©Mark Thompson
This is a joint regional networking and professional development meeting organised by the Modelling Special Interest Group of Water New Zealand and the Meteorological Society of New Zealand. This meeting aims to provide professionals working at the crossroads of water, weather and climate, and modelling, a chance to catch up, swap stories, and learn from our three presenters.
Please Register on the Water NZ website
Talks:
Modelling needs to adapt to a post-science, post-expert, and post-society NZ.
We used to believe that everything was connected. This meant that we valued people, like modellers, who could make sense of those connections. We now live in a world where the traditional understanding of expertise is less valued, and all positions have merit. So how do we as modellers adapt? This discussion will look at some of the challenges that face the world of modelling, and we will explore some approaches and opportunities that could help us better demonstrate the value that models can still contribute.
Presenter: Ben Fountain (Awa) has 25-years’ experience working in public and private roles specialising in civil, environmental and risk management engineering. Ben has worked at Wellington City Council, Wellington Water and Porirua City Council managing construction projects, heading the hydraulic modelling team and chief advisor roles in environment, climate, and resilience. Earlier this year Ben moved back to consultancy, joining Awa environmental as their Principal Waters Engineer. Ben loves the challenge of shaping projects to find that sweet spot that maximises a full spectrum of benefits. This is especially evident in how we choose to respond to our changing climate - taking opportunities for building a healthier, more connected, more equal more resilient society.
High quality Quantitative Precipitation Estimation data for water sector modelling applications.
In this talk Luke will discuss the importance of carefully processing of weather radar data to generate high quality Quantitative Precipitation Estimation (QPE) data suitable to use in urban modelling and point out pitfalls of use of unsuitable data sets and highlight appropriate data sets available in Auckland and Wellington, including a new 30-year gridded rainfall record for Auckland.
Presenter: Luke-Sutherland-Stacey (Weather Radar NZ) is an Atmospheric Physics, past president of the NZ Meteorological Society and the founder of Weather Radar New Zealand.
Where the rubber meets the road and other concrete consequences: Why Contaminant Load Modelling is a pulse check of where we're at with stormwater quality.
Contaminant Load Models (CLMs) are evolving across the country, moving beyond static, efficiency-focused frameworks to become the default approach for understanding catchment contamination. It's time to revisit the fundamentals: calibration, validation, assumptions, uncertainties, and overall effectiveness for optioneering network treatment. Their replicability and accessibility have made them the go-to tool, but at what cost?
Presenter: Kenya 'Skye' Ashcroft (WSP) is an emerging environmental professional with experience across water resources and flood risk management, geospatial intelligence, ecological restoration, and stormwater networks. Also studying, she is building proficiencies in water quality, policy research and catchment-scale planning. Skye brings an interdisciplinary lens, connecting STEM, public policy, and people to support practical environmental innovation with real-world outcomes.
MetSoc members are invited to our annual overnight excursion, this year to Ōtamahua/Quail Island on 11 and 12 October. This aligns with the Adaptation Futures Conference which is taking place in Ōtautahi Christchurch 13-16 October, but any MetSoc member is welcome irrespective of whether you are attending the conference.
Ōtamahua/Quail Island, in Lyttleton Harbour, offers a variety of activities, including walking, swimming, and exploring historical sites like the ship graveyard. We will enjoy scenic harbour views while walking the island's loop track (an easy 2.5 hour walk), relax on the beaches, and learn about the island's past as a quarantine station and training ground for Antarctic expeditions. The island also has a bird-watching barricade. We have booked exclusive use of the hut for an overnight stay and will return on Sunday morning.
As with all MetSoc walks, a shared dinner, hut fee costs and local travel will be arranged by the Society. There is an optional $20 contribution requested towards these costs (choose the ticket type to pay or not) - you will just need to turn up in Christchurch with your gear and personal food. We will finalise all the travel arrangements including carpooling/van and share a pack/gear list once we have a better idea of who is attending and respective travel logistics. When planning your travel, please note the following times:
Saturday 11 October:
9:00 Shared Transport departing from Christchurch Airport
10:15 Ferry departing Lyttleton wharf for Quail Island
Sunday 12 October:
3:30 Ferry returning from Quail Island.
Spaces on the excursion are limited to 12 so please complete the form ASAP so we can plan the logistics. Please note that you will need to be a member with a valid website login and up-to-date membership to register.
Dates: 2-5 December 2025
This year the Meteorological Society of New Zealand will partner with the New Zealand Hydrological Society for a joint conference. The conference will be held from the 2-5 of December in Kirikiriroa Hamilton.
The conference theme is “Stormy with a Chance of Solutions: tackling climate & water challenges”. It captures the idea that the challenges posed by climate change and water management are more pressing than ever, and it is through collaboration and shared knowledge that we can hope to find sustainable solutions. This conference is not just about addressing the problems we face but also about celebrating the progress we have made and the potential for future breakthroughs. Together, we can turn the tide on climate and water challenges, ensuring a resilient and sustainable future for all. The technical programme will be complemented by social events, providing excellent networking opportunities. The conference will be capped off with fascinating field trips around the Waikato region on the last day.
More information: NZHS | MSNZ Conference 2025
The abstract submission deadline has been extended to the 24th of August.
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