Recently, we had the amazing opportunity to speak with our fellow volunteers in ALGA’s New Zealand branch and Specialist Interest Groups (SIG) representatives from New Zealand.
Our New Zealand branch members share the importance of having a strong local ALGA community in New Zealand, while our SIG representatives share their views on the importance of having a New Zealand representation on their respective ALGA SIGs.
Why is it important to have New Zealand representation on your ALGA SIG, and what unique perspective or expertise do you feel you bring to the committee based on your experience in New Zealand?
“Having a strong local ALGA community in New Zealand matters because the land and groundwater issues we deal with here are complex and ever evolving. We work with diverse geology and hydrogeology, climate extremes, regulatory settings, and strong expectations around environmental stewardship. A strong network helps us swap learnings from projects, keep our approaches consistent, and leads to better work protecting people and the environment. It also brings together a mix of people, from consultants, regulators, researchers, and industry, so we are working collaboratively.
What I value most about being involved in the Wellington branch is how connected and down-to-earth it is. You can show up to our events or our branch committee meetings, chat about what’s happening on the ground, ask questions you might not ask elsewhere, and leave with useful ideas you can actually apply. I enjoy planning the branch events because I can see how it supports students and emerging professionals coming into contaminated land and groundwater work, giving them insight into the interesting work in the sector and start to build connections with others through the networking events.” – Andrew Pearson, Technical Director at Tonkin + Taylor
“Having a strong local ALGA community in Aotearoa New Zealand matters because our contaminated land and groundwater issues are both regionally unique and nationally connected.
A strong network helps us line up practice across councils and consultancies, share what’s working (and what isn’t), and avoid solving the same problems in isolation. It also gives us a better platform to respond to new challenges and emerging contaminants in a way that makes sense for New Zealand conditions.
In the Bay of Plenty branch, I really value the balance we’ve struck between technical and social events. There are genuine opportunities to present, network, and share ideas – not just with local practitioners, but with people from other regions who bring different perspectives and experience. That mix of learning, conversation, and informal connection builds confidence, strengthens relationships, and ultimately helps us deliver more consistent, practical outcomes for our land, water, and communities.” – Bridget Derham, Environmental Specialist, Fulton Hogan
“A strong local ALGA community in New Zealand is essential because our contaminated land and groundwater challenges are both technically complex and uniquely contextual. Our regulatory framework, geology, legacy land uses, and evolving resource management reforms require practitioners to collaborate, share lessons learned, and maintain high professional standards.
ALGA provides a platform where consultants, regulators, and contractors can engage in open dialogue, challenge thinking, and collectively raise the bar for our industry. In a relatively small professional community like New Zealand, those connections are particularly valuable. They foster consistency in interpretation, promote innovation, and support the development of emerging professionals.
What we value most about being part of the Christchurch Branch is the sense of shared purpose. Through events and technical discussions, we are building not just capability, but trust across the sector. That trust ultimately strengthens environmental outcomes and benefits the communities we serve.” – Carolina Winter, Senior Environmental Consultant, Stantec, and Hollie Griffith CEnvP, Director, Momentum Environmental Ltd
“As co-chair of the Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau ALGA branch, I value having a strong local branch committee where we readily collaborate to plan events and then as a group, we deliver forums that showcase some of the unique challenges we face within our region and nationally. I really value the practical, honest nature of branch discussions. Wherever possible, our events tend to focus on real projects, real constraints, and real decision-making — what worked, what didn’t, and why? It is also important for us to capture a cross-section of knowledge, so we are always striving to hear from our young professionals, our industry clients, contractors and our regulators – without this full level of engagement, our events would not be as valuable.
Overall, having a forum (like ALGA) provides a space where we can be challenged, share lessons, test ideas and build better relationships within our sector. This collective learning environment is critical for our own personal development as well as the sectors, particularly given the ever-evolving landscape in New Zealand. On a personal level I enjoy being part of a supportive committee that openly shares ideas and is not afraid to get stuck in to do the mahi when it is needed.” – Erin Richards, Technical Director Contaminated Land, Pattle Delamore Partners
“Having a strong local ALGA community in New Zealand is important as it allows us to discuss issues relevant to New Zealand and more specifically to our region. Our local network of laboratories, environmental consultants and councils are able to share practical knowledge, discuss lessons learned and collaborate to stay informed and connected about what is happening in our industry.
