Water Resource | Williamson Water & Land Advisory | Auckland

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Williamson Water & Land Advisory

ADDING VALUE THROUGH SUSTAINABLE AND EFFICIENT USE OF NATURAL AND RENEWABLE RESOURCES

Established in January 2015. WWLA has built an enviable reputation as a high quality technical service provider in hydrological, hydrogeological, contaminated land, rural infrastructure, RMA planning and remote sensing services.

Williamson Water & Land Advisory is a New Zealand based, employee owned niche environmental consultancy offering water and land related science, planning, engineering and contamination services. We pride ourselves on our client focus, extremely high standard of specialist technical expertise and achieving our aim of becoming long term trusted advisors.

We would be pleased to discuss our service offering to meet your requirements, so please do not hesitate to make contact with us.

Projects

Otawere Water Storage Reservoir

Otawere Water Storage Reservoir

WWLA successfully obtained resource consent from Northland Regional Council to authorise the Otawere Water Storage Reservoir ...

Pukenui Solar Farm

Pukenui Solar Farm

WWLA has been involved in a range of solar farm consenting projects across New Zealand. This includes preparing preliminary planning assessment, ...

Ruahuwai (Upper Waikato) Catchment Model

Ruahuwai (Upper Waikato) Catchment Model

WWLA were commissioned to develop and calibration a MODFLOW, MT3DMS and MODPATH models for flow, nitrate-N and ...

Community

WWLA are proud to share our success by giving back to the communities we live and work in.

Newspaper

News

WWLA’s Dream Team: Over 120 Years of Combined Experience

At WWLA, expertise is a foundation built on more than three decades of experience for each of our four Principal staff members. Spanning hydrogeology, hydrology, contaminated land, and environmental management, this depth of knowledge unites a team of industry leaders with one shared goal: delivering science-driven, cost-effective solutions to complex environmental challenges. Jon Williamson, Managing Director and Principal Hydrogeologist. Drawing on technical leadership within global multidisciplinary consultancies across Auckland and Sydney, Jon established WWLA in 2015 with a clear vision: to provide pragmatic, robust, and timely advice. Known as a trusted advisor, he combines deep knowledge of hydrological systems with an ability to clearly communicate complex concepts, enabling clients to make confident, informed decisions. Wendi Williamson, Director and Principal Contaminated Land and Environmental Advisor. Since joining WWLA in 2018, Wendi has applied her experience across New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific to site investigation, remediation design, and project management. An expert in challenging conditions - including acid sulfate soils and PFAS contamination - she uses a science-based approach to help clients minimise expenses and avoid project delays. She also champions sustainable development, providing climate adaptation services for projects targeting Green Star ratings. Shane Moore, Principal Contaminated Land and Environmental Advisor. With a background gained largely within international consultancies, Shane brings a problem-solving mindset and a passion for efficient, value-driven outcomes. His technical expertise spans groundwater assessment, site remediation, risk assessment and broader environmental management, allowing him to tackle a diverse array of client challenges. Chris Simpson, Principal Hydrogeologist. Chris offers a highly technical background across resource exploration, mining, and consulting. His expertise includes groundwater supply, wastewater disposal, and impact assessments for the energy and resources sectors. Beyond fieldwork, Chris has contributed to academia as a university lecturer and successfully ran his own practice for over a decade. As a Certified Environmental Practitioner and qualified project manager, he brings profound technical depth to every project. Together, this “dream team” represents a rare combination of scientific excellence, industry experience, and commercial acumen. Their collective capability allows WWLA to deliver integrated solutions that are technically sound and operationally viable, setting a benchmark for quality, reliability, and innovation that helps clients navigate their challenges with confidence.

Chris Simpson – 3 years at WWLA

Congratulations to Chris Simpson, who recently celebrated his 3-year anniversary of working at WWLA. Chris is a Principal Hydrogeologist in the water resources team and is also a Shareholder in the company. Since joining WWLA, Chris has worked alongside clients with a diverse range of interesting hydrogeological issues to solve including Morphum Consultants, McIntyre Williamson Farming Partnership, Taharoa Ironsands Limited, AgFirst Engineering, Waitatapia Station, Waiwera Thermal Springs, Waikato Regional Council, and Zespri International. Chris also has a long-standing (>20 years) professional relationship with Oceana Gold, which is built on trust and a proven track record of delivering a high quality service. His ability to understand client needs and provide practical and effective solutions has made him a reliable and respected figure within the company. Chris has also taken an active role in supporting the development of other team members, generously sharing his knowledge and experience. Whether guiding new staff as they settle into their roles or helping colleagues refine their skills, Chris has contributed to fostering a positive and growth focussed workplace culture. As Chris prepares for his next chapter, we are excited to share that he will soon be moving to our Tauranga office. This transition marks an exciting opportunity for both Chis and the wider WWLA team. His expertise, leadership, and enthusiasm will undoubtedly bring great value to the Tauranga office and its clients. Congratulations, Chris, on your achievements so far—and best of luck in this exciting new phase of your journey with WWLA.

WWLA Achieves Sitewise Gold, again!

