.

The design process was also faster, as the team challenged itself to produce fewer design drawings and higher value content (as it was not going out to tender), which enabled construction to start sooner.

To further speed up the process, some design details were only completed once contractors were already on site. This was achieved through the extended role of the design partners, coined ‘longer designer engagement (LDE)’ by Watercare, which leveraged designers out in the field long after the planning and design stages.

For example, the structural precast elements were not fully detailed as it was known that experienced precast suppliers would be used, and that effort would be better spent verifying suppliers’ shop drawing details.

25 YEARS

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WATER NEW ZEALAND INFRASTRUCTURE

This arrangement also meant that additional design elements identified during construction could be completed quickly and collaboratively with the benefit of direct input from all parties.

For example, components such as pipe supports could be designed on site within hours, instead of weeks.

Proven supply chain and trust in SMEs

Watercare’s selection of the filtration technology and componentry at the commencement of the Waikato A project and designing to this was an efficient option given the timeframe and risk of delays on global supply chains and delivery lead times due to Covid-19.

A bold decision, but well informed.

Unlike traditional contracts, where optioneering is often an extended element of the design process, the Waikato A team put its trust in SMEs to inform key decisions.

For example, the decision for the most time and cost-effective type of foundation was entrusted to three foundations specialists to make. Screw piles were subsequently used between both the Fletcher and Fulton Hogan sites.

Integrating key suppliers into the design space early on, such as including SUEZ WTS and KSB into the agile sprints, also strengthened relationships and supported a collective focus on the project outcomes. For example, the partners were confident that given their experience, MTL would pull out all the stops to configure a floating pump station that would be delivered on time and work as intended in the dynamic Waikato River.

The design, led by Holger Zipfel was a unique solution, with componentry such as pontoons supplied from as far as the UK, assembled in Hamilton on the other side of the Waikato River and floated across to their final position (the pontoon was too large to transport on roads).

While the design solution was largely based on proven water

Keeping Auckland’s taps running Filtec was involved in the design, fabrication, and installation of the membrane backwash recovery systems for the Waikato A project, which ensures that the backwash water, which occurs as a result of the water treatment process, is recovered and sent to Auckland as treated water. This minimises wastage, with off specification water returned to the river in line with the Te Taniwha o Waikato vision for the health of the lower Waikato River, and provides Auckland with an additional water supply.

The backwash recovery process is undertaken through flocculation, which bonds together small particles or sediment into larger particles and then settles them through Filtec’s proprietary Parkson lamella settlers. The flocculation tanks are three metres in diameter and six metres tall, with three bladed mixers installed to provide the mixing energy required for the flocculation process.

The projected settling area in the lamellas totals 720 square metres; around 10 times smaller in footprint than traditional clarifiers. Moreover, with the patented plate design, Parkson lamella settlers have a greater clarifying area allowing up to a 25 percent increase in capacity and an increase in settling efficiency.

38 www.waternz.org.nz

treatment technology and methodologies, some elements were not without innovation. For example, the on-site continuous spiral welded raw water tank was of a scale never constructed before in New Zealand and attempted for the first time outside a workshop environment. The construction delivered by NDA pushed the boundaries of the technology.

The flexible contract and commercial model put the ‘programme first’ and removed the barriers created by a ‘commercial first’ approach, which gave the collective team the flexibility and freedom to make ‘best for project’ decisions, including in procurement.

The selection of componentry and solutions was made on merit and the ability to deliver on programme. For example, the modular containerised substations were fabricated offsite, as were the major pipe racks with cable ladders and pipes integrated.

Agile and collaborative

Waikato A drew on Watercare’s ‘Enterprise Model’ principles and culture, which takes a collaborative approach to achieving cost efficient, sustainable, and safe project outcomes.

On such a time-pressured delivery, the co-located team embraced an agile approach connected across several offices of designers, field staff and suppliers collaborating in a common digital environment.

Many decisions were made as part of this organic approach to delivery, with 15 two-week sprints instead of typically long planning meetings in advance.

Modelled on Watercare’s ‘Programme First’ approach, 30-minute daily stand-up meetings ensured alignment across Watercare, design and construction partners and key suppliers.

The team also procured ‘at speed’ – requests went out to suppliers in advance of design development. Given the global supply chain issues in 2020, which were compounded by the pandemic and lockdowns, the risk was mitigated by collective and shared procurement across Watercare, Fletcher and Fulton Hogan.

Digital technology supported collaboration

Digital tools were a critical enabler of the programme, supporting collaboration, planning, decision-making, alignment and allowing the programme to progress during lockdown restrictions.

Data was available to everyone through the overnight update of the live federated 3D master model from over 80 sub-models.

The 3D modelling saw a 60 percent reduction in drawings and a drastic reduction in ‘re-work’ time because any changes could be made much more quickly than using traditional drawings.

With this partnership, the team had full access to multiple formats that suited the follow-on construction workflows – the highly detailed models reduced follow-on requests for information and any required construction modelling by 75 percent and helped to build an understanding of the design solution as it developed.

An example of this was the ‘direct setout’ of the plant layout, which in conjunction with office and field controllers linked through a common data environment, facilitated drone flights and use of the Propeller software, reduced survey effort by more than 50 percent, with live progress updates available to the team.

The digital approach continued in the field with Fletcher’s laser scanning of safe excavation of assets overlaying georeferenced

point clouds, and Beca’s common data environment to ensure correct rotations and translation of fabricated connections to the existing 1600mm diameter watermain.

Laser scanning was also liberally used to ensure procured components such as the six SUEZ WTS-supplied membrane tanks were fabricated per design, reducing submittal reviews and enabling faster delivery.

The decision to embrace digital platforms continued to create value throughout the delivery. Virtual reality headsets allowed

stakeholders, safety reviewers, contractors, and operators to ‘walk’ around a 3D model of the plant. This was a handy training tool, construction sequence planning tool, and the fact it was stored in The Cloud meant universal access for all staff, which was especially important during lockdowns and working with overseas suppliers.

The long-term value is continuing through the operational phase by having readily available ‘digital twins’ of all the facilities to provide more effective asset management.

Filtec is committed to making water safer for drinking, safer for manufacturing, safer for our environment.

09 274 4223 info@filtec.co.nz www.filtec.co.nz

25+

years in the water treatment industry.

JULY / AUGUST 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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WATER NEW ZEALAND INFRASTRUCTURE

A blueprint for future project delivery

“As we move into the new phases of water reform, scalable delivery methods such as that demonstrated on Waikato A being a foundation of collaboration and partnership, need to be considered as part of the solution and not as a one-off, given its success,” suggests Rob Burchell, major projects director at Beca.

There is certainly scope as we move to planning significant investment in new infrastructure over the coming decade for this delivery model to be applied to other projects and regions, or indeed as an overarching planning approach to wider programmes of work, based on resource availability and design requirements.

Fletcher’s general manager of Brian Perry Civil, Phil Boylen agrees, saying the success of the project is a shining example of what a long-term partnership like Watercare’s 10-year Enterprise Model can achieve.

“From the initial phone call we received through to an underbudget, on-time delivery that will add real resilience to Auckland’s water needs, Waikato A demonstrates how strategic partnerships could be the future of the industry.”

“As construction lead, Fletcher through our Brian Perry Civil, Infrastructure and Higgins teams leveraged the relationships we had built with Watercare and design partners to work in a new way that was based on trust and understanding. It was, in every sense, a team effort that we are proud to have been a part of.

Importantly, this project will deliver for the city for generations to come.”

Watercare head of infrastructure, Steve Webster says the new plant is a great accomplishment for all involved.

“These projects were delivered at a phenomenal pace using many of the foundation principles of our Enterprise Model.

Admittedly, at the beginning there were some who did not believe we could deliver a plant of this size and complexity in the target time frame.

“As we launched into the integrated way of working, with fast and decisive decision making, a sense of belief rapidly developed within the entire team. It is a credit to all involved that these projects have been so successful. Importantly they have been delivered with no significant injuries.

“The learnings form this delivery mechanism will be replicated across our entire programme of works”.

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McConnell Dowell

A Kiwi success story From the moment Malcolm McConnell and Jim Dowell sat down in 1961 with a vision to do things better, innovation and creative construction have been at the heart of a six-decade journey for McConnell Dowell.

It has consistently delivered high quality infrastructure to its customers, including several water infrastructure world records, and won multiple industry awards, by successfully delivering complex infrastructure with our customers and the community.

Mangere BNR WWTP

Proven across the Three Waters McConnell Dowell applies its considerable track record and expertise across the Three Waters spectrum, building assets to ensure that we are Providing a Better Life for communities in New Zealand and around the world.

Fraser Wyllie, Managing Director, New Zealand and Pacific for McConnell Dowell, says that delivering challenging, awardwinning and record-breaking projects to our three water customers runs through the centre of McConnell Dowell’s sixty-year story to date.

“We have delivered all but one of the major outfalls across New Zealand over the past 15 years. As the only southern hemisphere organisation to adopt Direct Pipe® technology, we have also set numerous world records, including the world’s longest Direct Pipe® drive; a 2,021-metre trenchless installation on the Snells-Algies Outfall Project.”

