What does this event cover
Water is a taonga in Aotearoa, integral to our landscapes, communities, and collective wellbeing. As climate change, urban expansion, and pollution increasingly threaten freshwater systems, the role of local government in safeguarding wai becomes ever more critical. This webinar examines how councils can lead by prioritising the health of water in decision-making processes.
Drawing on insights from the Newsroom article Listening to Nature, we will explore urgent challenges including access to safe drinking water, escalating irrigation and consumption pressures, and the impacts of extreme weather events on infrastructure and communities. Through real-world examples, such as rain gardens, wetland restoration, and community-led initiatives, we will highlight how councils can deliver enduring value by enhancing biodiversity, resilience, and public wellbeing.
Participants will gain practical strategies for implementing holistic water solutions that honour indigenous knowledge, foster community engagement, and integrate nature-based design. Together, we can uphold wai as a living taonga and advance sustainable, inclusive water futures for generations to come.
Programme overview
With support from
Your facilators and guest speakers
Troy Brockbank
Troy is Beca’s Te Mana o te Wai lead, a member of the water market leadership team, and part of Te Ahi Tūtata, Beca’s Māori advisory rōpū leadership. With extensive experience as a kaitiaki, civil engineer, water practitioner, and cultural navigator, he integrates Tangata Whenua values into water and environmental management. Troy has expertise in engineering consultancies, civil contracting, and government roles, focusing on designing and managing water solutions. He works on projects that address water health, supply resilience, sea level rise, and flooding hazards, collaborating with tangata whenua at marae and community levels to ensure culturally-informed outcomes.