WWLA are proud to share an exciting update on our ongoing commitment to health and safety in 2026. We have once again achieved Gold 100% Status in our latest SiteWise assessment. Achieving SiteWise Gold certification required us to provide clear, practical evidence of our health and safety systems and day-to-day practices, which were assessed as being of the highest standard. Health and safety is a shared responsibility across our business. Before each site visit, senior staff work with junior team members to discuss site-specific risks and the tasks ahead, helping to build knowledge and experience. We continue to refine our procedures, so they remain practical, effective, and efficient. For example, we are developing our own Site-Specific Safety Plan App to simplify the risk assessment process before going to site. We are incredibly proud of this achievement and of the culture that supports it.

WWLA Welcomes Bayleigh Howarth

WWLA is delighted to welcome Bayleigh Howarth to our Kumeu office. Bayleigh joined the team in May 2026 as a Graduate Contaminated Land Scientist. She graduated from the University of Auckland in 2025 with a Master of Environmental Science, specialising in Coastal Geography. During her studies, Bayleigh spent eight months as an Environmental Monitoring Intern at Auckland Council, where she gained valuable experience assessing resource consents and undertaking risk assessments. Bayleigh has hit the ground running during an incredibly busy period, already completing numerous site visits and investigations. She is already proving to be a fantastic asset to the company. Welcome to the team, Bayleigh!

Shareholder Announcement - April 2026

We have great pleasure in announcing Ben Tait and Jaide Derbyshire as new shareholders to the company effective 1 April 2026. Ben is a Principal Planner based in our Auckland office and has just re-joined WWLA after previously working in our Whangarei office from 2020 to 2022. Ben is a highly respected planning professional with over 18 years’ experience in natural resource planning and policy development. He has built a reputation for navigating the complexities of resource consents across diverse sectors, including municipal infrastructure, industrial wastewater, and large-scale irrigation schemes. Ben is known for his pragmatic, solution-oriented approach, providing strategic policy advice to both public and private sector clients. As a Full Member of the NZPI and a seasoned expert witness, he frequently provides high-level testimony at council hearings and before the Environment Court. Jaide is an Intermediate Hydrologist based in our Auckland office since October 2023. During this time Jaide has been involved in a broad range of hydrology and hydrogeological projects, including remote stream flow gauging, design and monitoring of nature based solutions for land instability on Auckland’s motorway network, stormwater and flooding damage assessment and design of remedial options on various properties, soakhole and stormwater infrastructure assessment on residential and commercial sites. Prior to joining WWLA, Jaide was based in the UK, her experience spans public and private sectors, where she specialised in flood risk resilience and storm overflow modelling. She also has experience working as an Exploration Geologist in rural Sweden.

WWLA Welcomes Ben Tait

WWLA is pleased to welcome Ben Tait to the Kumeu office. Ben re-joined WWLA in April 2026 as a Principal Planner, having previously worked for the company from 2020 to 2022. With over 18 years’ experience in natural resource planning and policy development, Ben is a highly respected practitioner, known for his depth of expertise and pragmatic approach. Ben specialises in water quality and freshwater management and has a strong track record in securing complex resource consents across a wide range of sectors. He provides trusted planning and policy advice to both public and private sector clients and is an experienced expert witness, having presented evidence at council hearings and before the Environment Court. Ben is also a full member of the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI). Ben was drawn back to WWLA by the opportunity to work alongside a trusted team on challenging resource use issues and to help deliver meaningful planning and project outcomes for clients. Welcome to the team Ben – it is great to have you back!

Brooke James at Underwater Hockey Interzone Championships

Brooke James, a graduate hydrologist at WWLA, recently attended the Underwater Hockey Interzone Championships (Regionals) located in Wellington. The Interzone Championships is New Zealand’s most prestigious underwater hockey tournament, where elite players across New Zealand compete representing their home regions. This year, fifteen teams representing different regions competed. Brooke played for the Mid-Northern Women’s team who were up against seven other women’s teams. The Mid-Northern region represents the area from below the Bombay Hills down to Napier and Taupo. The women’s grade got split into two groups based on how the teams placed at last-years comp. The Mid-Northern team began in the lower group, and with one less player than the other teams, they won against all the teams in the lower group (with a goal ratio of 31!), made it into the top group and won against another team in the top group. The Mid-Northern team ended up placing fourth after a close final for 3rd and 4th where they lost 2-0. Overall, the Mid-Northern team had a fantastic tournament, placing two places higher than last year. We can’t wait to see what they bring next year! If you think you may be interested in giving underwater hockey (UWH) a go, you are welcome to come along to your local UWH club. UWH is played year-round, and UWH clubs often have-a-go sessions throughout the year, with gear you can borrow. You can find more information on UWH and the clubs across the region at www.underwaterhockeynz.com and the Underwater Hockey New Zealand Inc Facebook page. Underwater Hockey is a sport that combines swimming and hockey, resulting in a fast-paced team sport that may be unfamiliar to some. Teams of six (with four additional subs) play with a short stick to push a lead weighted puck along the pool floor into the opposition’s goal bin. Each player wears a mask and snorkel, fins, a water polo cap (to protect the ears), and a silicon glove to protect the playing hand. As play is conducted on the pool floor, players must hold their breath whilst manoeuvring the puck.