As part of the Wynyard Edge Alliance, the company also delivered the infrastructure and public realm to support the success of the 2021 America’s Cup in Auckland. In a constrained waterfront site with numerous important stakeholders, many innovations accelerated project delivery, such as those employed to design and install the Daldy Street Outfall - what is believed to be the largest diameter pipe ever laid in New Zealand.

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Wyllie says, “McConnell Dowell also played a central role in two of the largest most modern wastewater treatment plant upgrades in New Zealand, at Mangere and Pukekohe. Our work at Mangere BNR WWTP won fifteen industry awards and helped us secure the Pukekohe WWTP project.”

The 36th America’s Cup Marine Infrastructure and the Pukekohe WWTP projects are both finalists at the upcoming Engineering New Zealand ENVI Awards and the Civil Contractors NZ Gala Excellence Awards.

McConnell Dowell has also been constructing the biggest water project in the Cook Islands Te Mato Vai Stage 2 – which is delivering fresh drinking water for Rarotonga. “Providing a Better Life is the core purpose of McConnell Dowell,” says Wyllie. “Enabling a potable water supply for Rarotonga and taking away

their reliance in imported bottled water delivers right to the centre of our purpose.”

Thriving on Complexity “Organisations approach McConnell Dowell for technical expertise on complex, multidisciplinary projects,” says Wyllie.

“Clients look for certainty of cost, time, and quality outcomes. We’re able to match methodologies and techniques to risks and client needs, giving a better view of the opportunity - thanks to our strong end-toend system understanding of engineering processes. It also means we can pull the right resources and people together to take on and value-engineer challenging projects”.

“We also bring significant experience to micro-tunnelling projects. On Hunua 4 Section 11 for example, disruption from an

Creating the stage for the 36th America’s Cup

15/06/2021 5:50:24 MCD6 PM

Fraser Wyllie, DirectorDirector FraserManaging Wyllie, Managing

Collaborating Collaborating to achieve to achieve broader broader outcomes outcomes

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“Given “Given the border the border closures, closures, we are we lucky are lucky “The Stronger “The Stronger Christchurch Christchurch Infrastructure Infrastructure to have to loyal, have loyal, local and localhighly and highly experienced experienced Rebuild Rebuild Team Team (SCIRT) (SCIRT) Alliance Alliance gave us gave theus the people people in ourin business”. our business”.

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2011 earthquakes.” looking looking for anfor exciting an exciting careercareer whichwhich also also leavesleaves a positive a positive legacy. legacy.

“We are “We also areinalso thein Water the Water Framework Framework in in The infrastructure sectorsector and water and water reform reform SouthSouth Australia Australia to deliver to deliver AU$1.6B AU$1.6B worthworth The infrastructure aretokey theto COVID-19 the COVID-19 economic economic recovery recovery of infrastructure,” of infrastructure,” says Wyllie. says Wyllie.

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Our Our collaborate with its with customers its customers to support to support more more collaborative, collaborative, value-based value-based framework frameworkcollaborate trenchless trenchless methodology methodology completely completely negated negated this vision. this vision. approaches, approaches, as weas can wedeliver can deliver so much so much more more that risk. thatOn risk. the On Army the Army Bay Ocean Bay Ocean Outfall Outfall for clients, for clients, stakeholders, stakeholders, communities communities and and Project Project we could we could have driven have driven the pipe thethe pipe the the environment the environment underunder this model”. this model”. full two-kilometre full two-kilometre distance distance needed, needed, but tobut to mitigate mitigate risk we risk installed we installed two utility two utility shaftsshafts to to As weAs look weahead, look ahead, we are we focused are focused McConnell McConnell Dowell Dowell is a founding is a founding member member of of enable enable pipe access pipe access and maintenance.” and maintenance.” onpurpose our purpose of Providing of Providing a a the Akina the Akina Fwd Foundation Fwd Foundation focusing focusing on social on social on our

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WATER NEW ZEALAND AQUIFIERS

Help wanted

from skiers and snow bunnies A NIWA scientist is asking for the help of skiers, mountaineers, and alpine professionals to collect snow for a new research project.

Hydrologist Dr Alice Hill is launched the Aotearoa Snow Isotope Project at Southern Hemisphere Alpine Conference in Wanaka in May. She is seeking the help of anyone who spends time in the alpine environment to collect a snow sample and send it to her for chemical isotope analysis.

“We’re asking patrollers, ski field staff, climbers, or avid skiers out for the day to collect a small snow sample. Data on snow is very limited in New Zealand so any citizen science samples we get from this project will provide important information,” she says.

The winter snow season is her immediate data collection focus, but snow samples collected year-round will be valuable contributions to the data set.

The goal of the research is to determine the amount of meltwater making its way into rivers and groundwater and how that may change over time.

This is particularly important in a changing climate which may affect future supply.

“Snow is sensitive to rising temperatures and many industries, such as hydropower and agriculture, depend on snowmelt for their livelihoods so we need to know what to expect in the future.”

44 www.waternz.org.nz

In addition, Australian bush fires in recent years have resulted in ash deposits on New Zealand snowfields which Alice says has a profound impact on the timing and rate of the melt.

“Climate change and human-induced activities are changing how much snow there is, when and how fast it melts. This means our downstream water resources that are partially sourced from snowmelt, like rivers and groundwater, may not look the same in the future. This has implications for the way that regional councils manage water takes, and for individual users like farmers who need some certainty around how much water they’ll have access to, and when.”

Isotope analysis of both snow and water downstream can tell scientists where the water came from, and is used to calculate how much snow melt is in the river.

Canterbury is the initial focus for the research and Alice is targeting specific snowfields such as Temple Basin, Mt. Hutt, Broken River, and Craigieburn to help generate a weekly time series. However, snow samples are also sought from citizen scientists all over the South Island to help build the database.

“We need to get a wide spatial collection of isotope samples so we can improve our New Zealand-wide model which will make it more useful for understanding the role that snow plays across the country.”

Collecting samples is an easy process. Alice has sampling packs available to send out that contain all the instructions as well as a set of tubes, marker pen and pre-paid courier bag to send back to her. A small amount of fresh surface snow needs to be scooped into the tube and some details of time and place recorded.

“Just let the snow melt and then send it back to me.”

If you are willing to help you can contact her at alice.hill@niwa.co.nz and she will send you the sampling supplies.

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46 www.waternz.org.nz

CONTENTS WATER NEW ZEALAND

Taniwha in the valley Hutt River is both threatened and threatening – but is it just misunderstood?

A person can survive three weeks without food, but only three days without water.

With climate change a looming certainty, there will be nothing more crucial to our survival. But the source of our water is increasingly tainted. Kate Green reports on the health of Hutt River.

Māori wisdom likens a river to a taniwha’s tail. It whips side to side, changing its course on a whim, unpredictable – you don’t want to get too close.

But civilization had other plans for the Hutt River. Where it passes through the Hutt Valley, houses crowd it on either side, recreation spots are carved into its banks, and its health varies from inlet to inlet.

Also called Te Awakairangi – awa meaning river, kairangi meaning held in high esteem – it hosts more than one million visitors each year who walk, run, cycle, picnic, fish, and swim, but it’s plagued by issues from flooding to E.coli, sediment to toxic algae.

JULY / AUGUST 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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WATER NEW ZEALAND RIVERS

Flowing southwest from its headwaters in the Kaitoke Regional Park, the Hutt River passes through a catchment that changes from rural land, to dense residential communities, to commercial and industrial facilities in Lower Hutt and Petone as it drains into Wellington Harbour.

The river and its floodplains hold cultural significance to iwi. A healthy river has healthy mauri, which enables healthy connections and relationships.

Spokesperson for Choose Clean Water, Marnie Prickett, says the Hutt River was a “multiple impact site”.

“People don’t see themselves as existing in a catchment,” she says, with residents unwittingly polluting the river in many little ways, like putting soapy water down stormwater drains.

The abundance of pavement removed the ground’s natural ability to absorb water, resulting in pooling, flooding, and sediment being carried along natural low points to the river.

Dr Jenny Webster-Brown, incoming director at Our Land and Water National Science Challenge and adjunct professor at Lincoln and Canterbury Universities, said Hutt River was a classic case of urban stream syndrome.

Flood control meant confining the river to one course, which meant contaminants were more concentrated, and the water level varied more dramatically during heavy rain, as it was unable to spread out.

Common contaminants like copper, lead, and zinc, and hydrocarbons like petrol, were toxic to river ecology, and fertilized parks, golf courses, and farmland caused elevated levels of nitrate and phosphorus.

Higher concentrations of sediment meant murky water, which affected predator/prey relationships. “You can’t see your food, and your food can’t see you to get away.”

Filter feeders ended up sucking in silt rather than clean water, and the sediment which settled on the river bottom obscured habitats and food.

In November last year, 66 little blue penguins born on Matiu/ Somes Island died, it was thought, because of silt entering the harbour from the Hutt River obscuring their food.

Wellington Regional Council marine and freshwater team leader Dr Evan Harrison says risk was determined by

48 www.waternz.org.nz

combining information about recent and forecast weather, and previous results.

Suitability for swimming was monitored daily, year-round, along with toxic algae growth, which was harmful to humans and dogs, with alerts and ratings published on the Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website.

Chair of local volunteer group Friends of the Hutt River, Pat Van Berkel, says algae began appearing in the river just over a decade ago.

