Welcome Message
Welcome message from Water New Zealand Chief Executive Gillian Blythe
I am very much looking forward to welcoming you to what will be my second Water New Zealand Conference & Expo at Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton.
Last year was a fantastic event. Perhaps it was made even more special because right up till conference time, we were keeping our fingers crossed that our 1200 attendees, speakers and exhibitors would be able to meet face to face.
This year, while we’re still not quite in a post-COVID environment, we can be even more optimistic that our premier face to face event will go ahead in September as planned.
The Water New Zealand Conference & Expo is the largest and broadest conference of its kind in New Zealand, and I hope to see you all again this year. If you haven’t had a chance to join us yet, I certainly urge you to make 2021 the year that you do.
The three waters sector is a truly dynamic industry to be in and that’s why this conference is such an important event on the water calendar. Indeed, by the time we meet in September, Taumata Arowai (the new drinking water regulator) should be up and running, and with it the requirement to give effect to Te Mana o Te Wai.
Water reform and meeting the challenges ahead will be a big part of this year’s conference. As such, it will again be very diverse. Developments in drinking, waste and stormwater are closely linked to issues around climate change, resilience and innovation, to name just a few.
We will also be covering all aspects of water from technology to management. There’ll be two and a half days of keynote and invited speakers, thought leadership and technical streams, a major trade exhibition with more than 180 exhibitor stands, as well as pre-conference workshop opportunities.
Of course, for many of us, a highlight of coming to Hamilton is the opportunity to network, meet new people and catch up with old friends. There is certainly no shortage of opportunities to socialise and have some fun.
Look forward to seeing you in September.
Ngā mihi nui, Gillian
Key Dates
- Exhibition on sale (Multi Sites – 3+) – Wednesday, 10 March
- Exhibition on sale (2 sites – online) – Thursday, 11 March
- Exhibition live & on sale (General) – Friday, 12 March
- Call for abstracts close – Wednesday, 24 March
- Call for Expressions of Interest to Participate in the Thought Leadership Stream, Keynotes and Workshops close – Friday, 23 April
- Earlybird and group registrations open – Wednesday, 9 June
- Draft programme confirmed Friday, 11 June
- Final papers due – Monday, 12 July
- Earlybird and group registrations close – Friday, 16 July
Check out the 2020 highlights below