⚠️ Our phones are currently down. Please email us at info@brightstar.co.nz and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. We apologise for the inconvenience.

24 March 2026 | Crowne Plaza, Auckland

Early bird save $200
register your interest

Why you should be there

The 17th Annual Freshwater Conference in March offers crucial updates on policy, legislation, science, and governance impacting New Zealand’s freshwater management.

This high-level event is timed perfectly to deliver key analysis on upcoming changes, including the proposed revisions to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and the Government’s two flagship resource management reform laws, which are due shortly.

It provides a timely opportunity to explore how these proposed changes will impact freshwater planning and management delivery. Furthermore, with Local Water Done Well now accelerating, the conference will address the challenges for council-controlled water services organisations as they navigate this transition and establish financially sustainable models.

fresh water front page

Key Themes

  • Reviewing proposed changes to Freshwater Policy Statements and Standards.
  • Analysing the new Resource Management legislation‘s impact on planning.
  • Assessing the latest science on our national freshwater status.
  • Exploring nitrate contamination levels and tackling mitigation efforts.
  • Examining the operational rollout of Local Water Done Well reforms.

KEY SPEAKERS FOR 2026

Our 2026 key lineup brings together experts across law, policy, science, and more.

View speakers

Dr Tim Davie

Director Science & Acting Director of Operations


Environment Canterbury Regional Council

Conny Tschritter

Groundwater Scientist


Earth Sciences NZ

Simon Pilkinton

Partner – Environment and Planning


Russell McVeagh

Check out our other upcoming events
Training

NZS 3910:2023 Contract Essentials & Dispute Procedures

Mar 25, 2026 - Mar 26, 2026
Auckland
Read more
Conference

Aka Raupapa – National Freight & Supply Chain Superhui

Jul 1, 2026 - Jul 2, 2026
Hamilton
Read more
Conference

IT Operations & Cloud Conference

Sep 22, 2026 - Sep 22, 2026
Auckland
Read more
Conference

Major Hazard & High-Risk Facilities Management Conference

May 27, 2026 - May 28, 2026
Auckland
Read more
Training

Fundamentals of the New Zealand Electricity Industry

Oct 22, 2026 - Oct 23, 2026
Wellingon
Read more
Training

NZS 3910:2023 Contract Essentials & Dispute Procedures

Oct 13, 2026 - Oct 14, 2026
Auckland
Read more
Training

Management Skills for New Managers, Team Leaders & Supervisors

Dec 1, 2026 - Dec 2, 2026
Wellington
Read more
Conference

Emergency Management & Catastrophic Event Planning Conference

Mar 30, 2026 - Mar 31, 2026
Te Papa, Wellington
Read more
Conference

Environment & Resource Management Law Update 2026

Mar 24, 2026 - Mar 24, 2026
Auckland
Read more
Conference

Smart Funding for Infrastructure: Delivering with Confidence

Mar 26, 2026 - Mar 26, 2026
Auckland, Crowne Plaza
Read more
Training

Fundamentals of Renewable Energy & Energy Transition in NZ

Mar 11, 2026 - Mar 12, 2026
Wellington
Read more
Training

Fundamentals of Renewable Energy & Energy Transition in NZ

Nov 11, 2026 - Nov 12, 2026
Auckland
Read more
Conference

Fleet, Tech & e-Mobility Conference & Expo

Apr 21, 2026 - Apr 21, 2026
Auckland
Read more
Conference

Managing Psychosocial Risk

Oct 21, 2025 - Oct 22, 2025
Auckland
Read more
Conference

The Office, PA & Event Planner Show

Mar 3, 2026 - Mar 3, 2026
Auckland
Read more
learn more

Venue

The location and how you can get there

Address

Crowne Plaza Auckland

128 Albert Street
Auckland Central
Auckland 1010

Agenda

8:30

Registration and Coffee

8:50

Mihi whakatau

9:00

Welcoming remarks from Conference Chair

Natalie Summerfield, Senior Associate, Buddle Findlay

9:05

Analysing the reform of resource management, environmental regulation and Local Government in New Zealand

  • Exploring the new framework for development and managing the effects on the natural environment aimed at simplifying and streamling planning, consenting and decision-making in the system

  • Examining the latest developments in the Government reform of the Resource Management Act

  • - Exploring the Natural Environment Act
    - Exploring the Planning Act

  • Simplifying Local Government – exploring the proposals to fundamentally change how we plan our cities and regions to strip out duplication in the system, standardise processes and drive down complexity and compliance costs

  • Exploring how proposals for the reform of Local Government will change the way we manage planning, consenting, environmental compliance monitoring and enforcement

Greg Severinson, Reform Director, Environmental Defence Society (EDS)

9.45

Panel discussion: Rethinking the delivery of environmental monitoring resource management and planning

  • Assessing the requirements of the future streamlined planning system planning system with fewer plans, fewer consent categories, and fewer overall consents - what is the best way of delivering this?