WWLA Welcomes Kevin Burdette

WWLA would like to welcome Kevin Burdette to the Kumeu office. Kevin joined in March 2026 as an Intermediate Hydrogeologist and holds a PhD in Geology from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. Originally from the United States, Kevin recently made New Zealand his permanent home, moving out here with his wife, 2 dogs and cat. New Zealand’s dramatic and thoughtfully preserved landscapes have long inspired Kevin and the opportunity to not only explore this environment but also call it home was a significant factor in his decision to relocate. Kevin has experience across the energy and environmental sectors. He worked in the oil and gas industry before transitioning to environmental consulting. His technical strengths include stratigraphic interpretation, geophysical analysis and complex problem solving. Welcome to the team Kevin!

Electrical Resistivity Survey (ERT) Services

Recently, WWLA has undertaken Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) surveys using our ABEM Terrameter LS system for Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC), across 4 km of survey lines in the Kaituna area. The ERT sections successfully delineated a distinct fresh-saline groundwater transition, a salt water wedge, and mapped key lithological units such as unsaturated sands in coastal dunes and saturated gravels inland from the coast. This work will assist BOPRC in determining locations for saline-intrusion monitoring bores, strengthening long-term groundwater management within the Kaituna Freshwater Management Unit. ERT Survey Using ABEM LS Terrameter at Kaituna How it works: ERT is a geophysical technique for imaging sub-surface geological structures based on electrical resistivity measurements collect at the ground surface. Subsurface materials such as clays and saline groundwater typically exhibit low resistivity, while materials such as dry sand and gravels generally show higher resistivity. Electrodes are inserted into the ground and connected to a multi core cable which is linked to the Terrameter. The Terrameter injects an electrical current through selected electrode pairs in a predefined electrode array and measure the resulting apparent resistivity of the sub-surface. These apparent resistivity measurements are then processed and inverted to generate 2D resistivity image of the subsurface. As a result, an indication of sub-surface materials can be mapped to a certain depth without the need for drilling, although drilling is desirable for benchmarking. This service is often used to target aquifers to determine appropriate locations for bore drilling.

WWLA Welcomes Atakan Durmus

WWLA would like to welcome Atakan Durmus to the Kumeu office. Atakan joined WWLA in February 2026 as an Environmental Engineer. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geological Engineering from Middle East Technical University in Turkey. Originally from Turkey, Atakan moved to New Zealand with his partner in 2025 on a working holiday visa, he liked it so much that he decided to make New Zealand his permanent home, which is great news for us. He enjoys how unique Auckland is, and how you can stand on an ancient volcanic cone like Mount Eden and see both a modern city and untouched landscapes. Atakan has experience in various sectors including natural gas and petroleum exploration, geotechnical consulting and metallic mineral exploration. He is highly skilled in in geological interpretation, site characterisation, environmental risk awareness and subsurface data interpretation and modelling. Welcome to the team Atakan!

WWLA Welcomes Daniel Ware

WWLA would like to welcome Daniel Ware to the Kumeu office. Daniel joined WWLA in November 2025 as an Environmental advisor. He holds a BSc (1st Class Hons) degree in Chemistry from the University of Auckland. Daniel has recently returned from his OE in the UK, where he spent two years working in environmental consultancies on projects including the upgrades of a major London Port. He worked on many interesting sites whilst in the UK, including a live prison and undertaking sampling on a site filled with wild horses. Daniel has over 5 years of professional experience, across the UK and New Zealand. He is passionate about delivering practical and cost-effective solutions to complex ground condition challenges. While his main focus is contaminated land, he also brings valuable expertise in asbestos management from his previous work as a qualified assessor and surveyor. Welcome to the team Daniel!

WWLA Welcomes Benji Williamson

WWLA would like to welcome Benji Williamson to the Kumeu Office in a fulltime capacity after being a summer intern with the company since 2022. He has completed his studies at the University of Auckland and will graduate with a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons 1). As a keen graduate, Benji has been thriving applying his civil engineering knowledge gained at university on various projects. For example, he has been investigating Nature Based Solutions for slope failure on the Auckland Roading network, construction monitoring of stormwater filtration device installation, and recently attended a remote site in Taveuni (Fiji) on behalf of the Asian Development Bank to assist in flow gauging a river for a mini-hydropower development. Benji is always open to learning new things and develop his skills across the multi-disciplinary teams. Currently, he has experience installing and analysing data from hydrological monitoring instruments for groundwater, surface water, wetland, and stormwater applications, and is frequently in the field flow gauging or installing piezometers, and is about to initiate the learning of numerical groundwater modelling for construction and quarry dewatering. WWLA are also keen to utilise Benji’s civil engineering expertise in design of water intake and pumping structures. Welcome to the team Benji!