Pat is also a member of Whaitua te Whanganui-a-Tara Committee, a group of locals from Hutt Valley and Wellington, co-managed by mana whenua, tasked by the regional council with developing a programme to improve the quality of streams, rivers and the harbour.

After two years of work, the committee was preparing to deliver its recommendations to the regional council.

Algae would only grow when nutrient levels – nitrogen and phosphate – occurred in concentrations between 5 and 10 percent.

“You can’t eliminate it, it grows when the conditions are right.”

A big part of the committee’s work was to figure out how to make conditions wrong.

“We know the amount of toxic algae in the winter time is less.

After a storm, there is none.

“There has been talk of releasing a lot of water all at once from a reservoir to flush it out,” but that was deemed too destructive.

The solution would instead be to reduce nutrient levels to less than five percent. Pat says 22 percent of nutrients in the Hutt River came from the Mangaroa River, 17 percent from the Pakuratahi, 11 percent from the Akatarawa, and five percent from the Whakatiki.

Springs in the river, between the Silverstream and Moonshine bridges, accounted for a further 40 percent of nutrients.

“It’s not possible to plug up the springs,” Pat says, so the question was; how did the nutrients, which emerged through the springs, first get into the groundwater?

Pat says possible contributors were fertilizer from parks and grounds, broken sewage pipes, and septic tank failures.

The recommendation to council would be to investigate these,

and stop contaminants at their source.

The wastewater system was also frequently overwhelmed by periods of heavy rain, and flowed into the river.

Plumbers saved time and money by discharging fresh water through the wastewater pipes – “but that’s illegal for this very reason.”

Flooding

Regional council floodplain management team leader Sharyn Westlake says the existing stopbank system could handle at least a one-in-100 year flood, on a scale of 1944 cubic metres per second.

As part of the RiverLink project, the council would increase protection to handle floods of 2800 cubic metres per second.

“These stopbanks will protect Hutt City from estimated damages worth $1.1 billion. And these estimates are only for direct costs of buildings and infrastructure, they don’t include human suffering that would occur within the community.”

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Wildlife

The Hutt River catchment is home to 13 native fish species: longfin eel, shortfin eel, koaro, inanga, dwarf galaxias, giant kokopu, banded kokopu, Cran’s bully, bluegill bully, redfin bully, common bully, common smelt and lamprey.

More than half of these species are at risk or threatened.

Wilderlab founder Shaun Wilkinson sampled the river at two locations; Hikoikoi Reserve near the rivermouth, where it flowed into Wellington Harbour, and Railway Ave Bridge, in the heart of Lower Hutt city.

With three samples at each site, the detection rate should be between 85-90 percent, Wilkinson says.

As well as some of the species on this list – long fin and short fin eels, inanga, common smelt, bluegill bullies, common bully – he found DNA from black flounder, which is native, but not common, at the bridge site.

Ulva, a kind of green, slimy algae, was the most common species at the river mouth, visibly choking the shallows.

Also present in large numbers were estuarine triplefin, yelloweye mullet, and common or crans bullies (genetically indistinguishable).

An eel, which watched boldly on as Wilkinson took water samples, turned out to be a shortfin eel, a species abundant at both sites.

Upstream, the most common species were common/ crans and blue bullies. Some surprising residents were the craspedacusta sowerbii, or peach blossom, freshwater jellyfish, an introduced species plaguing rivers and lakes around New Zealand.

“We’ve done a lot of rivers recently. Here we identified 210 species, and that’s pretty standard.”

Hutt River is an important trout fishery and spawning waters in the regional council’s Proposed Natural Resources Plan.

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WATER NEW ZEALAND RIVERS

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Suitable inanga spawning habitat was found in the Hutt River, and spawning has been confirmed in the lower reaches around the Sladden Park Boat Ramp.

An ongoing project for the regional council and community groups was planting locally indigenous species throughout the river corridor to improve water quality and stabilise river banks, enhance biodiversity, and provide shade and shelter for people and wildlife alike.

Quick Hutt River Facts

• 56 kilometres long; • Runs through the Hutt Valley from Kaitoke to Wellington Harbour; • Catchment size: 655 square kilometres, nearly seven times Wellington Harbour; • Four main tributaries: Akatarawa, Mangaroa, Pakuratahi and Whakatiki.

River health

Hutt River at Te Marua Intake – in the upper reaches of the catchment – rated A: the predicted average infection risk is 1 in 100 people.

Opposite Manor Park Golf Club – between Upper and Lower Hutt city centres – rated D: the predicted average infection risk is more than 3 in 100 people.

Hutt River at Boulcott – between Kennedy-Good Bridge and Melling Bridge – rated D. Article reprinted with the permission of Stuff.

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50 www.waternz.org.nz

WATER NEW ZEALAND ENVIRONMENT

Reducing plastic at home and work Water New Zealand has welcomed the Government’s recently announced long-term plan to phase out problem plastics – an issue that New Zealanders have ranked as the number one environmental concern. This month many Kiwis will also be joining the campaign to cut out plastic use as part of Plastic-Free July.

It’s a campaign that particularly resonates for those working in the water sector.

Blocked sewers caused by flushing wet wipes has become an expensive and unnecessary burden on councils. That’s why, at Water New Zealand, we are currently working with our Australian counterparts to introduce flushable standards. We hope that this will put an end to misleading package labelling.

But wipes are dwarfed by the havoc that other single-use plastics have on our waterways.

Today, single-use plastics account for over a third of plastics produced every year. Of all the plastics, they are the most likely to end up in the ocean, through things like plastic bottles dumped in gutters ending up in stormwater, rivers, and the sea.

New Zealand-based organisation Sustainable Coastlines recently released results from research in Fjordland. They studied 10 100-metre stretches of coastline and found roughly 1500 items of litter – about half-a-tonne – and 93 percent of it was plastic products. Plastic bottles were the second most frequently found piece of litter.

RefillNZ is another organisation that has been working to reduce single use plastics by working with councils and businesses around the country to ensure that there are plenty of places to refill re-usable plastic bottles.

Founder Jill Ford says it’s estimated that each Kiwi throws away 168 bottles per year – a total of around 828-million bottles in total.

RefillNZ has produced an app which shows drinking water fountains and businesses where people can refill their water bottles. Some councils have their fountains listed on the app.

Effectively, Jill says she wants to help make carrying a re-usable water bottle the new norm through making it easier for people to find local refill stations and empowering people to ask for free tap water.

If you would like more information or, as a business or council, you would like to sign up to become a refill station, contact jill@refillnz.org.nz. It’s a great simple way to become an “everyday activist”.

Simple ideas to support Plastic-Free July Whether you work in a council, a company or a small business here are some simple things you can do.

➊ ➋

3C – remember a reusable – B bottle, cup, container, and cutlery.

Put on a ‘Plastic-Free Week’, one week where no new or single-use plastics are consumed or disposed of.

• Perhaps run it with team building, or activities and rewards for staff. Once it’s completed, make sure to recognise everyone’s efforts.

• Measure your impact. Weigh the plastic in your recycling bin at end of the week prior, clear it out, then measure it again a week later.

52 www.waternz.org.nz

➌ ➍ ➎

et up a takeaway lunch kit in the kitchen – with S reusable containers, cutlery, a bottle of soy sauce, and any other items people need for their takeaway lunch.

Remove bins from beside desks and have recycling and rubbish bins in the kitchen area.

ut costs by purchasing fewer disposable items. Talk C to your procurement staff to get an idea of how many unsustainable products are being ordered on a monthby-month basis, and then try to determine which orders you could modify or do away with completely.

WATER NEW ZEALAND TE AO MAORI

Mussels set Auckland

Innovative design partnership with Mana whenua brings new aquatic life in the form of seeded mussel lines to downtown Auckland.

54 www.waternz.org.nz

In late May 2020, divers attached the first of 38 seeded mussel lines to the underside of Te Wānanga, the new public space which reaches out over the water in Quay Street.

Once all 600 metres of rope, laden with mussels, are anchored in place, the mussels (kūtai) will provide a truly living and organic connection between the city and the harbour.

While not destined for the table, each mature mussel will filter up to 150 to 200 litres of seawater a day, taking in phytoplankton for nourishment as well as removing pollutants and acting as bioindicators of aquatic health in the inner harbour.

PHOTO COURTESY OF : TONKIN+TAYLOR

to help clean Harbour

The arrival of the mussels marks the beginning of the unveiling of many elements brought to six downtown projects through an innovative design partnership between Mana whenua, Auckland Council and Auckland Transport.

The textured surfaces of Te Wānanga have been designed to encourage the attachment of seaweed, barnacles and periwinkles and the ropes of green-lipped mussels, signalling a collective intent to improve water quality and biodiversity.

The design partnership sees this innovative work raising public consciousness of natural solutions to created problems, placing

these solutions into the most urbanised part of the country.

Dr Jarrod Walker, a marine scientist and technical advisor to Mana whenua, has helped deliver the aspirations of Mana whenua as kaitiaki of Te Waitematā. Walker also worked with Richelle Kahui-McConell who recently passed away, but he says her memory and work will not be forgotten.

“Te Waitematā is a taonga tuku iho, and it should be treated as such. Unfortunately, this has not been the case historically.