  • Exploring different options for how councils across a region can best work together to deliver efficient and effective local infrastructure, public services, and regulatory functions

  • What is best way of delivering regional spatial and environmental planning?

  • Strengthening environmental compliance monitoring and enforcement – exploring options for the creation of a more consistent and effective approach to environmental safeguarding and delivering environmental regulation, resource management and freshwater planning

  • Creating a potential national compliance and enforcement regulator

Deon Swiggs, Chair, Environment Canterbury Regional Council

Megan Couture, Deputy Chair, New Zealand Planning Institute & Senior Associate – Planning, BECA

Patrick Lynch Manager – Regional Compliance and Resource Use, Waikato Regional Council| Te Kaunihera ā Rohe o Waikato

Phil Morrison, Deputy Chair, Environment Southland

10:30

Morning refreshments

11.00

Exploring the latest legal updates on the Government’s environmental policy reform agenda and their impacts for freshwater management

  • Understanding the latest developments in Resource Management System Reform assessing progress towards the introduction 2 new Acts – one focused on the natural environment (freshwater, biodiversity, coastal) and the other on planning and development

  • Reviewing the changes introduce under urgency to Resource Management Act section 107 made under Resource Management (Freshwater and Other Matters) Amendment Bill relating resource consents to discharge pollutants into waterways

  • Changes to the freshwater farm plan system through the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act

  • Understanding the concept of externalities and the narrowed approach to the management of effects

  • Understanding the impacts of the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill (FTAA)

  • Examining the use of Fast-Track Consenting legislation for water sensitive projects

Simon Pilkinton, Partner - Environment and Planning, Russell McVeagh

11:40

Assessing the levels of nitrate contamination in New Zealand's domestic drinking water

  • Recognising nitrate contamination as a major threat to freshwater quality with serious implications for ecological and human health

  • Reporting the findings of New Zealand's largest investigation of drinking water nitrate levels

  • Using the data gathered to help government, iwi, farmers and rural communities monitor water, reduce risks, and support households

Conny Tschritter, Groundwater Scientist, Earth Sciences NZ

12:20

Tackling diffuse pollution at a wide scale – learnings from Canterbury

  • Nitrate and other pollutants and their impact on drinking water and ecological health of rivers and lakes

  • Working with communities and industry on nitrate (and other pollutant) reduction plans

  • The role of regulation in driving improvements in water quality

Tim Davie, Director Science, Environment Canterbury Regional Council

1:00

Lunch

2:00

Balancing environmental outcomes with productivity in agriculture to improve freshwater ecosystem health

  • Assessing how we achieve on-farm productivity while balancing environmental impacts on freshwater?

  • How have science, innovation and on-farm practices evolved in recent years to enable land use change while maintaining freshwater ecosystem health?

  • How can the agriculture sector demonstrate the freshwater outcomes required to maintain its social license and contribute to an honest conversation around water in New Zealand?

Dr. Craig Depree, Principal Freshwater Scientist, Dairy NZ

2:30

Catchment groups - showcasing positive environmental work being done in our rural communities to improve freshwater health

  • Championing sustainable land and water management through collaboration, innovation, and local leadership

  • Fostering meaningful partnerships between, rural communities, landowners, land users, iwi and other key stakeholders to deliver lasting improvements for our waterways at a catchment level

  • Exploring how farmer-led catchment projects support sustainable land use and improve economic, environmental, and farmer wellbeing outcomes

  • Sharing knowledge and showcasing innovation and success stories

Stuart MacIntyre, General Manager, Catchment Communities Aoteoroa

3.00

Case study: Catchment groups in action - Taiea te Taiao, Ecological Corridor

  • Developing a partnership to create an ecological corridor to link Maungatautari and Pirongia te aroaro o Kahu

  • List iteStrengthening the mauri/wellbeing of the Mangapiko stream and community by improving water quality, restoring native biodiversity and transforming iwi connections to the streamm 2

Bexie Towle, Project Coordinator, Taiea te Taiao Ecological Corridor

3:30

Afternoon break

3:50

Assessing the practical implications of legal personhood of the Whanganui River

  • Examining what legal personhood has achieved for local hapu and iwi groups

  • How has its status improved things for the river?