WWLA’s Dream Team: Over 120 Years of Combined Experience

At WWLA, expertise is a foundation built on more than three decades of experience for each of our four Principal staff members. Spanning hydrogeology, hydrology, contaminated land, and environmental management, this depth of knowledge unites a team of industry leaders with one shared goal: delivering science-driven, cost-effective solutions to complex environmental challenges. Jon Williamson, Managing Director and Principal Hydrogeologist. Drawing on technical leadership within global multidisciplinary consultancies across Auckland and Sydney, Jon established WWLA in 2015 with a clear vision: to provide pragmatic, robust, and timely advice. Known as a trusted advisor, he combines deep knowledge of hydrological systems with an ability to clearly communicate complex concepts, enabling clients to make confident, informed decisions. Wendi Williamson, Director and Principal Contaminated Land and Environmental Advisor. Since joining WWLA in 2018, Wendi has applied her experience across New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific to site investigation, remediation design, and project management. An expert in challenging conditions - including acid sulfate soils and PFAS contamination - she uses a science-based approach to help clients minimise expenses and avoid project delays. She also champions sustainable development, providing climate adaptation services for projects targeting Green Star ratings. Shane Moore, Principal Contaminated Land and Environmental Advisor. With a background gained largely within international consultancies, Shane brings a problem-solving mindset and a passion for efficient, value-driven outcomes. His technical expertise spans groundwater assessment, site remediation, risk assessment and broader environmental management, allowing him to tackle a diverse array of client challenges. Chris Simpson, Principal Hydrogeologist. Chris offers a highly technical background across resource exploration, mining, and consulting. His expertise includes groundwater supply, wastewater disposal, and impact assessments for the energy and resources sectors. Beyond fieldwork, Chris has contributed to academia as a university lecturer and successfully ran his own practice for over a decade. As a Certified Environmental Practitioner and qualified project manager, he brings profound technical depth to every project. Together, this “dream team” represents a rare combination of scientific excellence, industry experience, and commercial acumen. Their collective capability allows WWLA to deliver integrated solutions that are technically sound and operationally viable, setting a benchmark for quality, reliability, and innovation that helps clients navigate their challenges with confidence.

Chris Simpson – 3 years at WWLA

Congratulations to Chris Simpson, who recently celebrated his 3-year anniversary of working at WWLA. Chris is a Principal Hydrogeologist in the water resources team and is also a Shareholder in the company. Since joining WWLA, Chris has worked alongside clients with a diverse range of interesting hydrogeological issues to solve including Morphum Consultants, McIntyre Williamson Farming Partnership, Taharoa Ironsands Limited, AgFirst Engineering, Waitatapia Station, Waiwera Thermal Springs, Waikato Regional Council, and Zespri International. Chris also has a long-standing (>20 years) professional relationship with Oceana Gold, which is built on trust and a proven track record of delivering a high quality service. His ability to understand client needs and provide practical and effective solutions has made him a reliable and respected figure within the company. Chris has also taken an active role in supporting the development of other team members, generously sharing his knowledge and experience. Whether guiding new staff as they settle into their roles or helping colleagues refine their skills, Chris has contributed to fostering a positive and growth focussed workplace culture. As Chris prepares for his next chapter, we are excited to share that he will soon be moving to our Tauranga office. This transition marks an exciting opportunity for both Chis and the wider WWLA team. His expertise, leadership, and enthusiasm will undoubtedly bring great value to the Tauranga office and its clients. Congratulations, Chris, on your achievements so far—and best of luck in this exciting new phase of your journey with WWLA.

WWLA Achieves Sitewise Gold, again!

WWLA are proud to share an exciting update on our ongoing commitment to health and safety in 2026. We have once again achieved Gold 100% Status in our latest SiteWise assessment. Achieving SiteWise Gold certification required us to provide clear, practical evidence of our health and safety systems and day-to-day practices, which were assessed as being of the highest standard. Health and safety is a shared responsibility across our business. Before each site visit, senior staff work with junior team members to discuss site-specific risks and the tasks ahead, helping to build knowledge and experience. We continue to refine our procedures, so they remain practical, effective, and efficient. For example, we are developing our own Site-Specific Safety Plan App to simplify the risk assessment process before going to site. We are incredibly proud of this achievement and of the culture that supports it.

WWLA Welcomes Bayleigh Howarth

WWLA is delighted to welcome Bayleigh Howarth to our Kumeu office. Bayleigh joined the team in May 2026 as a Graduate Contaminated Land Scientist. She graduated from the University of Auckland in 2025 with a Master of Environmental Science, specialising in Coastal Geography. During her studies, Bayleigh spent eight months as an Environmental Monitoring Intern at Auckland Council, where she gained valuable experience assessing resource consents and undertaking risk assessments. Bayleigh has hit the ground running during an incredibly busy period, already completing numerous site visits and investigations. She is already proving to be a fantastic asset to the company. Welcome to the team, Bayleigh!

Shareholder Announcement - April 2026

We have great pleasure in announcing Ben Tait and Jaide Derbyshire as new shareholders to the company effective 1 April 2026. Ben is a Principal Planner based in our Auckland office and has just re-joined WWLA after previously working in our Whangarei office from 2020 to 2022. Ben is a highly respected planning professional with over 18 years’ experience in natural resource planning and policy development. He has built a reputation for navigating the complexities of resource consents across diverse sectors, including municipal infrastructure, industrial wastewater, and large-scale irrigation schemes. Ben is known for his pragmatic, solution-oriented approach, providing strategic policy advice to both public and private sector clients. As a Full Member of the NZPI and a seasoned expert witness, he frequently provides high-level testimony at council hearings and before the Environment Court. Jaide is an Intermediate Hydrologist based in our Auckland office since October 2023. During this time Jaide has been involved in a broad range of hydrology and hydrogeological projects, including remote stream flow gauging, design and monitoring of nature based solutions for land instability on Auckland’s motorway network, stormwater and flooding damage assessment and design of remedial options on various properties, soakhole and stormwater infrastructure assessment on residential and commercial sites. Prior to joining WWLA, Jaide was based in the UK, her experience spans public and private sectors, where she specialised in flood risk resilience and storm overflow modelling. She also has experience working as an Exploration Geologist in rural Sweden.