“Today, Mana whenua wish to enhance the mauri of Te Waitematā and this project has provided an opportunity to JULY / AUGUST 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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WATER NEW ZEALAND TE AO MAORI

develop practices and methods, grounded in Mātauranga Maori to move toward enhancing the health of the marine environment.

“Mana whenua’s name for this area is ‘Te Wānanga’ a place of learning. Mana whenua gifted the name to signify that this space will be an area where people can learn about Mana whenua’s deep connection with Te Waitematā and Tāmaki Makaurau, and for visitors to develop an appreciation for the harbour and to understand that we all need to care for the harbour and the marine environment.

“Mana whenua see the use of kūtai in this space as a step in the right direction to address both current and historic environmental issues impacting the mauri of Te Waitematā. This approach is just one of many programmes Mana whenua are implementing to regenerate the mauri of Te Waitematā.”

Marcus Cameron, a project scientist on the trial and a senior aquatic scientist with Tonkin+Taylor describes the remarkable water filtering capacity of mussels.

“A single mature mussel can filter up to 150 to 200 litres of seawater a day taking in phytoplankton for nourishment as well as removing pollutants. They effectively act as bio-indicators of aquatic health, helping us monitor for any unwanted invasive species in the water.”

The trial began in 2020. Around 100m of seeded mussel lines, weighing approximately 600kg were delivered from the Firth of Thames where North Island Mussels has its operation.

They arrived at Kelly Tarlton’s last June for the start of the trial, where they were immersed in fresh water for 90 minutes as a biosecurity measure to kill any hitchhiking Mediterranean fan worms, invasive sea squirt and Asian kelp.

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They then went into a tank of saltwater overnight, so they were not stressed when relocated to the harbour. They range in size from 70-110mm and are about 18 months old – an age when mussels are often harvested for eating, although this fate is not intended for these ones.

The following day the seeded ropes were transported to the Maritime Museum where they were blessed by representatives of ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau.

Divers attached the mussel ropes to two waka floats and three pile wraps and assisted in the hanging of the ropes from six pontoons in the Maritime Museum and Ferry Basin. The final trial batch of mussels was attached to these structures in late June 2020.

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WATER NEW ZEALAND FRESHWATER

Culturally-led, science-informed

water management Freshwater quality is one of the key concerns for New Zealanders and presents a multigenerational challenge to undo the damage wrought over the past century.

Gabe Ross and Mapihi Martin-Paul of Boffa Miskell say a culturally led, science informed approach to our water projects is the solution.

Aotearoa – a land of forests, rivers and wetlands.

As an island nation, New Zealand has been in the fortunate position of having a reliable and relatively abundant supply of water. Historically, this fuelled a rich mosaic of forests, rivers, wetlands and estuaries that supported an incredible abundance of plants and animal life.

For the first Māori settlers, waterways provided key transportation corridors and access to food, medicine, and other natural resources. Water was recognised as the fundamental essence of all life and health and played a central theme in Māori creation stories. River systems became entwined with tribal identity and genealogy; they were recognised as living ancestral entities of the people.

Within the mātauranga Māori belief system, all living creatures and natural resources are infused with mauri (life essence). When mauri is strong, flora and fauna are seen to flourish; when mauri is depleted, the life essence is weak and at risk of diminishing.

Through kaitiakitanga (guardianship), Māori managed the natural resources within their territory to safeguard the mauri of the land and water for future generations.

A wilderness to be tamed.

With the arrival of European settlers in the mid 1800s came a very different world view. The natural landscapes were perceived as a wilderness requiring taming and water was both a liability and a resource to be owned and exploited.

Equipped with industrial age technology, wetlands were drained, and watercourses were dammed and channelised to reduce flooding, provide power and allow growth of fledgling settlements. Through the late 1800s and early 1900s the great swamps and forests gave way to the expansion of townships, farmland and other more ‘productive’ uses.

This transformation of water systems provided significant public health, development and economic opportunities but has proven disastrous to the freshwater ecology and the intrinsically linked mātauranga Māori cultural values.

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Boffa Miskell's Gabe Ross (left) and Mapihi Martin-Paul.

Freshwater quality is now one of the key concerns for the general population and presents a multigenerational challenge to undo the damage wrought over the past century.

Water revalued – Te Mana o te Wai

The recent updates to the National Environmental Standards (NES) and National Policy Statement – Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) require and encourage stronger protection of freshwater ecosystems, engagement between tangata whenua and local authorities, and further protection of Māori values.

The Te Mana o te Wai framework imbedded within the NPSFM recognises freshwater as a natural resource and its health as integral to the social, cultural, economic and environmental wellbeing of communities.

Within this supporting legislative context, and with rapidly improving technical expertise and capacity, iwi, rūnanga and hapū groups across the country are increasingly playing a key part of the planning and design process for water management and restoration projects. This can be as either treaty partners working collaboratively with the consultant team, or in many instances, as the end client.

The interweaving of traditional knowledge with engineering and other empirical science-based expertise has led to enriched multi-benefit project outcomes that achieve functional goals with

added water quality, biodiversity, recreational, educational and mahinga kai benefits.

In Canterbury, Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere is a tragic case study of how agricultural intensification and associated drainage and development within the contributing catchments can have devastating effects on water bodies.

Te Waihora was historically an incredibly rich and productive ecosystem and while now severely degraded remains a significant treasure to local Māori. Through the Te Waihora Co-governance partnership with Environment Canterbury a long-term programme, Whakaora Te Waihora, has been developed to restore and rejuvenate the mauri of the lake and ecosystem health. This will be a multi-generational challenge but mana whenua groups are taking a leading role in starting this process.

Measuring the subjective

One of the challenges for incorporating the concept of mauri into planning and design processes is how to accurately recognise and measure what can be a very subjective definition that varies from hapū to hapū.

Boffa Miskell Ecologists and Meihana Pauling gathering data on tuna (eel) and ika (fish) species within the Huritini/Halswell River as part of the cultural health assessments.

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WATER NEW ZEALAND FRESHWATER

Emerging assessment methodologies and tools such as the Cultural Health Index for freshwater bodies, and the State of the Takiwā database originally developed by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu are helping to standardise this. This empowers iwi to tangibly express and measure the mauri of a waterbody in a way that can be recognised within existing RMA processes with the same stature as western science.

To allow widespread adoption this assessment methodology needs to be easily accessible and understandable for iwi, consultants, clients and regulators. Boffa Miskell’s te hīhiri and ecology teams have been collaborating with a number of Ngāi Tahu Papatipu Rūnanga across the South Island to develop a user friendly digital based input system.

This allows rūnanga representitives to easily record their findings in the field on devices such as iPads using preset assessment parameters. Ecological surveys are conducted in parallel and provide science based insight into the current health of the water system that can be correlated against the cultural heath assessment findings and together allows repeated measurements to track changes in cultural and ecological heath over time.

This strategy has been applied to the recently-constructed five hectare Whakaora Te Ahuriri wetland project on the Huritini/

New Zealand’s annual volume of freshwater falling on each square kilometre has been calculated at 1.3 million cubic metres.

This is approximately twice the relative density of the United Kingdom and approximately four times the density of the more continental climates of China and the US.

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Above: Feasibility Study Concept Design: Te Repo o Papatahora – Boffa Miskell & WGA courtesy of Te Taumutu Rūnanga. Right: Pūkānohi Discussion Concept – Boffa Miskell & Craig Pauling.

Halswell River that drains into the Te Waihora. The cultural heath assessment, along with water quality and ecological monitoring datasets, will help to measure the long-term performance of the wetland.

This knowledge base will help the Te Waihora Co-Governance Group to inform and improve future wetland design projects.

Leading by example

Te Taumutu Rūnanga, together with the Whakaora Te Waihora team and supported by a Freshwater Improvement Fund grant, are undertaking a catchment wide restoration project on the Te Waikēkēwai/Waikēkēwai Stream on the south-western edge of Te Waihora. The vision is to improve water quality, mahinga kai and biodiversity values of both the stream and the receiving lake.

This will serve as an exemplar for how other Te Waihora catchments can be rejuvenated and includes a constructed wetland adjacent to the Ngāti Moki marae. This is designed to provide ideal habitat for waikēkēwai (freshwater crayfish) for which the local stream is named after and will demonstrate how mahinga kai and water quality treatment goals can be successfully integrated to provide additional educational, ecological, recreational and amenity benefits.

Future aspirations

The marginal flood prone areas around Te Waihora were originally part of the extensive wetland system that historically extended as much as nine kilometres inland from the present-

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WATER NEW ZEALAND FRESHWATER

day shoreline. Maintaining these areas as productive pasture is becoming increasingly challenging given the need to reduce nutrient runoff to the lake and future sea level rise-induced rising groundwater water levels.

Boffa Miskell kaiarataki – te hīhiri/ strategic advisor Māori, Craig Pauling, led an exploration of alternate productive land use options and developed a concept for ‘Pūkānohi’. They are small ponds fed by the nutrient rich inflows into the lake and natural springs to support cultivation of highly valued mahinga kai species such as eel, freshwater crayfish, and whitebait species, as well as plants. The system is structured to filter the water through a series of wetland cells before discharging the cleansed water into Te Waihora.

The vision is to provide a short term productive use for these edges of the lake and provide current generations with the

Alfred Sharpe, Golden evening, New Zealand (1889), Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1987

ability to experience and harvest mahinga kai from clean, clear waters while contributing to the long term vision of restoring the health of Te Waihora.