  • What is the influence of legal personhood on the role of council, the mobilisation of key stakeholder groups and the development of leadership and indigenous research

  • Exploring the opportunity for the legal framework to serve as a model framework internationally

  • Analysing how the value of indigenous knowledge is gaining momentum in the conservation of natural resources globally

Dr Durgeshree Raman, Lecturer - Te Piringa - Faculty of Law, University of Waikato

3:50

Exploring the challenges ahead for council-controlled water services organisations (CCOs) in the operationalisation of Local Water Done Well delivery

  • Delivering the planning, reporting and accountability changes required by the Local Government (Water Services) Bill

  • Establishing multi-council council-controlled water services organisations (CCOs) - realising the benefits that can be achieved through consolidation

  • Developing and delivering financially sustainable delivery models – managing the transition

  • Delivering the investment in critical water services infrastructure while providing local choice on the delivery models

  • Developing the capability to improve capital investment decision making and the accuracy of forecasting to reduce spend

  • Deciding on the best funding and financing mechanisms and tools that can achieve both financial sustainability and affordability

  • How can CCOs develop a new kind of contractual relationship with their customers – what opportunities might this bring

  • Exploring workforce transition issues

5:00

Summary remarks from the Chair & Networking Drinks

Back to top

Speakers

Bexie Towle

Project Coordinator
Taiea te Taiao (Maungatautari to Pirongia Ecological Corridor)

Stuart MacIntyre

General Manager
Catchment Communities Aotearoa

Stuart is a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture, rooted in his upbringing on a 200ha mixed cropping farm in Hawke’s Bay.

As a founding member of LandWISE New Zealand and a champion of No Tillage and Strip Tillage, he knows the value of healthy water systems for New Zealand’s economy. After studying at Lincoln and running farming operations, he spent 20 years abroad launching new mobile services before returning to New Zealand to focus on using technology to improve farming.

Active in local catchment groups, Stuart is excited to blend his farming background with tech and governance expertise to drive positive sustainable change in our catchment communities.

Dr Craig Depree

Principal Freshwater Scientist
DairyNZ
Craig joined DairyNZ in 2018 as a freshwater scientist and is currently a Principal Scientist – Freshwater. Within the organisation he provides leadership about the science DairyNZ delivers, supporting farmers to understand the impacts of farming on freshwater and the on-farm actions that can be taken to improve. He also represents dairy farmers by providing expert evidence and advocating for practical and achievable science-based outcomes in regional plan change processes, national freshwater policy, and at the Environment Court. Craig is inspired by making a positive impact on the dairy sector. “The primary sector is the engine room of the NZ economy. We have an important role to play in improving biodiversity and water quality outcomes.” He also values his role in influencing how the dairy sector can respond to national and regional policy. “For me, success will be the public seeing ribbons of native plantings around pastoral streams and know that those streams are providing a habitat for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife,” says Craig. “We are making progress on this journey and being a part of that is one of the cool things about my job.” Craig completed a Bachelor and Master of Science, and a PhD at Waikato University, all in chemistry. After joining NIWA in 2000 he became involved in a wide range of environmental projects. In addition to his work helping farmers to reduce the loss of contaminants to waterways he is excited by the opportunities for the sector to significantly improve freshwater health through riparian planting. He is passionate about helping the industry to find the right balance between productive land use, and biodiversity and the environment.

Deon Swiggs

Chair
Environment Canterbury Regional Council

Councillor Phil Morrison

Deputy Chair
Environment Southland

Patrick Lynch

Manager – Regional Compliance and Resource Use
Waikato Regional Council| Te Kaunihera ā Rohe o Waikato
Regional Compliance Manager Patrick Lynch has 38 years’ experience in regulatory, investigative and enforcement roles in both central and local government, 20 of those years working specifically with the Resource Management Act. At Waikato Regional Council, Patrick is responsible for leading the Resource Use Directorate in matters related to compliance monitoring and enforcement (CME). He has direct operational responsibility for the investigations, environmental incident response, rural compliance, and maritime safety teams. Patrick is heavily involved with Te Uru Kahika (regional government sector) and Ministry for the Environment networks in developing policy and striving for consistency of CME best practice nationally. He regularly supports other regulatory agencies by leading training programmes and conducting reviews of their CME functions.

