Why you should be there

The 17th Annual Freshwater Conference in March 2026 offers crucial updates on policy, legislation, science, and governance impacting New Zealand’s freshwater management.

This high-level event is timed perfectly to deliver key analysis on upcoming changes, including the proposed revisions to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and the Government’s two flagship resource management reform laws, which are due shortly.

It provides a timely opportunity to explore how these proposed changes will impact freshwater planning and management delivery. Furthermore, with Local Water Done Well now accelerating, the conference will address the challenges for council-controlled water services organisations as they navigate this transition and establish financially sustainable models.

Key Themes

• Reviewing proposed changes to Freshwater Policy Statements and Standards.
• Analysing the new Resource Management legislation‘s impact on planning.
• Assessing the latest science on our national freshwater status.
• Exploring nitrate contamination levels and tackling mitigation efforts.
• Examining the operational rollout of Local Water Done Well reforms.