If we can continue to foster this culturally led, science informed approach to our water projects we will have an ideal

vehicle to develop solutions that go beyond sustainability and provide regenerative outcomes that rebuild the mauri of our water systems. This will allow the next generations to once again enjoy healthy waterways and resilient ecosystems to explore, play and gather from.

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www.boffamiskell.co.nz Cultural Advisory | Ecology | Landscape Planning | Biosecurity Landscape Architecture | Planning | Urban Design Mātauranga Māori monitoring programme for the Whakaora Te Ahuriri project .

WATER NEW ZEALAND BIOGAS

Sydney Water biomethane deal points to

renewable energy future In a bid to help build a circular economy and increase sustainability, gas from Sydney’s Malabar wastewater plant will be used to power homes from 2022. By Cecilia Harris.

In an Australian first, Sydney Water will start generating renewable biomethane for the gas grid following a new agreement with energy infrastructure company Jemena.

Sydney Water head of strategy and corporate social responsibility Paul Higham says the move towards green gas aligns with the utility’s commitment to renewable energy and circular economy solutions.

“We’ve been looking at circular economy opportunities for a few years now. With wastewater treatment being a critical part of our business, it presents a fantastic opportunity for doing things differently with our bio-resources.

“We already use biogas to generate our own energy. We produce around 53 gigawatt hours per year of electricity, which is enough to power about 7000 homes. Our objective is to reduce emissions to the environment, as well as creating greater value from the products that we have.”

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Higham says the pivot to green gas was inspired by recent biogas to grid operations being facilitated internationally, with Sydney Water working with energy utility owner Jemena to assess the feasibility of a similar project in Australia.

“As with any water utility, we have a long history of anaerobic digestion and the creation of bio-methane within our operation.

We took a look at some of the international trends occurring and in Western Europe biogas to grid is starting to get a little bit of traction in the marketplace.

“Fundamentally, we asked ourselves if we could achieve a similar outcome. With Jemena being a regulated utility for the Sydney area, it was logical to have a conversation with them around whether they would be interested in working with us to Top: Long Bay, Malabar. Photo by Adam.J.W.C. Right: Malabar Wastewater Treatment Plant.

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WATER NEW ZEALAND BIOGAS

“Sydney Water will be providing biogas produced at its Malabar Wastewater Treatment Plant, which will then be clarified with the help of a gas up-grader installed on site.”

Paul Higham bring green gas into the Sydney market.

“We’ve been working with them to explore the opportunity, including the proximity of the gas network which is crucial to making the solution viable.

“It’s been a really great relationship that we’ve built over the last couple of years, with both organisations looking to innovate in their respective environments.”

Gas to energy

Paul says Sydney Water will be providing biogas produced at its Malabar Wastewater Treatment Plant, which will then be clarified with the help of a gas up-grader installed on site.

“Malabar is our largest wastewater treatment plant and already uses biogas to produce a large amount of renewable energy. And, with population growth, we’re going to see increased ability to generate biogas.

“What we’re providing as part of the partnership is the continued supply of our biogas to a gas up-grader, which Jemena is currently investing in.

“The upgrader will be located on our site, sitting parallel to our anaerobic digestion facilities and our combined heat and power generators to provide an optimal solution for the biogas that we create.”

Paul says the upgrader will convert the biogas created from Sydney Water’s anaerobic digesters into something that can be

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purified to about 98 percent methane before it is injected back into the gas grid, which is a part of Jemena’s distribution network.

“The gas grid is in relatively close proximity to Malabar, which allows us to take the up-graded gas and inject it into the system.

“The product is essentially zero-emissions biogas. It’s something that we can produce every day of the year. We will be providing gas for the equivalent of about 6300 homes.

“But, as with population growth in any big city, the opportunity will increase. And we’re expecting the amount of gas to grow to the equivalent of around 13,000 homes by 2030. It leads to quite a large carbon reduction, too. By using renewable gas over fossil fuel, there is a reduction in about 5000 tonnes worth of CO₂ emission, which is roughly equivalent to 1900 cars off the road.”

Paul says the partnership with Jemena provides a real opportunity for Sydney Water to use its biomethane resources in the best way possible.

“While Malabar is our largest wastewater treatment plant, we have nine treatment plants that could be capable of doing a similar thing in the future, subject to the success of this project.”

Arena (the Australian Renewable Energy Agency) says the Malabar plant is expected to produce the first biomethane for injection into the gas network in early 2022.

Article reprinted with the permission of the Australia Water Association

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WATER NEW ZEALAND TECHNICAL

Super-critical considerations for steep stream design Stream channel design and restoration are becoming increasingly important due to the value placed on the management of freshwater. This paper (abridged), by Laura Newman-Watt and Josh Irvine of WSP, was the winner of the Paper of the Year at the 2021 Stormwater Conference.

The Te Ahu a Turanga Highway is a large-scale Waka Kotahi project that replaces the closed State Highway 3 Manawatu Gorge route between Ashurst and Woodville. It is located north of the Manawatu Gorge, in the southern foothills of the Ruahine Ranges. The project includes 11.5 kilometres of highway, with a roundabout at each end and a shared used path along the whole route. Te ahu a Turanga is being delivered by an alliance comprising Waka Kotahi, Fulton Hogan, HEB Construction, Aurecon and WSP. The alignment intersects several tributaries of the Manawatu River. The topography consists of steep hills across the majority of the project area. At the eastern and western extents however, the topography was generally flat floodplain areas. The existing streams in the project area are generally steep, with incised gullies and fragmented riparian margins. The streams typically have a low degree of natural sinuosity and there are waterfalls and step-pool drops present in the natural streams in some catchments.

Stream design

In the steep hill country, significant earthworks were required to accommodate the four-lane highway. The highway consisted of very large fill embankments and deep cuts. Embankments over 20 metres in height were common, while the deepest cut of the project required excavation of 60 metres from natural ground.

As the highway alignment crosses several natural streams, the construction of stream realignments to convey the stormwater flow through or around the new highway embankment was required. The stream realignments were designed to maintain catchment flow paths and natural flow regimes.

A total of 4.6 kilometres of stream channel was designed to realign and reconnect existing streams, while 10.7 kilometres of other open channels were required to cut-off runoff potentially flowing towards the highway alignment.

Manawatu Gorge road closure.

Photo by Johnragla.

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The stream realignments were largely located in close proximity to the road embankment, where the horizontal and vertical geometry were very constrained and mitigating the potential for erosion is critical.

The alignments of the stream channels were often steep, with little space available for planform variability or stream bank battering. The steep, varying gradients present in both existing and realigned stream channels meant that managing the hydraulic capacity and erosion potential of the channels was particularly important. The stream channels were designed to mimic existing conditions including stream and gully profiles, grades capacity and planting, as far as practicable.

Design requirements

The minimum requirements for the project required the stream realignments to have capacity to safely convey the 100-year ARI flow, without channel erosion or increased flooding on adjacent property. It was a requirement that the permanent stream realignments were designed to simulate natural streams in locations with similar environmental, hydrologic, hydraulic and geologic conditions.

The stream realignments were classified into three different types, depending on the stream characteristics. An ecological assessment for each stream was undertaken for the site and was used to classify the existing streams into permanent or intermittent streams.

This classification, along with the gradient of the channel was used to determine the type of stream diversion. The classification split the stream realignments into permanent lowland streams, permanent steep streams and intermittent/ephemeral streams or overland flow paths.

The various types of stream diversions followed different design principles to ensure the stream realignment mimicked that of the existing stream and delivered the desired ecological value. The stream realignments were considered as part of the mitigation calculations to offset some of the effects of stream loss due to the project. The channels were therefore required to have maximum ecological value that enhances the existing scenario.

Design features

The stream realignments were designed to be recreations of the lost stream sections, with similar or improved hydraulic and ecological functions.

Where applicable, the stream diversions were designed to replicate the natural conditions of the upstream and downstream stream channels.

The stream channels were designed to be stable for two, 10 and 100 year ARI design flows to ensure that the stream does not rapidly change its alignment or dimensions over the life of the design.

Due to the vastly different stream gradients found across the project, a suite of design features was employed to help the stream channels function as healthy streams, while appropriate hydraulic design ensured their stability and longevity.

The cross-sectional design of the stream channels has a significant impact on its stability and stream function. Where possible, crosssectional design features were used to increase the naturalisation and stability of the stream.

In many of the flatter channels, low flow channels were designed to convey low flows in a relatively narrow, defined channel. The low flow channel was designed to convey half of the two-year ARI flow.

Flows above the low flow are conveyed in a larger ‘stream belt’ covering the floodplain bench areas. The floodplain benches were typically used in flatter stream realignments, where more space was available. They create physical diversity and habitat, while reducing shear stresses acting on the channel bed and banks.

The horizontal design of stream channels is an important part of creating a natural stream channel. An appropriate degree of sinuosity mimics the natural streams and prevents erosion.

The sinuosity of the stream channels varied greatly with the gradient of the stream. Streams in steep narrow valleys were straighter, following the alignment of the valley, while streams in flat areas were more sinuous.

Pools and riffles were utilised to create depth and habitat variability in the flatter stream realignments.