Megan Couture

Deputy Chair, New Zealand Planning Institute &
Senior Associate – Planning, BECA
Elected to the Board of NZPI in 2021, Megan has served on the Executive Committee as Deputy Chair and as co- chair of the Resource Management Advisory Group. In these roles she has had the opportunity to represent members and the profession in front of Select Committee and to the media, and is keen to bring her energy and enthusiasm, fresh, innovating thinking, and a passion for the profession to a second term. As a board member, Megan co-authored “Racism in Planning in Aotearoa New Zealand” with Jade Wikaira (formerly of Papa Pounamu), exploring racism in the planning profession and how the profession might move successfully towards a bi-cultural planning framework. She is presently working on a follow up piece detailing actions the Institute can take towards achieving this, and is also leading the development of thought-piece on advocacy in the profession. As part of the Executive Committee, Megan also serves on the Financial Audit and Risk Management Committee, Professional Standards Committee, and chairs the Annual Awards Review Committee. A planner with over thirteen years’ experience working in the public and private sectors here in New Zealand and abroad, Megan holds a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Auckland (honours) and a Bachelor of Arts (manga cum laude) from Mount Holyoke College, where she majored in Critical Social Thought. She came to New Zealand as a Fulbright grant recipient specifically to learn about how cultural and environmental values have, and continue to, influence New Zealand’s planning framework. Megan has been a Full Member of Te Kokiringa Taumata | New Zealand Planning Institute since 2017. She has been involved in Institute affairs since university, serving on the Emerging Planners Committee from 2014 to 2016, and the Auckland Branch Committee from 2016 to 2021. She is also a trained Intergroup Dialogue Facilitator, which focuses on dialogic communication, group building, conflict surfacing and de-escalation, and holds a Certificate in Engagement from the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2).

Greg Severinsen

Reform Director
Environmental Defence Society (EDS)
Greg provides the lead on EDS’s environmental system reform projects. He has practised in resource management law at a major law firm and worked as a policy analyst at the Ministry for the Environment. Greg has published, presented and taught on a range of resource management and environmental law topics.

Dr Tim Davie

Director Science & Acting Director of Operations
Environment Canterbury Regional Council
Dr Tim Davie is currently acting Director of Operations at Environment Canterbury (Canterbury Regional Council). His substantive position is as the Director of Science, a position he has held since 2020. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team he leads the integration of science work across the organisation and represents Environment Canterbury at national and regional fora. Over the past 20+ years Dr Davie has been heavily involved in linking science to policy in the areas of water and nutrient management and climate change. As well as within Canterbury he has been part of national initiatives such as chair of the Regional Council Environmental Monitoring and Reporting group; Land & Water Forum, Overseer Expert Advisory Group and others. Tim has worked at the Regional Council since 2008, prior to that he was a Scientist and Science Manager at a CRI (Manaaki Whenua) and an academic in the UK.

Dr Durgeshree Raman

Lecturer - Te Piringa - Faculty of Law
University of Waikato
Dr Durgeshree (Dee) Raman is a Lecture of Law at Te Piringa – Faculty of Law. She completed her PhD on “Governance of International Rivers: Threats, Gaps and Challenges” from the University of Waikato in 2015. Her PhD was supervised by the distinguished Professor Alexander Gillespie and Professor Trevor Daya-Winterbottom, who are both renowned, nationally and internationally, for their expertise in enviromental law. Dr Raman has taught law at Te Piringa for more than 10 years and across 14 law papers including legal systems, equity, crimes, evidence, trusts and family law. She has a number of publications and her research interests are in freshwater resources, climate change, succession, trusts and family law. She welcomes expressions of interest from PhD candidates in any of the following areas:
  • freshwater
  • climate change
  • equity, trusts and family law
Dr Raman is a representative of the ALPSS Division to the University’s Academic Board, is also the Co-Director of the Waikato Public Law and Policy Research Unit and is a member of the Management Committee of Centre for Environmental, Resources and Energy Law.   Outside academia, Dr Raman is a judicial Member of the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Committee for which she holds a warrant granted by the Governor-General of New Zealand. This role entails attending hearings across New Zealand and contributions to judicial decisions. Her overseas engagement includes being a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Academy of Environmental Lawyers (AEL) Teaching and Capacity Building Committee which explores innovative methods of pedagogy in environmental law. She is also a member of the World Commission of Environmental Law – Water and Wetlands Specialist Law Group. Dr Raman’s practical legal experience spans more than 10 years. She is an enrolled Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and is a former Judges’ Research Counsel.

