Protecting communities from flooding and ensuring a sustainable and climate resilient water future will be a key focus at a major stormwater conference in Rotorua next week.

The Water New Zealand Stormwater Conference and Expo 2025 brings together more than 500 delegates, presenters and exhibitors from across Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally to discuss latest challenges and solutions to stormwater management.

“We have major challenges ahead and we need innovative and affordable solutions to address the growing risk of more intense rainfall events and flooding, says Water New Zealand chief executive Gillian Blythe.

Keynote speakers at the conference include Climate Change and Local Government Minister, Simon Watts, Insurance Council chief executive Chris Faafoi and the programme manager for South Dunedin Future, Jonathan Rowe, who’s heading an adaptation plan for low lying and flood affected South Dunedin.

Other keynote speakers are: Nicki Green – Thames Coromandel District Council, Shari Gallop – PDP and University of Waikato, Mike Adams – Stantec USA, Allan Leahy – Auckland Council.

The conference will also showcase collaborative bicultural stormwater management solutions between councils, communities and iwi.

“We need to ensure all communities, including hapu and iwi, work together to ensure we’re adopting the best of international knowledge and home-grown solutions.

“We know we can’t just hard engineer, or pipe our way, out of many of the problems facing us.

“That’s why stormwater management is increasing about adopting nature-based and water sensitive urban design solutions as well as traditional piped networks.”

The conference starts on Tuesday, 13 May, with pre-conference workshops on Monday 12 May.

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