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Water infrastructure Stories - Page 2

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Water infrastructure stories

Council manager's honest admission: We don't know where all our pipes are
Risk & Compliance

Council manager's honest admission: We don't know where all our pipes are

Unrecorded sections of Southland's water network are complicating planning, as councillors were told the council still has pipes it cannot locate.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 2 min read • Mon, 17th Aug 2026
Improved water meter data helps Masterton plug leaks
Data Analytics

Improved water meter data helps Masterton plug leaks

Water losses in Masterton have been cut to 15% as better meter data helps the council spot hidden leaks and prompt repairs.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 3 min read • Fri, 14th Aug 2026
Ohakune residents still boiling drinking water as town enters 'recovery mode'
Radio New Zealand

Ohakune residents still boiling drinking water as town enters 'recovery mode'

Boil notices remain in place while testing continues, though Ohakune's water supply has been restored and the emergency is easing.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 3 min read • Thu, 13th Aug 2026
Popular Nelson track to be fixed, but it's not expected to last
Risk & Compliance

Popular Nelson track to be fixed, but it's not expected to last

Residents welcomed approval for a basic rebuild of Days Track, though council staff warn storms will likely damage it again.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 4 min read • Wed, 12th Aug 2026
Ohakune residents demand answers after reservoir runs dry
Civil Defence

Ohakune residents demand answers after reservoir runs dry

Residents were warned too late as Ohakune's reservoir emptied, leaving businesses and households without water on a busy winter weekend.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 5 min read • Wed, 12th Aug 2026
'Never had anything like it' - The crisis that changed New Zealand, 10 years on
Risk & Compliance

'Never had anything like it' - The crisis that changed New Zealand, 10 years on

Ten years on, the outbreak still shapes drinking-water rules after contaminated taps sickened more than 5,500 people and killed four.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 6 min read • Wed, 12th Aug 2026
New Zealand unveils nine industry-led school subjects
Agricultural Technology

New Zealand unveils nine industry-led school subjects

Students in Years 12 and 13 will gain school qualifications tied to jobs and training as the government seeks to ease skills shortages.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Tue, 11th Aug 2026
Water New Zealand hails STEM subjects to ease skills gap
Data Analytics

Water New Zealand hails STEM subjects to ease skills gap

The sector's 10,000-worker shortfall could widen unless more students see water jobs beyond engineering, Water New Zealand says.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Mon, 10th Aug 2026
Opportunity seeks law for New Zealand infrastructure plan
Urban Planning

Opportunity seeks law for New Zealand infrastructure plan

Long-term asset upkeep would take priority under a plan aimed at shielding New Zealand infrastructure from election-cycle politics and funding gaps.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Mon, 10th Aug 2026
Politicians across party lines call for end to stop-start infrastructure investment
Urban Planning

Politicians across party lines call for end to stop-start infrastructure investment

Consensus remained broad, but party MPs still clashed over who should pay for long-term works and how to curb costly overdesign.

By RNZ • 3 min read • Fri, 7th Aug 2026
New Zealand widens levy funding for infrastructure
Real estate

New Zealand widens levy funding for infrastructure

More housing and transport projects can now tap private finance as Parliament broadens levy-backed funding to ease council borrowing pressure.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Tue, 28th Jul 2026
Engineering enrolments rise but skills gap remains
Housing

Engineering enrolments rise but skills gap remains

The rise in graduates has not kept pace with demand, as New Zealand still needs up to 2,300 extra engineers a year.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Mon, 27th Jul 2026
New Zealand report flags strain in wastewater networks
Risk & Compliance

New Zealand report flags strain in wastewater networks

Untreated discharges, leakage and ageing assets are putting public health and the environment at risk, the water watchdog says.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Mon, 27th Jul 2026
Infrastructure New Zealand says spending too costly
Local Government

Infrastructure New Zealand says spending too costly

Poor value from public works is pushing up costs for taxpayers and households as political interference and weak planning bite, the body says.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Mon, 20th Jul 2026
LISTEN to our publisher Mike Bishara on Mediawatch
Radio New Zealand

LISTEN to our publisher Mike Bishara on Mediawatch

RNZ’s Mediawatch put infrastructure coverage under the spotlight after citing Mike Bishara’s commentary on Wellington’s wastewater woes.

By Staff Writer • 2 min read • Mon, 23rd Feb 2026
Key features of a defining year
Construction

Key features of a defining year

A weak project pipeline is leaving firms underused and engineers heading overseas, sharpening fears of a future skills crunch in New Zealand.

By Staff Writer • 18 min read • Wed, 21st Jan 2026

Global Stories

Water infrastructure stories

Stories from Other Regions

Water infrastructure stories

Tomorrow's cities rely on connecting infrastructure today
Smart Cities

Tomorrow's cities rely on connecting infrastructure today

As climate shocks intensify, cities can cut outages and delays by linking water, power and transport into one view.

By David Such • 5 min read • Mon, 10th Aug 2026