The pools and riffles contribute to naturalisation of the stream and re-aerate the flow. Turbulent flow over the riffles provides oxygen to the water, supports aquatic life and helps maintain or enhance te mana o te wai.

The pools and riffles were used to reduce flow velocities due to pooling of the water upstream behind the riffle, in order to reduce the length of erosion protection required. The pools created above and below the riffles also provide resting areas for fish.

The pools and riffles are typically located in straight stream diversions that are visible to the public, at locations where stream velocities have the potential to cause erosion.

Cascade step pools have been used to reduce flow velocities and prevent erosion for the steeper stream channels, where high-velocity flows are expected.

These structures consist of a series of pools and drops over boulders to dissipate energy. Pools are also located between the drops to provide energy dissipation and resting areas for eels, with woody debris incorporated into the pools for habitat.

Habitat features

The stream realignments incorporate habitat features including woody debris and root wads. These features create habitat for microbial communities and help dissipate the energy of higher flows. They create backwater areas and provide shelter from high flow for macrophyte establishment and growth.

Reclaimed timber from trees that have been felled on-site will be used to create root wads, log weirs, lunkers or other woody debris. The stream diversions are designed to be locally widened at the locations of woody debris to ensure there is no impediment to flow and the woody debris secured into the bank to prevent displacement.

The design utilised healthy and diverse native vegetation to strengthen channel banks, shield the channel from erosion, trap sediment and provide long-term channel stability.

The stream channels were designed to have low-stature native planting within the channel, including on floodplain benches above the half of two-year ARI water level and taller and larger vegetation outside of the channel banks.

A total riparian planting margin of 10-20 metres was specified for each channel to maximise ecological benefit.

Due to the steep nature of the stream channels, a significant amount of riprap was required for erosion protection. Previous projects have had issues with water tracking through the riprap (subsurface flow), presenting a barrier to fish and significantly affecting the ecological value of the stream realignments. To prevent this, void-filled riprap (also referred to as soil filled riprap) was used instead of conventional riprap.

Void-filled riprap is constructed by mixing the appropriate riprap size with both smaller fines and with natural site-won material. Streams with a large amount of conventional riprap can also be (and look) unnatural.

But, by using void filled riprap (and site won material), the result can be a more natural stream bottom while protecting the stream from erosion.

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The Te Ahu a Turanga Highway is a large-scale Waka Kotahi project that replaces the closed State Highway 3 Manawatu Gorge route between Ashurst and Woodville. Below: The Te Ahu a Turanga Highway planting plan: The stream channels were designed to have low-stature native planting within the channel, including on floodplain benches above the half of two-year ARI water level and taller and larger vegetation outside of the channel banks.

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Channel modelling

In order to confirm the channel capacity and stability along the varying grades, the channels were each modelled in 1D, using HEC-RAS. The channel profiles were exported from the 3D MX model and channel cross sections were used to create a model of the channel.

The model allowed the channel flow depth, velocity and Froude numbers to be assessed along the entire channel length. The channels were checked to determine if sudden changes in grade induce a hydraulic jump that could cause the channel to overtop or scour.

The HEC-RAS model included the energy dissipation structures such as pools and riffles and cascades, so that their effect on flow velocity could be determined. The model was used to optimise the location of pools and riffles by considering the lateral alignment of the channel and modelling the extent of the water pooled upstream.

This meant that the extent of the energy dissipating effects could be determined, and the amount of erosion protection reduced. HEC-RAS modelling of the cascade step pools allowed the location and size of the drops and length of the pools to be optimised.

Erosion of the channel has the potential to cause significant slips and undermining of the high road embankments. To ensure the erosion would be prevented, the channel stability was assessed to determine the erosion protection requirements of each stream channel.

The HEC-RAS models were used to determine the sections of stream where erosion protection was required. Where the velocity in the channel was calculated to exceed the maximum permissible velocity of the soil, erosion protection in the form of riprap lining was specified.

Many of the stream realignments on the project were steep enough to generate velocities above the maximum permissible and required erosion protection along their entire length.

In the flatter, meandering stream diversions, lower flow velocities were predicted. However, erosion had a potential to occur at some bends of the streams, requiring erosion protection. The toe of the banks were protected from erosion by providing rocks keyed into the outside of the bend of the channel. The potential for bend scour/erosion was determined by calculating the increase in velocity by combining the bend radius and average velocity.

In the steeper channels, high velocities and supercritical flows were anticipated. It was important that the magnitude of the flow velocities were assessed accurately to adequately size the riprap and prevent erosion.

Riprap sizing

In order to ensure the channel is protected from erosion, the riprap needed to be sized appropriately. The riprap sizing methods were selected to ensure they were appropriate for channels of high gradient.

The project had stream gradients of over 30 percent, with many of the stream diversions having maximum gradients of over 10 percent. This put the channel gradients far outside of the applicable range for many conventional riprap sizing methods. Two methods were chosen as they were determined to be appropriate for steep gradients. The methods were the Robinson et al method and HEC-15.

The Robinson et al (1998) method takes into account the unit discharge

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WATER NEW ZEALAND TECHNICAL

Above: Typical cross-section of a permanent lowland stream channel. Left: Cascade step pools have been used to reduce flow velocities and prevent erosion for the steeper stream channels, where high-velocity flows are expected.

(total discharge divided by the flow width) and the slope of the channel.

This method can be used for slopes of up to 40 percent. This formula is simple to use and developed using steep gradients and was therefore prioritised as the first method for determining the riprap size.

However, the empirical data used by Robinson et al. was limited to riprap D50 of less than 278mm.

For channels where the resulting D50 riprap size was larger than 278mm, the D50 rock size was calculated using HEC-15. HEC-15 riprap channel analysis is an iterative process. In each iteration, the Manning’s roughness is recalculated based on the flow depth and riprap size.

The stable riprap size is calculated for the channel base and sides and is affected by the flow, channel gradient, channel geometry and flow depth.

The process is time-consuming, considering the number of channels. However, use of the Hydraulic Toolbox software allowed the HEC-15 calculations to be undertaken quickly and effectively for various design options. This meant that the stream channel dimensions and riprap sizing could be efficiently optimised.

Channel geometry optimisation

Bank slopes of 1V:2H or 1V:3H have been used for stream diversions and cut-off drains. Bank heights are typically 0.3-1.0 metres and higher banks (up to a maximum of two metres) typically have floodplain benches. The use of 1V:3H side slopes increases testability of the channel and in some cases, reduces the riprap size required.

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In order to achieve the best option in terms of constructability, cost and ecological outcomes, many factors needed to be considered when optimising the dimensions of the channels. For example, large riprap (D50 of 450mm or greater) is very expensive and often difficult to procure. As the depth of riprap was equal to twice the D50 , the large rock size could lead to significant rock volumes.

Where large rock was determined to be required, the channel dimensions were adjusted to reduce the riprap size. This often involved increasing the base width of the channel, to reduce the hydraulic radius and associated shear stress, or increasing the side slopes of the channel to 1V:3H. These changes to the geometry increased the footprint of the channel however. This could be problematic in constrained areas or channels with cut faces into existing steep slopes, where the cut area and volume could increase dramatically. It could also lead to the stream bed needing to be raised to accommodate the increased geometry. The earthworks implications were therefore a critical consideration in the design optimisation process.

Due to the steep nature of the topography of Te Ahu a Turanga, stream stability was a critical element of the stream design. The learnings from this paper can help guide best practice stream design to ensure the stability and resilience of land and infrastructure, whilst delivering natural systems that have long lasting benefits for both the local ecosystem and community.

To read the full paper, go to: waternz.org.nz

When every drop counts For over 90 years ADR has been there for New Zealand water authorities and Councils with our fieldsmart technology.

From metering to control systems to pump controllers, we offer insight and expertise in the technology that helps you manage water and waste water to a high standard, with resources that are always limited.

www.adriley.co.nz JULY / AUGUST 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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WATER NEW ZEALAND EDUCATION

An opportunity to inspire Want to encourage the next generation of water engineers and environmental scientists? And the next? If so, the Tertiary Education Commission has a way to help. By Tim Fowler, chief executive of the Tertiary Education Commission.

Many technical professions and training organisations worry about aging workforces, staff shortages, and productivity issues if they don’t recruit more young people and increase the diversity of the recruiting pool.

The Tertiary Education Commission has an evidence-based programme that can help, but its success relies on people giving up just three or four hours a year to go back to school.

‘Inspiring the Future’ is a new careers programme that is now available to primary and intermediate schools across the country. It aims to widen children’s awareness of the broad range of career and study options they have, helping them improve their lives and those of their families, and reducing future skills gaps in the economy.

A key part of the programme are volunteer community role models.

Many professionals happily mentor new graduates and help them navigate their way through the early years, and it can be hugely rewarding.

This new opportunity is different, but can be just as rewarding, because the effect could be life changing for some students, as well as increasing and diversifying the number of school leavers who would consider the water industry as a career option.

So what is Inspiring the Future?

‘Inspiring the Future’ events are run in schools, and are fun, interactive sessions where students hear from people from their own communities about their career journeys.

It aims to help bridge the gap between school and the world of work, and excite children about the career and study opportunities available to them.

Through a question and answer guessing game and discussion, students learn about the different jobs volunteer role models do, why they love doing them, as well as how they got started. Along the way a range of stereotypes about jobs and who can do them can be challenged and broken.