WWLA Welcomes Ben Tait

WWLA is pleased to welcome Ben Tait to the Kumeu office. Ben re-joined WWLA in April 2026 as a Principal Planner, having previously worked for the company from 2020 to 2022. With over 18 years’ experience in natural resource planning and policy development, Ben is a highly respected practitioner, known for his depth of expertise and pragmatic approach. Ben specialises in water quality and freshwater management and has a strong track record in securing complex resource consents across a wide range of sectors. He provides trusted planning and policy advice to both public and private sector clients and is an experienced expert witness, having presented evidence at council hearings and before the Environment Court. Ben is also a full member of the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI). Ben was drawn back to WWLA by the opportunity to work alongside a trusted team on challenging resource use issues and to help deliver meaningful planning and project outcomes for clients. Welcome to the team Ben – it is great to have you back!

Brooke James at Underwater Hockey Interzone Championships

Brooke James, a graduate hydrologist at WWLA, recently attended the Underwater Hockey Interzone Championships (Regionals) located in Wellington. The Interzone Championships is New Zealand’s most prestigious underwater hockey tournament, where elite players across New Zealand compete representing their home regions. This year, fifteen teams representing different regions competed. Brooke played for the Mid-Northern Women’s team who were up against seven other women’s teams. The Mid-Northern region represents the area from below the Bombay Hills down to Napier and Taupo. The women’s grade got split into two groups based on how the teams placed at last-years comp. The Mid-Northern team began in the lower group, and with one less player than the other teams, they won against all the teams in the lower group (with a goal ratio of 31!), made it into the top group and won against another team in the top group. The Mid-Northern team ended up placing fourth after a close final for 3rd and 4th where they lost 2-0. Overall, the Mid-Northern team had a fantastic tournament, placing two places higher than last year. We can’t wait to see what they bring next year! If you think you may be interested in giving underwater hockey (UWH) a go, you are welcome to come along to your local UWH club. UWH is played year-round, and UWH clubs often have-a-go sessions throughout the year, with gear you can borrow. You can find more information on UWH and the clubs across the region at www.underwaterhockeynz.com and the Underwater Hockey New Zealand Inc Facebook page. Underwater Hockey is a sport that combines swimming and hockey, resulting in a fast-paced team sport that may be unfamiliar to some. Teams of six (with four additional subs) play with a short stick to push a lead weighted puck along the pool floor into the opposition’s goal bin. Each player wears a mask and snorkel, fins, a water polo cap (to protect the ears), and a silicon glove to protect the playing hand. As play is conducted on the pool floor, players must hold their breath whilst manoeuvring the puck.

WWLA Welcomes Kevin Burdette

WWLA would like to welcome Kevin Burdette to the Kumeu office. Kevin joined in March 2026 as an Intermediate Hydrogeologist and holds a PhD in Geology from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. Originally from the United States, Kevin recently made New Zealand his permanent home, moving out here with his wife, 2 dogs and cat. New Zealand’s dramatic and thoughtfully preserved landscapes have long inspired Kevin and the opportunity to not only explore this environment but also call it home was a significant factor in his decision to relocate. Kevin has experience across the energy and environmental sectors. He worked in the oil and gas industry before transitioning to environmental consulting. His technical strengths include stratigraphic interpretation, geophysical analysis and complex problem solving. Welcome to the team Kevin!

Electrical Resistivity Survey (ERT) Services

Recently, WWLA has undertaken Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) surveys using our ABEM Terrameter LS system for Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC), across 4 km of survey lines in the Kaituna area. The ERT sections successfully delineated a distinct fresh-saline groundwater transition, a salt water wedge, and mapped key lithological units such as unsaturated sands in coastal dunes and saturated gravels inland from the coast. This work will assist BOPRC in determining locations for saline-intrusion monitoring bores, strengthening long-term groundwater management within the Kaituna Freshwater Management Unit. ERT Survey Using ABEM LS Terrameter at Kaituna How it works: ERT is a geophysical technique for imaging sub-surface geological structures based on electrical resistivity measurements collect at the ground surface. Subsurface materials such as clays and saline groundwater typically exhibit low resistivity, while materials such as dry sand and gravels generally show higher resistivity. Electrodes are inserted into the ground and connected to a multi core cable which is linked to the Terrameter. The Terrameter injects an electrical current through selected electrode pairs in a predefined electrode array and measure the resulting apparent resistivity of the sub-surface. These apparent resistivity measurements are then processed and inverted to generate 2D resistivity image of the subsurface. As a result, an indication of sub-surface materials can be mapped to a certain depth without the need for drilling, although drilling is desirable for benchmarking. This service is often used to target aquifers to determine appropriate locations for bore drilling.

