At Water New Zealand, we’re committed to driving excellence and innovation across the water sector; both now and for generations to come. Our Research Roadmap Project, developed in partnership with the Water Services Managers Group, is a cornerstone in shaping what comes next. It provides clarity and guidance on sector research priorities, helping funders, project owners, and researchers focus on the areas that matter most.
The Roadmap aims to bridge the gap between researchers and practitioners, ensuring investment is directed where it delivers the greatest value.
This work has been co-designed through extensive engagement with stakeholders from across the sector. More than 200 voices, from iwi, councils, regulators, researchers, service providers, and communities, have helped shape the draft roadmap, which identifies twelve priority research themes, from climate resilience and infrastructure management to governance, mātauranga Māori partnerships, and emerging technologies.
What we’re aiming for
- Clear priorities to guide research and funding, aligned with the Transformation 2050 vision of resilient, equitable, and sustainable water services.
- Collaboration across funders, researchers, practitioners, and communities to avoid duplication and unlock collective impact.
- Practical tools to help project owners and decision-makers align their work with sector-wide needs.
What we need from you
We’re calling on stakeholders to engage, promote, and support this work. Your buy-in is essential to ensure the roadmap is adopted widely, informs investment decisions, and drives meaningful progress.
A draft report will be released shortly for feedback, with the final Roadmap set to launch publicly in November.