All it involves for volunteers is a bit of time, along with a strong dose of enthusiasm, once a year.

Inspiring the Future is based on research from New Zealand and overseas, that shows that career and work stereotypes can

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Tim Fowler, chief executive of the Tertiary Education Commission.

limit young people’s potential.

In 2019, the Tertiary Education Commission asked students in primary and intermediate schools to draw pictures of what they want to be when they grow up. More than 7700 drawings were submitted and more than half of these students aspired to one of just nine most popular jobs.

I can tell you that water engineer or environmental scientist were not in the top nine.

The top nine jobs included sportsperson – way ahead at almost 18 percent – followed by vet, police officer, lecturer/teacher, social media influencer, artist, doctor, army/navy/airforce/firefighter, and farmer.

Well, what does this matter? They’re still young and they’ll figure it out when they get to secondary school or university, right?

However, what kids are thinking about at this age is highly predictive of what subjects they take at college and then at tertiary level. Media, family and friends are a strong influence. The Tertiary Education Commission wants to broaden that influence.

Our research showed that boys were four times more likely than girls to aspire to be an engineer; girls were 14 times more likely than boys to aspire to be a beauty therapist, make-up artist, hairdresser or barber. And children at lower decile schools were less likely than children in higher decile schools to aspire to careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.

Volunteer role models are critical to the success of Inspiring the Future.

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JULY / AUGUST 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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WATER NEW ZEALAND EDUCATION

This shows there are significant groups of children in your community who never even consider your profession as an option.

But that can change.

Children have a massive capacity to absorb and process information, so if they are exposed to more people doing different things, then new worlds are opened for them that can inspire their future. This is particularly so for those who don’t have a wide range of role models in their personal lives.

If more of them think about water and engineering and the environment as an interesting career path to follow, this is good for both the industry and our communities.

Volunteer role models are critical to the success of Inspiring the Future. We need them in all parts of the country from all walks of life. Anyone can sign up. Your career or vocation doesn’t matter – we want people who love what they do and want to share their story and inspire the next generation.

Water is essential to life, so we know there are plenty of amazing stories in this sector that kids would love to hear.

To find out more and to sign up to be a role model, go to www.inspiringthefuture.org.nz.

Top: If children are exposed to more people doing different things, then new worlds are opened for them that can inspire their future. Above: Water New Zealand Chief executive, Gillian Blythe and Minister of Education Chris Hipkins at the launch of the national programme at Avalon Intermediate school in May.

Pre-conference Workshop This full day workshop is an opportunity to hear about the three waters reform fromthe Department of Internal Affairs and the regulatory approach from Taumata Arowai.

Focusing on the three pou (pillars) of the reform: 1. Establishment of Taumata Arowai, the water services regulator 2. Water Services Bill – Taumata Arowai regulatory approach 3. Three waters service delivery

Taumata Arowai Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm Date: Monday, 20 September Pre-conference Workshop: Member $235.75 Non Member $356.50 Prices include GST.

Water safety planning versus water safety plans, operationalising standards, rules and acceptable solutions, source water risk management plans, compliance monitoring, transition arrangements and more.

Department of Internal Affairs Unpacking the three waters service delivery reforms and next steps through the transition process.

Come and meet key staff, listen to presentations and have your questions answered.

GO TO WWW.WATERNZCONFERENCE.ORG.NZ

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TRAINING WATER NEW ZEALAND

Workforce training Ongoing training and professional development are crucial to a vibrant water sector, a sector where people stay engaged and are fulfilled in their roles. Consequently, Water New Zealand has been working on developing a range of continuing development courses and programmes. Here are some of the opportunities currently available.

The Cultural Significance and Importance of Wai (Water) module The second cohort of the Cultural Significance and Importance of Wai module got underway late last month in Auckland. As with the first module, it began with a half day face-to-face session followed by five Zoom sessions on topics such as Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Te Mana o te Wai, decision frameworks and empowering your organisation.

The next module will start in Christchurch and Water New Zealand is currently working on finalising dates. To register your interest, email Mumtaz Parker, training@waternz.org.nz to register your interest. Pipeline and the Water New Zealand events page will provide more information as it becomes available.

Drinking Water 101 digital badge

Here is some of the feedback from Water New Zealand members who have completed the Drinking Water 101 digital badge, currently on its 5th cohort.

“Learning some of the history of water, the Māori stories and the types of roles at treatment plants.”

“A good course with a set time to complete, is best to have a start and finish date so people have a timeline to work towards, so well done on that.”

“Clearly set out into logical areas. Good amount of reading and video content. The word match activities are simple but good.

Good background. Enjoyed the history in brief bite sized pieces. It explained how we’ve come to where we are. Good context.”

“The history session was a great reminder of just how far we’ve travelled in the journey towards ensuring safe drinking water for communities – really worthwhile course.”

Drinking Water 101 is a good way to make sure you know the basics of how to ensure safe drinking water. Run over one month, it involves about four to six hours in total, with videos, questionnaires and quizzes, as well as a quick end-of-course assessment.

To register, go to bit.ly/2TdZOCO. The Wastewater 101 digital badge is still under construction.

When it is rolled out, it will be a great partner course for DW101.

New WIPA opportunities

The Water Industry Professionals Association is the CPD and registration programme for water industry professionals.

See www.wipa.co.nz for more information.

If you would like to enrol with WIPA, email info@wipa.co.nz.

More courses are regularly added to the WIPA website.

For those already enrolled with WIPA, make sure you are accumulating CPD points.

Competency Framework

The Water New Zealand Competency Framework can be found at bit.ly/3x1js3F. There are currently competency frameworks for the following roles: • Drinking Water Treatment Operator • Wastewater Treatment Operator • Drinking Water Distribution Operator • Wastewater Network Operator

Seeking those with experience in small or rural water supply?

The association is in the process of developing the Small Water Suppliers competency framework and are looking for people with relevant experience who may be interested in contributing.

If you have relevant experience in this part of the water sector and would be interested in joining a review panel or discussing this further, email training@waternz.org.nz.

Stormwater Training Plan

The Stormwater Training Plan and documentation is available on the Water New Zealand website.

Based on extensive engagement with the stormwater sector, the plan represents a significant development in industry training. It forms the basis for further engagement with the sector to fill in the gaps and implement training opportunities.

We are currently seeking feedback from members on this so please read through it and send your comments in.

Workforce Development Strategy

This project looks at how the three waters sector can maintain its current workforce, recruit new people into the sector, and retrain and upskill its current workforce to ensure that it is meeting its obligations to millions of households and businesses across the country in a post Covid-19 environment.

The strategy will provide an industry environmental scan, identification of the issues and opportunities for new entrants, recommendations for improved career pathways and new or revised training within strategic priorities. Read more about this from CEO Gillian Blythe on page 14.

Sharing expertise with young professionals

Have you got experience, expertise, a passion for the water sector? Would you like to be part of a programme supporting the next generation of water professionals? If so, Water New Zealand wants hear from you.

The association offers a three-month mentoring programme to give an opportunity for mentors to share their expertise and knowledge with mentees. This is also an opportunity for mentees to learn from their mentor’s expertise and knowledge.

If you are interested in being a mentee or volunteering your time as a mentor, email Mumtaz Parker at training@waternz.org.nz.

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WATER NEW ZEALAND LEGAL

Case law around water evolving There have been some significant developments around water in case law recently, including the first decision on overlapping claims under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act.

By Helen Atkins, director and Tom Gray, solicitor, Atkins Holm Majurey.

An Environment Court decision has been overturned regarding adverse impacts on an area of cultural significance to Māori values and the outstanding natural features and landscapes in the Tauranga Harbour.

The Environment Court has also praised parties involved in an appeal of a decision to grant wastewater discharge consents for the cooperative and responsible manner in which all parties participated in the consent process.

Re Edwards (Te Whakatohea (No. 2)) [2021] NZCH 1025 This High Court decision is the second to be heard under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 (MACA Act) and the first involving overlapping claims.

The applicants sought orders for customary marine title and protected customary rights in the takutai moana area between Maratōtara in the west and Tarakeha in the east, and out to the 12 nautical mile limit, although the exact boundaries differed between some of the applications. The decision culminated in recognition orders being granted by the Court for customary marine title and customary rights being protected in the eastern Bay of Plenty.

In particular, three customary marine titles were granted over three separate areas and customary rights were protected for a range of activities.

The Court especially focused on the three elements required under s58 of the MACA Act when determining whether customary title exists. The applicant group must: • Hold the specified area in accordance with tikanga; • Have ‘exclusive use and occupation’; and • Have had the exclusive use and occupation without ‘substantial interruption’.

Two pukenga were appointed under s99 of the Act to advise on tikanga matters in the proceedings, and the tikanga-based elements under the Act. They were tasked with providing advice on four specific questions: • What tikanga does the evidence establish applies in the application area; • Which aspects of tikanga should influence the assessment of whether or not the area in question is held in accordance with tikanga;

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•W hich applicant group or groups hold the application area or any part of it in accordance with tikanga; and •W ho, in fact, are the iwi, hapū, or whānau groups that comprise the applicant groups.

This resulted in the issue of a report containing a poutarāwhare (described as a ‘construct’) detailing which applicant groups and interested parties, in their view, held the application area in accordance with tikanga.