What I value most about being part of my branch is the sense of connection and support it provides. The branch offers a welcoming environment where ideas can be shared openly, questions can be asked and relationships can be built. Being involved is rewarding and helps build confidence and professional growth.” – Kim Harrison, Senior Key Account Manager – Environmental, Hill Labs
“A strong local ALGA community is important in New Zealand because it strengthens both individual growth and the wider industry. Our sector is evolving quickly; it is important to have a local network committed to developing NZ-specific practice. The idea is that this will ultimately support high-quality and consistent outcomes across Aotearoa. What I value most about being part of our branch is the chance to connect with industry colleagues at all levels. As someone still early in my career journey, having access to senior practitioners who are generous with their mentoring and career insights is incredibly grounding and motivating. Those connections help me build confidence. Our branch also provides a space to discuss local issues and hot topics that impact our day-to-day work — whether it’s emerging contaminants, regional regulatory nuance, or practical challenges on projects.” – Holly Scott, Senior Environmental Scientist, Beca
From your perspective, why is having a strong local ALGA community in New Zealand important, and what do you value most about being part of your branch?
“New Zealand representation on the ALGA Emerging Professionals SIG is important to ensure trans-Tasman relevance and inclusivity in our initiatives. Australia and New Zealand differ in our regulatory frameworks, cultural context and scale of projects. Having New Zealand representation ensures that SIG events and webinars reflect the needs of emerging professionals working within New Zealand’s contaminated land and groundwater space. Working in this sector in New Zealand also incorporates Te Ao Māori perspectives into land and groundwater management. The emphasis on kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and mātauranga Māori shapes how environmental projects are approached, particularly in stakeholder engagement and long-term stewardship.
It is also important for emerging professionals in New Zealand to have networking opportunities as sector-specific connection can be limited due to New Zealand’s smaller professional community. Being a part of the SIG helps bridge that gap, allowing for knowledge exchange and networking opportunities with our Australian counterparts that might otherwise be harder to access without the SIG. I enjoy the rotating ‘tech talks’ the Emerging Professionals SIG members take part in and am looking forward to further exploring the differences between Australian and New Zealand land and groundwater management.” – Oliver Tate, Environmental Scientist – Contaminated Land, GHD
“New Zealand representation on the ALGA Environmental Laboratory Special Interest Group (ELSIG) helps ensure that the experiences and challenges faced in our local industry are part of the wider trans-Tasman conversation. When Jonno Hill, our Managing Director, proposed that I join the group, I saw it as a valuable opportunity to listen, learn, and contribute where I can.
Working within the New Zealand environmental laboratory sector has given me insight into how a smaller market navigates emerging contaminants, evolving regulatory expectations, and analytical complexities. I’ve been able to share updates on local developments, such as the forthcoming ALGA QA/QC guidelines, while also gaining a great deal from hearing how Australian colleagues are approaching similar issues.
I’m grateful to be part of ELSIG and hope that my perspective can help support closer alignment and collaboration across the region as we work toward strengthening environmental analysis collectively.” – Graham Corban, Senior Client Service Manager for Key Accounts, Hill Labs
“ALGA facilitated the establishment of a Local Government Specialist Interest Group because of the common challenges faced by local government staff dealing with contaminated land on both sides of the Tasman Sea.
An early survey completed by 115 authorities across both countries confirmed this view, and provided details of needs relating to staffing, training, support and priorities required in delivering such services. ALGA continues to provide a platform for advancing the interests of local government colleagues across New Zealand and Australia, sharing best practices and innovations that contribute to progressive improvements in the identified areas. However perhaps the greatest benefit may be the knowledge that we are each no longer alone in the delivery of high-quality specialist services within our own small parts of the Australasian community.” – Graham Aveyard, Principal Science Consultant, SQN Geosciences
We would like to thank our volunteers in New Zealand for helping to contribute to this edition of e-cronicle and for their hard work and dedication to the contaminated land and groundwater industry.