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Monday, November 10, 2025
10th IWA-ASPIRE and Water New Zealand Conference & Expo, Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand
The 10th IWA-ASPIRE and Water New Zealand Conference & Expo was the largest ever water sector event in New Zealand. Bringing record-breaking delegate numbers to Ōtautahi Christchurch, it combined the International Water Association's Asia Pacific Group (IWA-ASPIRE) regional biennial conference with national event, the Water New Zealand Conference and Expo.
The result? Five days of leadership, innovation, knowledge sharing, and commitment to advancing solutions in water management in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
The co-located event allowed 2,494 delegates from 50 countries to choose between 13 different education streams across two venues, Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre and Christchurch Town Hall, located just minutes’ walk apart.
Empowering Tomorrow
Themed ‘Empowering Tomorrow - Smart Water Solutions for Resilient Communities’, the gathering brought together international water and sanitation professionals, scientists and experts for technical sessions, workshops, and plenaries on topics including water & public health, asset management, climate resilience, circular systems, and smart solutions for a sustainable water future. The sold-out expo hall was alive with business, as exhibitors showcased the latest technologies, tools, and services driving the water sector forward.
The event programme highlighted areas where New Zealand has special expertise to share – indigenous knowledge and approaches, nature-based solutions, and environmental sustainability.
IWA Vice President Mohmad Asari Bin Daud noted “the solutions to our greatest water challenges are found when people come together across disciplines, cultures, and geographies.”
Centring indigenous voices
Ka ora te wai, ka ora te whenua, ka ora ngā tāngata
- If the water is healthy, the land is healthy, the people are healthy.
The conference content was curated with a focus on indigenous and nature-based solutions to ensuring the long-term health of water, emphasising the potential for innovation and intersection between Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and Western engineering and environmental science.
The event opened with a traditional mihi whakatau Māori welcome ceremony from mana whenua Ngāi Tūāhuriri, setting the tone for a collaborative week ahead.
Special workshop sessions focused on indigenous communities, water governance and guardianship, and protection of water utilising nature-based solutions.
The IWA-ASPIRE Cultural Gala Dinner including a stunning performance from singer Stella Maris, wearing a handwoven harakeke (flax) dress symbolising the braided rivers of Waitaha Canterbury. Guests enjoyed a modern spin on a traditional Hāngī (pit oven) meal prepared by acclaimed chef Monique Fiso, before Ngāi Tūāhuriri led a poi (Māori dance) workshop, transforming the room into a joyful flash mob.
Experiential learning
The event concluded with six site visits looking at the local water sector through the lenses of blue-green infrastructure, wastewater and water bodies, irrigation and environmental stewardship, drinking water, and cultural and historical aspects.
These offered rich, immersive learning experiences across the Canterbury region led by local environmental services researchers and experts from NIWA, ECAN (Environment Canterbury), Christchurch City Council, and Central Plains Water Ltd (CPWL).
Site visits included:
Celebrating success
Dr. Marion Savill, Conference Co-Chair and New Zealand Chair of the International Water Association, acknowledged Tourism New Zealand Business Events, Water New Zealand and professional conference organiser Avenues Event Management for fostering a successful event that was nine years in the making, from bid stage to delivery. Kaitiaki (guardianship) Advisor Brendon Green provided a leading voice in supporting the incorporation of Māori and indigenous perspectives into the programme. “His support and actions assisted with the bidding process and helped persuade members to travel to New Zealand to attend,” she said.
“This was one of the first times that a combined national water event, the Water New Zealand Conference and Expo, and ASPIRE, joined together as one. With almost 2500 people, it was particularly well-attended and one of the most successful IWA-ASPIRE events to date.
“The conference attracted many world-recognised water experts from across the globe, particularly the Asia-Pacific region, allowing New Zealand water experts to share knowledge with some of the best in the world.”
The proximity of the two venues, accommodation, restaurants, the gardens, and the river in Christchurch had added to an enjoyable experience, she noted.
“Everyone loved the locations, the relaxed New Zealand way, and the content. I kept hearing ‘this is a fabulous conference’."
Dr. Robert Bos, Programme Committee Co-Chair and Senior Advisor IWA added: “The 10th IWA ASPIRE Conference in Christchurch proved to be a meeting of minds, connecting people in different dimensions: water and sanitation professionals from New Zealand met with peers from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, scientists mingled with practitioners working for utilities, and a disciplinarily defined audience of WASH engineers and public health professionals was exposed to new concepts like planetary health, disaster risk reduction, meeting the water/sanitation needs of indigenous communities and planning resilience after extreme events. The excellent conference facilities in Christchurch provided a conducive environment for connecting, networking, and information exchange.”
Gillian Blythe, Conference Co-Chair and Chief Executive, Water New Zealand, said the co-located conference had helped increase the profiles of both organisations involved. New Zealand’s water industry, research and innovation received significant coverage on social channels and national media, with the Water New Zealand website achieving a 45.85% engagement rate, including nearly 40% visitation from outside New Zealand.
“This was the first time we embarked on this ambitious event – hosting the International Water Association to combine to one big conference – keeping the key ingredients of our very own successful events – our presentations, exhibitions, and collegiality across the industry. A huge thank you to everyone who made it possible. Together, we’ve made history.”
Bradley Jervis, Young Water Professional’s Christchurch Chair, said having a dedicated pre-conference workshop for Young Water Professionals was extremely valuable. “We could ask our own questions without fear of being judged in front of a large crowd of other senior experts. This was a great chance to discuss real problems that young water professionals face.
“In day-to-day work, making those connections requires the right project and timing. At the YWP preconference workshop, people from all sorts of backgrounds and career paths (consulting, contracting, council, etc) were able to mingle and make those valuable connections.”
Attendees from New Zealand’s Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai, added: “The level of engagement and feedback we received was outstanding, and we appreciated people’s openness in sharing their experiences and perspectives. The international aspect really added to the overall ambience, bringing fresh energy, enthusiasm, and a spirit of innovation to proceedings.”