The Court found in Part III of the decision that, because of the ‘sui generis’ nature of customary marine title, the critical focus of the assessment under this element must be on tikanga, rather than on western proprietary concepts.

In Part IV, the Court further analysed the application of tikanga in the proceedings. The Court acknowledged tikanga as the first law of New Zealand, and the growing intersection between tikanga and the common law. It considered a range of tikanga values put forward by the applicants, particularly the concept of whanaungatanga and the importance of whakapapa (and its interconnectedness), and concluded that through their whakapapa, a number of the applicants had links to the earliest Māori settlement of the eastern Bay of Plenty, and that they had been able to establish their mana in relation to the whenua and coastal marine area.

Regarding ‘exclusive occupation’, the concept of ‘shared exclusivity’, taken from Canadian jurisprudence, was found to be consistent with the purposes of the Act and could be applied in the circumstances to allow for a single customary marine title order over the claimed coastal marine area shared between the applicants.

The Court then turned to the matter of ‘substantial interruption’ and determined that while certain physical activities allowed under resource consents and certain physical structures could amount to substantial interruption, the granting of a resource consent itself could not. Also, the loss and confiscation of the applicants’ land through raupatu did not sever their connection to the coastal marine area.

Upon consideration of the evidence and statutory tests, the Court adopted the poutarāwhare of the pukenga, holding that those groups identified within the construct had satisfied the test for customary marine title, and finding that customary marine title should be granted in three areas.

The Court then individually assessed each protected customary rights application and issued a range of protected customary rights orders to a number of groups. These included protected customary rights over activities including the collection of shells, stones and driftwood, carrying out customary practices in the takutai moana such as tangihanga, wānanga and karakia, collection of certain resources for rongoa, and launching of boats and waka.

The exact boundaries of the area subject to customary marine title, and the exact form of the protected customary rights orders, will be determined at a second hearing, currently set down for February 2022.

Tauranga Environmental Protection Society Inc v. Tauranga City Council [2021] NZHC 1201 The High Court has overturned an Environment Court decision to uphold consents to realign an electricity transmission line across Rangataua Bay in Te Awanui Tauranga (Tauranga Harbour).

Ngāti Hē holds the Maungatapu Marae and beach at Rangataua Bay and has been involved in a long-standing grievance about the location of electricity transmission lines across the bay from the Maungatapu Peninsula to the Matapihi Peninsula. Some of the transmission poles require replacement soon, so in 2016 Transpower initiated consultation with iwi about realignment of the transmission lines, including at Rangataua Bay, to address Ngāti Hē’s grievance.

Ngāti Hē supported removal of the existing lines and initially did not oppose their proposed new location. However, when it became clear that a large new pole would be constructed right next to the marae, Ngāti Hē concluded the proposed cure would be worse than the disease and opposed the proposal.

Consents were granted for the proposed realignment which were upheld by the Environment Court in decision [2020] NZEnvC 43. The Tauranga Environmental Protection Society Inc appealed the decision of the Environment Court, supported by the Maungatapu Marae Trustees from Ngāti Hē.

The appeal was upheld, with the Court finding that Ngāti Hē’s considered, consistent, and genuine view was that the proposal would have a significant and adverse impact on an area of cultural significance to them and on Māori values of the outstanding natural features and landscapes of the bay. The High Court held that it was not open to the Environment Court to conclude otherwise.

The Court was also found to have erred in adopting an ‘overall judgment’ approach to the RMA and in failing to recognise that cultural bottom lines in the planning instruments determine whether the proposal can proceed at all.

The Environment Court’s decision was quashed, and the application was remitted back to it for further consideration consistent with the High Court’s judgment and with encouragement to better consider the issues of fact relating to the alternatives.

Rangitāne O Tamaki Nui – Ā-Rua Incorporated v. Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council [2021] NZENVC 52 The Environment Court has issued a decision regarding appeals against Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council’s decision to grant resource consents sought by Tararua District Council (TDC) to discharge treated wastewater into the Makakahi River from the Eketāhuna Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Rangitāne appealed the granting of consents to TDC on the basis that the discharge would have adverse effects on cultural values, and regarding a concern around the lack of detail about the design of a proposed wetland and the failure to address cumulative effects.

The parties engaged in discussions early, generally reported as constructive and that progress was being made, while reporting to the Court at regular intervals. This process continued after court-assisted mediation until agreements were such that no party sought the decline of the consents. The only remaining issues were in regard to the installation and timing of the wetland and conditions.

This led to an updated proposal for which consents were sought, all of which were for discretionary activities.

The Court ultimately found that the updated proposal would have a significantly positive effect on the environment. A comprehensive suite of conditions was agreed to by the parties and the court accepted those with some discrete amendments.

The consents were then granted for the updated proposal, including a wetland treatment system, subject to further updating of conditions by the Regional Council.

The process has since been hailed as a good example of cooperative and responsible engagement with parties throughout the process to achieve better outcomes for all parties.

Due to the complexity of previous decisions by the court and the ongoing engagement between parties, the court clarified that this was an interim decision and gave the parties time to make submissions to the court in relation to matters of fact, omission, or interpretations of parties’ final positions they consider need correction.

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Climate crisis is impacting Solomon Islanders Oxfam tells us that there are many injustices that cause poverty and inequality around the world, but one area the organisation is working on is tackling climate change. Rising global temperatures, increased extreme weather, rising seas and increased floods and droughts are taking their toll on communities, and the Solomon Islands is no exception.

In the Pacific, there is an archipelago of 922 islands, grouped into nine main islands called the Solomon Islands. Almost 13 percent of the population in Solomon Islands live below the national poverty line and 25 percent live under the international poverty line of NZD$2.70 purchasing power parity per person per day.

The Solomon Islands have among the lowest access to basic drinking water services with only around 50 percent of households having access to these services.

Climate crisis is seen as a significant constraint, as natural disasters, like cyclones, tsunami and earthquakes, become more intense.

The lack of infrastructure, such as roads and basic transport limits the residents’ access to public services, including healthcare, clean water, electricity, and education, but also restricts their ability to start and grow businesses, without reliable access to markets and banking.

These factors and the unpredictable weather and climate contribute to economic inequality because there are so few options for generating income.

Adriana lives in Kwailau village in Langa Langa lagoon on Malaita Island, Solomon Islands. Her home is threatened by rising sea levels and encroaching tides, but so is her livelihood – her gardens that produce her food.

It is the vulnerability of water supply infrastructure to extreme events and lack of alternative water supplies in emergencies that cause distress for so many.

Adriana spends every day tending to her crops, but recent tides have washed away her hard work, leaving the ground soaked with salt water and turning her once-thriving potato garden into a swampy mudflat.

She, and her neighbours, have carved out huge ditches to try to capture the run off from storms and king tides to try to prevent their gardens from being washed away.

She also struggles to get access to the water that her plants need in order to survive and access to clean water for drinking as it is often

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contaminated when seawater overflows into wells.

Margaret also lives in the Solomon Islands. Her house has been washed away with the rising tides. Margaret describes what it is like for her and her community: “My mind is never settled, even now. When we have good sun like today, it makes me happy, but I always think of when it rains. The water will come and overflow into our homes with water and mud.

This is why we have to run away. Who knows next time the waters come, it will take our house with it.

“It is not safe for us here. When the river comes it will flood our village again. We have seen first-hand how the river can carry houses like how the water can move a floating ship.”

The impacts of climate breakdown are increasing vulnerability and risks in the wider Pacific region. The cumulative effects of poverty and social, economic, and political barriers lead to disproportionally large impacts on women, the poor, and other marginalised groups.

Pacific women are more likely to live in poorer and more remote areas and to depend on natural resources for their livelihoods, and so are more vulnerable to the impacts of disasters. They also have less capacity to access resources for recovery. In emergencies, their care work increases, and income often decreases.

Oxfam’s ambition is to work with local partners in Solomon Islands to alleviate the impact of these changes by helping the most vulnerable communities mitigate risk, build resilience, and advocate for action. This includes ensuring that governance of climate finance and community resources is increasingly transparent, equitable and inclusive.

Climate finance is the term used for funds that support people to stop climate destruction or adapt to its impacts. Effective climate finance is funding that all people can use and benefit from, especially people like Adriana and Margaret and their communities.

Oxfam’s work in Solomon Islands seeks to ensure that climate

PHOTO: COLLIN LEAFASIA

WATER NEW ZEALAND OXFAM

finance decision-makers factor in the needs of women, that there is greater transparency in how climate funds are spent and allocated, and that women’s voices are included in policy and finance decisions.

This project is specifically designed to address these issues and barriers and help women effectively advocate for themselves and their families, gain access to climate funds, and contribute to decision-making around adaptation and governance.

For Adriana, this means that she can guarantee that her crops will make it to the dinner table, and for Margaret, it means she can sleep easy at night knowing her home is secure.

To find out more about the work that Oxfam does in the Pacific please head to oxfam.org.nz.

Wayne Telfer General Manager

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JULY / AUGUST 2021 WATER NEW ZEALAND

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WATER NEW ZEALAND ADVERTISER'S INDEX

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CIWEM HAS A NETWORK OPERATING IN NEW ZEALAND. It is the only Royal Chartered professional body dedicated to water and the environment sector.

If you’d like to explore how to become a chartered professional in NZ go to:

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