From lessons in resilience to the rising tide of nature-based solutions, WSP technical director for stormwater James Reddish says the conference was a timely opportunity to step back and reassess how stormwater is managed in an increasingly volatile climate.
Lessons in resilience - preparedness is the new priority
If one theme dominated Stormwater 2025, it was resilience - specifically, how councils and communities can prepare for severe weather before it hits.
WSP has played a pivotal role in recovery efforts following Auckland’s January 2023 flood and Cyclone Gabrielle’s impact on the North Island’s east coast. These experiences were unpacked in presentations such as ‘Preparing for the Next Cyclone – East Coast Lessons’ by Technical Principal or Water Liam Foster and senior water scientist Isabelle Farley, and ‘Lessons from Auckland’s Flood Recovery: Data-Driven Decisions at Scale’ by James and Auckland Council's Fiona Macdonald.
Liam says preparedness is no longer optional, but an investment in community safety and operational continuity. Why? "Because the next cyclone won't wait for us to catch up."
“We’ve learnt that scale of response demands strategy,” adds James. “By leveraging data effectively, we can act faster and make smarter decisions in the face of crisis.”
These presentations reinforced a central message: the time to get ready is now.
Fix the scope, not just the flooding
In a pointed 'Fix the Flooding' session, Mark Pennington from Tonkin & Taylor challenged attendees to reassess how they define flooding problems. WSP stormwater engineer Matthew Murdock noted that Mark’s message was a necessary reminder to focus on outcomes rather than over-engineering.
“Sometimes, the solution is as simple as better maintenance. We can’t engineer away from all flooding, and we shouldn’t. The key is being clear about what success looks like from the outset.”
This sentiment echoed throughout the conference: smart flooding investment begins with sharp problem definition.
A rising tide of blue-green thinking
The industry’s shift towards nature-based solutions was another prominent conference theme, with multiple WSP voices contributing to the discussion.
From stream rehabilitation to stormwater staging plans, the appetite for regenerative, water-sensitive urban design is growing — but so are the challenges.
WSP water engineer Isabella Paiva de Souza says nature-based solutions are no longer fringe ideas.
“We’re seeing a real shift away from reactive engineering and towards designs that work with natural systems.”
But quantifying their benefits remains a hurdle.
“To truly embed nature-based solutions in mainstream planning, we must be able to demonstrate value - ecologically, socially, and economically,” says WSP environmental engineer Amanda Kirk.
WSP technical principal for stormwater Mark Groves pointed to fluvial geomorphology as an underutilised but critical consideration in stormwater management. And Matthew Murdock praised Sue Ira from Koru Environmental's 'Beyond Water' presentation highlighting how a total economic value approach can help evaluate non-water benefits of nature-based stormwater solutions.
“These kinds of approaches give us room to be creative and collaborative,” says WSP stormwater consultant Charles Dennison. “They're about integrating solutions from the start, not retrofitting them later.”
Insurability and the future of development
A sobering undercurrent at the conference was the insurance crisis facing stormwater infrastructure. With population growth and housing pressures rising, future-proofing decisions is vital.
Liam's presentation referenced work with the Helen Clark Foundation on insurance retreat strategies. Insurance Council chief executive Kris Faafoi highlighted the tension between urban growth and insurability.
“We’re at a tipping point,” says Liam. “If we’re not planning with long-term resilience and risk in mind, we’re building liabilities, not communities.”
Bridging the perception gap
A key challenge facing the sector remains public and stakeholder understanding. WSP work group manager for water Gideon Bonthuys noted the disconnect between public perception and stormwater realities - something that can only be bridged through better communication and education.
“We must tell our story better - why we do what we do, and why it matters,” he says. “Trust is built long before the next storm arrives.”
Strategic smarts and smarter systems
From automated culvert design to decision-support tools, efficiency and automation were also hot topics. With budget constraints affecting many clients, WSP's experts observed a growing interest in automation tools, long-term planning, and data-informed compliance strategies - particularly in the wake of the East Coast cyclone and Auckland Anniversary floods.
As one of the most significant gatherings of stormwater professionals in Aotearoa, Stormwater NZ 2025 left all who attended with a deluge of ideas, a renewed sense of urgency, and a greater understanding than ever that resilience isn’t built after the storm. It’s built before it.