WWLA Welcomes Atakan Durmus

WWLA would like to welcome Atakan Durmus to the Kumeu office. Atakan joined WWLA in February 2026 as an Environmental Engineer. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geological Engineering from Middle East Technical University in Turkey. Originally from Turkey, Atakan moved to New Zealand with his partner in 2025 on a working holiday visa, he liked it so much that he decided to make New Zealand his permanent home, which is great news for us. He enjoys how unique Auckland is, and how you can stand on an ancient volcanic cone like Mount Eden and see both a modern city and untouched landscapes. Atakan has experience in various sectors including natural gas and petroleum exploration, geotechnical consulting and metallic mineral exploration. He is highly skilled in in geological interpretation, site characterisation, environmental risk awareness and subsurface data interpretation and modelling. Welcome to the team Atakan!

WWLA Welcomes Daniel Ware

WWLA would like to welcome Daniel Ware to the Kumeu office. Daniel joined WWLA in November 2025 as an Environmental advisor. He holds a BSc (1st Class Hons) degree in Chemistry from the University of Auckland. Daniel has recently returned from his OE in the UK, where he spent two years working in environmental consultancies on projects including the upgrades of a major London Port. He worked on many interesting sites whilst in the UK, including a live prison and undertaking sampling on a site filled with wild horses. Daniel has over 5 years of professional experience, across the UK and New Zealand. He is passionate about delivering practical and cost-effective solutions to complex ground condition challenges. While his main focus is contaminated land, he also brings valuable expertise in asbestos management from his previous work as a qualified assessor and surveyor. Welcome to the team Daniel!

WWLA Welcomes Benji Williamson

WWLA would like to welcome Benji Williamson to the Kumeu Office in a fulltime capacity after being a summer intern with the company since 2022. He has completed his studies at the University of Auckland and will graduate with a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons 1). As a keen graduate, Benji has been thriving applying his civil engineering knowledge gained at university on various projects. For example, he has been investigating Nature Based Solutions for slope failure on the Auckland Roading network, construction monitoring of stormwater filtration device installation, and recently attended a remote site in Taveuni (Fiji) on behalf of the Asian Development Bank to assist in flow gauging a river for a mini-hydropower development. Benji is always open to learning new things and develop his skills across the multi-disciplinary teams. Currently, he has experience installing and analysing data from hydrological monitoring instruments for groundwater, surface water, wetland, and stormwater applications, and is frequently in the field flow gauging or installing piezometers, and is about to initiate the learning of numerical groundwater modelling for construction and quarry dewatering. WWLA are also keen to utilise Benji’s civil engineering expertise in design of water intake and pumping structures. Welcome to the team Benji!

WWLA’s Dream Team: Over 120 Years of Combined Experience

At WWLA, expertise is a foundation built on more than three decades of experience for each of our four Principal staff members. Spanning hydrogeology, hydrology, contaminated land, and environmental management, this depth of knowledge unites a team of industry leaders with one shared goal: delivering science-driven, cost-effective solutions to complex environmental challenges. Jon Williamson, Managing Director and Principal Hydrogeologist. Drawing on technical leadership within global multidisciplinary consultancies across Auckland and Sydney, Jon established WWLA in 2015 with a clear vision: to provide pragmatic, robust, and timely advice. Known as a trusted advisor, he combines deep knowledge of hydrological systems with an ability to clearly communicate complex concepts, enabling clients to make confident, informed decisions. Wendi Williamson, Director and Principal Contaminated Land and Environmental Advisor. Since joining WWLA in 2018, Wendi has applied her experience across New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific to site investigation, remediation design, and project management. An expert in challenging conditions - including acid sulfate soils and PFAS contamination - she uses a science-based approach to help clients minimise expenses and avoid project delays. She also champions sustainable development, providing climate adaptation services for projects targeting Green Star ratings. Shane Moore, Principal Contaminated Land and Environmental Advisor. With a background gained largely within international consultancies, Shane brings a problem-solving mindset and a passion for efficient, value-driven outcomes. His technical expertise spans groundwater assessment, site remediation, risk assessment and broader environmental management, allowing him to tackle a diverse array of client challenges. Chris Simpson, Principal Hydrogeologist. Chris offers a highly technical background across resource exploration, mining, and consulting. His expertise includes groundwater supply, wastewater disposal, and impact assessments for the energy and resources sectors. Beyond fieldwork, Chris has contributed to academia as a university lecturer and successfully ran his own practice for over a decade. As a Certified Environmental Practitioner and qualified project manager, he brings profound technical depth to every project. Together, this “dream team” represents a rare combination of scientific excellence, industry experience, and commercial acumen. Their collective capability allows WWLA to deliver integrated solutions that are technically sound and operationally viable, setting a benchmark for quality, reliability, and innovation that helps clients navigate their challenges with confidence.

Chris Simpson – 3 years at WWLA

Congratulations to Chris Simpson, who recently celebrated his 3-year anniversary of working at WWLA. Chris is a Principal Hydrogeologist in the water resources team and is also a Shareholder in the company. Since joining WWLA, Chris has worked alongside clients with a diverse range of interesting hydrogeological issues to solve including Morphum Consultants, McIntyre Williamson Farming Partnership, Taharoa Ironsands Limited, AgFirst Engineering, Waitatapia Station, Waiwera Thermal Springs, Waikato Regional Council, and Zespri International. Chris also has a long-standing (>20 years) professional relationship with Oceana Gold, which is built on trust and a proven track record of delivering a high quality service. His ability to understand client needs and provide practical and effective solutions has made him a reliable and respected figure within the company. Chris has also taken an active role in supporting the development of other team members, generously sharing his knowledge and experience. Whether guiding new staff as they settle into their roles or helping colleagues refine their skills, Chris has contributed to fostering a positive and growth focussed workplace culture. As Chris prepares for his next chapter, we are excited to share that he will soon be moving to our Tauranga office. This transition marks an exciting opportunity for both Chis and the wider WWLA team. His expertise, leadership, and enthusiasm will undoubtedly bring great value to the Tauranga office and its clients. Congratulations, Chris, on your achievements so far—and best of luck in this exciting new phase of your journey with WWLA.