Conny Tschritter

Groundwater Scientist
Earth Sciences NZ

Natalie Summerfield

Senior Associate
Buddle Findlay
Natalie specialises in resource management, environmental and local government law. She has represented public and corporate clients with large-scale infrastructure projects, property developments, commercial contracts and due diligence investigations. Natalie advises government agencies involved in major infrastructure projects, with a particular focus on roading, working with in-house counsel, project managers, planners and technical experts. With extensive experience on regional and district plan reviews and a sound understanding of planning rules, Natalie provides clients with strategic advice about the use and development of their properties. Natalie also has experience in Resource Management Act prosecutions, providing strategic advice to help avoid prosecutions and defending clients when the unfortunate happens. Prior to joining Buddle Findlay, Natalie worked as a resource management solicitor at two other leading New Zealand law firms.

Sponsors

Exhibitor

Watercare

Pen Sponsor

Hill-labs

Lanyard Sponsor

CS-VUE

Sponsorship Opportunities

Reach out to us with any enquiries about sponsorship opportunities. 

We look forward to discussing how we can collaborate and maximise your brand’s visibility at this upcoming event.

(09) 912 3616

sponsorship@brightstar.co.nz

Exhibitor

Come with a colleague

DOUBLE PASS

Standard
$ 999 per person +gst
  • Must be from the same organisation and book at the same time. For valid tickets, payment by 24 March, 2026.
Buy ticket

DOUBLE PASS

Local, Central Govt, NGO & Māori Trusts
$ 899 per person +gst
  • Must be from same organisation and book at the same time. For valid tickets, payment by 24 March, 2026.
Buy ticket

Individual tickets

Virtual Only

National Freshwater
$1799
$ 899 +gst
  • For valid ticket, payment by 24 March, 2026.
Buy ticket

Super Saver

.
$1799
$ 1399 +gst
  • For valid ticket, payment by 13 February, 2026.
Buy ticket

Early Bird

.
$1799
$ 1599 +gst
  • For valid ticket, payment by 6 March, 2026.
Buy ticket

Last Minute

.
$ 1799 +gst
  • For valid ticket, payment by 24 March, 2026.
Buy ticket

Local, Central Govt, NGO & Māori Trusts - Individual tickets

Virtual Only

National Freshwater
$1799
$ 899 +gst
  • For valid ticket, payment by 24 March, 2026.
Buy ticket

Super Saver

Local, Central Govt, NGO & Māori Trusts
$1799
$ 1299 +gst
  • For valid ticket, payment by 13 February, 2026.
Buy ticket

Early Bird

Local, Central Govt, NGO & Māori Trusts
$1799
$ 1499 +gst
  • For valid ticket, payment by 6 March, 2026.
Buy ticket

Last Minute

Local, Central Govt, NGO & Māori Trusts
$ 1699 +gst
  • For valid ticket, payment by 24 March 2026.
Buy ticket
Registration Conditions

Ticket Terms
All prices are in New Zealand dollars ($NZD)
A surcharge of 2.5% + GST applies to credit card payments on top of the total amount.
Pre-Sale Tickets are valid only for the specific event for which they were purchased and cannot be transferred to other events. To remain valid, Super Saver and Early Bird tickets must be paid by date quoted.
Group ticket options are valid for registrations from the same organisation, booked at the same time.
By selecting any special pricing offer for classes of organisation, sector, or individuals or using any promotion code, you are asserting to the organiser your right to claim any such pricing offer, and acknowledge the organiser’s right to audit such claim and, if in the opinion of the organiser using its sole discretion the conditions for special pricing are not met, reject any registration.
Digital access, including virtual tickets and on-demand recordings, is restricted strictly to the specific event for which the attendee registered.

For full terms & conditions, please visit https://www.brightstar.co.nz/terms-and-conditions

Make an enquiry

email info@brightstar.co.nz

General Contact

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Tagged , ,