Explore webinar recordings from late November 2025 onwards. For a wide range of river-related content, check out the Resilient Rivers Webinar Library.
26 August 2026
Many of New Zealand's braided rivers have lost much of their braid plain, with dramatic effects on hydrology and riverbed morphology. In extreme cases, channels stabilise and incise, weeds invade the gravel bars, introduced predators move in, and braided river functions and biodiversity are lost.
This presentation looked at the Aparima River in Southland, which in the last 50 years has changed from a bare, multi-braided gravel bed to a single deep, meandering channel. River bird habitat has almost disappeared and introduced mammals are rampant.
It covered a new gravel extraction approach, tested locally, that combines commercial harvest with braided river restoration. By stripping weeds and sediment overburden and lowering point bars to recreate side braids and islands, extraction can attract birds back to the river, with biodiversity effects closely monitored. The project also highlighted the ongoing challenges of this work and ways to address them.
Presenter:
Clement Lagrue, Senior Science Advisor, Department of Conservation (DOC)
17 March 2026
The High Value Areas (HVA) programme supports community‑led, landscape‑scale pest management in places with both high biodiversity value and strong community capacity. HVAs relies on a partnership between the Northland Regional Council and community where the total cost of the project is resourced through a targeted biosecurity rate, volunteer in kind contributions, and other sources of funding. This model has driven major gains across the six community-led HVAs.
The 2024–25 Long Term Plan created the Mid‑ and Far North Partnerships Biosecurity Fund which does not require the same level of in-kind contribution from the community.
This presentation outlined the structure, delivery, and some key achievements of our six community-led HVAs, before explaining how the Mid and Far North Biosecurity Fund operates and highlighting the early successes of its three hapū led projects.
Presenters:
Dai Morgan - Northland RC
10 February 2026
Restoring the mauri of Rakiura is a long-held aspiration of Kai Tahu, especially Rakiura Māori whānau with connections to the Tītī Islands.
Biosecurity has been viewed as a key part of the project from the beginning. Currently, biosecurity planning for Rakiura is focused on pathway analysis and modelling to understand possible routes that rodents could return through. This has included a range of engagement events with the community and biosecurity experts. Future work will use the pathway model to inform the design of a fit-for-purpose biosecurity system.
Rakiura, mauri ora!
Presenter:
Rebekah Frampton - Environment Southland and Predator Free Rakiura
December 2025
The ongoing management of invasive lakeweed in Lake Ōkāreka has shown that invasive submerged weeds can be suppressed to near-eradication in a moderate sized lake. This project has enabled native vegetation to regenerate and overall ecological condition, cultural and recreational values to improve.
Presenter:
Hamish Lass - Bay of Plenty Regional Council
11 February 2026
This presentation took a deep dive into Greater Wellington Regional Council’s strategic journey to embed partnership at the centre of its work. It focussed on moving beyond transactional engagement to create enduring, outcomes-driven relationships with iwi and hapū, touching on partnering tools such as co-design approaches, investment-framed tools, and strategic frameworks that deliver.
The presentation also touched on our experience in governance and kaupapa Māori leadership, guiding audit-driven change and equipping teams to think differently about Tiriti centric experiences that are iwi Māori-led.
Presenter:
Brett Cockeram - Hautū Hua Māori | Director of Māori Outcomes, Greater Wellington Regional Council, on behalf of himself and Tania Parata - Hautū Tuhonohono Mana whenua | Director of Partnerships, Greater Wellington Regional Council
24 September, 2026
SAFER (Service for Advanced Flood Emergency Response) is an action-research initiative developing a practical framework for improved flood forecasting, situational awareness and emergency response.
This webinar covered progress to date, including:
SAFER aims to bring forecasts, alerts, operational procedures and task management into a single environment, supporting better-informed and more coordinated decisions before, during and after flood events.
Presenters: Brian Jackson (Water Technology) and Rick Liefting (Waikato Regional Council)
12 February 2026
Graeme discussed the sector’s journey to improve flood risk management and outline how we can work together to build long-term investment partnerships with government
Presenters:
Graeme Campbell, Principle Advisor Flood Risk Management, Te Uru Kahika
29 January 2026
This webinar features 5 short talks on sea-level rise impacts on shallow groundwater near the coast, sponsored by the Future Coasts Aotearoa Endeavour Programme.
Presenters:
Leanne Morgan - University of Canterbury, Matt Dumont (Komanawa Solutions), Rogier Westerhoff (Earth Sciences NZ), Wes Kitlassen (Earth Sciences NZ), Connor Cleary (Komanawa Solutions)
22 December 2025
When an extreme heat wave, torrential downpour, or massive wildfire occurs, how do we know whether and how much of a role climate change played? This presentation will cover the basics of climate attribution science and highlight tools and studies that aim to answer this question, particularly for extreme rainfall and marine heat events.
Presenter:
Kristina Dahl - Climate Central
15 September, 2026
This presentation showcased a nature-based solutions (NBS) modelling toolbox developed to support land use and flood resilience decisions in the Waimatā Catchment, Tairāwhiti.
Using predictive modelling, the toolbox identifies areas most vulnerable to erosion, sediment and woody debris, and tests NBS interventions at sub-catchment and catchment scales. The outputs help prioritise actions and land use change to reduce the impacts of extreme rainfall. The project also reviewed the cultural history of the awa, recognising Tangata Whenua relationships with the catchment and supporting the protection and restoration of sites of significance.
The presentation covered the project approach, stakeholder engagement, key findings and lessons learned from this MfE-funded study.
Presenter: Nicki Davies (Gisborne District Council)
May 2026
An investigation into nature-based solutions for flooding in the Waitōtara and Waitara catchments in Taranaki. This presentation provided an overview of the planning, methodologies, community engagement, and findings of the MfE funded study into the feasibility of nature-based solutions to address the flood risk in two of the largest catchments in Taranaki.
Presenters:
Chris Vicars (Taranaki Regional Council) & Bertrand Salmi (Water Technology)
November 2025
This session dove into real-world New Zealand case studies, highlighting the non-monetary benefits of NbS—such as resilience, biodiversity, and community wellbeing. We explored what NbS are, why use NbS for stormwater management, and review the building blocks of a solid business case.
Presenters:
Peter Christensen & Stephanie Dijkstra - Storm Environmental
December 2025
This presentation explored the impacts of inappropriate development on industry morale and some of the emerging solutions.
Presenter: Clare Feeney