WWLA Achieves Sitewise Gold, again!

WWLA are proud to share an exciting update on our ongoing commitment to health and safety in 2026. We have once again achieved Gold 100% Status in our latest SiteWise assessment. Achieving SiteWise Gold certification required us to provide clear, practical evidence of our health and safety systems and day-to-day practices, which were assessed as being of the highest standard. Health and safety is a shared responsibility across our business. Before each site visit, senior staff work with junior team members to discuss site-specific risks and the tasks ahead, helping to build knowledge and experience. We continue to refine our procedures, so they remain practical, effective, and efficient. For example, we are developing our own Site-Specific Safety Plan App to simplify the risk assessment process before going to site. We are incredibly proud of this achievement and of the culture that supports it.

WWLA Welcomes Bayleigh Howarth

WWLA is delighted to welcome Bayleigh Howarth to our Kumeu office. Bayleigh joined the team in May 2026 as a Graduate Contaminated Land Scientist. She graduated from the University of Auckland in 2025 with a Master of Environmental Science, specialising in Coastal Geography. During her studies, Bayleigh spent eight months as an Environmental Monitoring Intern at Auckland Council, where she gained valuable experience assessing resource consents and undertaking risk assessments. Bayleigh has hit the ground running during an incredibly busy period, already completing numerous site visits and investigations. She is already proving to be a fantastic asset to the company. Welcome to the team, Bayleigh!

Shareholder Announcement - April 2026

We have great pleasure in announcing Ben Tait and Jaide Derbyshire as new shareholders to the company effective 1 April 2026. Ben is a Principal Planner based in our Auckland office and has just re-joined WWLA after previously working in our Whangarei office from 2020 to 2022. Ben is a highly respected planning professional with over 18 years’ experience in natural resource planning and policy development. He has built a reputation for navigating the complexities of resource consents across diverse sectors, including municipal infrastructure, industrial wastewater, and large-scale irrigation schemes. Ben is known for his pragmatic, solution-oriented approach, providing strategic policy advice to both public and private sector clients. As a Full Member of the NZPI and a seasoned expert witness, he frequently provides high-level testimony at council hearings and before the Environment Court. Jaide is an Intermediate Hydrologist based in our Auckland office since October 2023. During this time Jaide has been involved in a broad range of hydrology and hydrogeological projects, including remote stream flow gauging, design and monitoring of nature based solutions for land instability on Auckland’s motorway network, stormwater and flooding damage assessment and design of remedial options on various properties, soakhole and stormwater infrastructure assessment on residential and commercial sites. Prior to joining WWLA, Jaide was based in the UK, her experience spans public and private sectors, where she specialised in flood risk resilience and storm overflow modelling. She also has experience working as an Exploration Geologist in rural Sweden.

WWLA Welcomes Ben Tait

WWLA is pleased to welcome Ben Tait to the Kumeu office. Ben re-joined WWLA in April 2026 as a Principal Planner, having previously worked for the company from 2020 to 2022. With over 18 years’ experience in natural resource planning and policy development, Ben is a highly respected practitioner, known for his depth of expertise and pragmatic approach. Ben specialises in water quality and freshwater management and has a strong track record in securing complex resource consents across a wide range of sectors. He provides trusted planning and policy advice to both public and private sector clients and is an experienced expert witness, having presented evidence at council hearings and before the Environment Court. Ben is also a full member of the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI). Ben was drawn back to WWLA by the opportunity to work alongside a trusted team on challenging resource use issues and to help deliver meaningful planning and project outcomes for clients. Welcome to the team Ben – it is great to have you back!

Brooke James at Underwater Hockey Interzone Championships

Brooke James, a graduate hydrologist at WWLA, recently attended the Underwater Hockey Interzone Championships (Regionals) located in Wellington. The Interzone Championships is New Zealand’s most prestigious underwater hockey tournament, where elite players across New Zealand compete representing their home regions. This year, fifteen teams representing different regions competed. Brooke played for the Mid-Northern Women’s team who were up against seven other women’s teams. The Mid-Northern region represents the area from below the Bombay Hills down to Napier and Taupo. The women’s grade got split into two groups based on how the teams placed at last-years comp. The Mid-Northern team began in the lower group, and with one less player than the other teams, they won against all the teams in the lower group (with a goal ratio of 31!), made it into the top group and won against another team in the top group. The Mid-Northern team ended up placing fourth after a close final for 3rd and 4th where they lost 2-0. Overall, the Mid-Northern team had a fantastic tournament, placing two places higher than last year. We can’t wait to see what they bring next year! If you think you may be interested in giving underwater hockey (UWH) a go, you are welcome to come along to your local UWH club. UWH is played year-round, and UWH clubs often have-a-go sessions throughout the year, with gear you can borrow. You can find more information on UWH and the clubs across the region at www.underwaterhockeynz.com and the Underwater Hockey New Zealand Inc Facebook page. Underwater Hockey is a sport that combines swimming and hockey, resulting in a fast-paced team sport that may be unfamiliar to some. Teams of six (with four additional subs) play with a short stick to push a lead weighted puck along the pool floor into the opposition’s goal bin. Each player wears a mask and snorkel, fins, a water polo cap (to protect the ears), and a silicon glove to protect the playing hand. As play is conducted on the pool floor, players must hold their breath whilst manoeuvring the puck.

WWLA Welcomes Kevin Burdette

WWLA would like to welcome Kevin Burdette to the Kumeu office. Kevin joined in March 2026 as an Intermediate Hydrogeologist and holds a PhD in Geology from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. Originally from the United States, Kevin recently made New Zealand his permanent home, moving out here with his wife, 2 dogs and cat. New Zealand’s dramatic and thoughtfully preserved landscapes have long inspired Kevin and the opportunity to not only explore this environment but also call it home was a significant factor in his decision to relocate. Kevin has experience across the energy and environmental sectors. He worked in the oil and gas industry before transitioning to environmental consulting. His technical strengths include stratigraphic interpretation, geophysical analysis and complex problem solving. Welcome to the team Kevin!

Electrical Resistivity Survey (ERT) Services

Recently, WWLA has undertaken Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) surveys using our ABEM Terrameter LS system for Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC), across 4 km of survey lines in the Kaituna area. The ERT sections successfully delineated a distinct fresh-saline groundwater transition, a salt water wedge, and mapped key lithological units such as unsaturated sands in coastal dunes and saturated gravels inland from the coast. This work will assist BOPRC in determining locations for saline-intrusion monitoring bores, strengthening long-term groundwater management within the Kaituna Freshwater Management Unit. ERT Survey Using ABEM LS Terrameter at Kaituna How it works: ERT is a geophysical technique for imaging sub-surface geological structures based on electrical resistivity measurements collect at the ground surface. Subsurface materials such as clays and saline groundwater typically exhibit low resistivity, while materials such as dry sand and gravels generally show higher resistivity. Electrodes are inserted into the ground and connected to a multi core cable which is linked to the Terrameter. The Terrameter injects an electrical current through selected electrode pairs in a predefined electrode array and measure the resulting apparent resistivity of the sub-surface. These apparent resistivity measurements are then processed and inverted to generate 2D resistivity image of the subsurface. As a result, an indication of sub-surface materials can be mapped to a certain depth without the need for drilling, although drilling is desirable for benchmarking. This service is often used to target aquifers to determine appropriate locations for bore drilling.

WWLA Welcomes Atakan Durmus

WWLA would like to welcome Atakan Durmus to the Kumeu office. Atakan joined WWLA in February 2026 as an Environmental Engineer. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geological Engineering from Middle East Technical University in Turkey. Originally from Turkey, Atakan moved to New Zealand with his partner in 2025 on a working holiday visa, he liked it so much that he decided to make New Zealand his permanent home, which is great news for us. He enjoys how unique Auckland is, and how you can stand on an ancient volcanic cone like Mount Eden and see both a modern city and untouched landscapes. Atakan has experience in various sectors including natural gas and petroleum exploration, geotechnical consulting and metallic mineral exploration. He is highly skilled in in geological interpretation, site characterisation, environmental risk awareness and subsurface data interpretation and modelling. Welcome to the team Atakan!

WWLA Welcomes Daniel Ware

WWLA would like to welcome Daniel Ware to the Kumeu office. Daniel joined WWLA in November 2025 as an Environmental advisor. He holds a BSc (1st Class Hons) degree in Chemistry from the University of Auckland. Daniel has recently returned from his OE in the UK, where he spent two years working in environmental consultancies on projects including the upgrades of a major London Port. He worked on many interesting sites whilst in the UK, including a live prison and undertaking sampling on a site filled with wild horses. Daniel has over 5 years of professional experience, across the UK and New Zealand. He is passionate about delivering practical and cost-effective solutions to complex ground condition challenges. While his main focus is contaminated land, he also brings valuable expertise in asbestos management from his previous work as a qualified assessor and surveyor. Welcome to the team Daniel!

WWLA Welcomes Benji Williamson

WWLA would like to welcome Benji Williamson to the Kumeu Office in a fulltime capacity after being a summer intern with the company since 2022. He has completed his studies at the University of Auckland and will graduate with a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons 1). As a keen graduate, Benji has been thriving applying his civil engineering knowledge gained at university on various projects. For example, he has been investigating Nature Based Solutions for slope failure on the Auckland Roading network, construction monitoring of stormwater filtration device installation, and recently attended a remote site in Taveuni (Fiji) on behalf of the Asian Development Bank to assist in flow gauging a river for a mini-hydropower development. Benji is always open to learning new things and develop his skills across the multi-disciplinary teams. Currently, he has experience installing and analysing data from hydrological monitoring instruments for groundwater, surface water, wetland, and stormwater applications, and is frequently in the field flow gauging or installing piezometers, and is about to initiate the learning of numerical groundwater modelling for construction and quarry dewatering. WWLA are also keen to utilise Benji’s civil engineering expertise in design of water intake and pumping structures. Welcome to the team Benji!

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