Watersmart Insights
Filter
Tag
- Aquacomb 25
- Capabilities 1
- Education 14
- El Niño NZ 2
- Events 3
- FenceTank 15
- FloodFree 28
- Floody 20
- Flowgen 1
- Hydraloop 13
- Hydraloop NZ 1
- Leaf Diverter 2
- PGDB endorsement 1
- Porous Lane 27
- SMAF requirements 1
- Services 1
- SlimCity 8
- Sustainability 2
- Water Innovation Hub 1
- WaterSAFE 3
- building consent inspections NZ 1
- case study 16
- drainlayer self-certification 2
- flood risk NZ 2
- greywater recycling NZ 1
- greywater recycling developments NZ 1
- in-slab stormwater detention NZ 1
- off grid living NZ water 1
- off grid water NZ 1
- off grid water systems NZ 1
- permeable driveway consent 1
- permeable pavement NZ 1
- permeable paving NZ 1
- porous paving driveway 1
- rainwater self sufficiency NZ 2
- rainwater tanks NZ 2
- reduce mains water reliance 1
- reduce mains water use NZ 1
- stormwater compliance NZ 1
- stormwater runoff NZ 2
- stormwater tank self-certification NZ 1
- sustainable development water NZ 1
- water independence NZ 1
- water reuse commercial NZ 1
Supporting our industry for long-term success
Supporting a project starts well before a product arrives on site. From site assessments and free design support to hands-on installer training and industry education, we explore how Watersmart works alongside the people shaping Aotearoa’s built environment.
Giving recycled tyres a new role in New Zealand’s infrastructure
In a recent Tyrewise video, our own Klaudia Matyjas joins industry voices exploring the journey from tyre recovery to practical reuse. Discover how Porous Lane puts recycled tyre rubber to work in permeable paving, connecting more sustainable material choices with better stormwater management.
Flood Assessment Case Study - Mangapehi River Floodplain
After flooding caused substantial stock losses at a bulk storage facility on the Mangapehi River floodplain, Watersmart was engaged to assess the risks and explore practical protection options. By investigating flood pathways, vulnerable assets and operational needs, the assessment established a staged approach to reducing future losses, balancing cost, practicality and residual flood risk.
Porous Lane Case Study: Pakuranga Plaza Tree Pit
Resurfacing the tree surround at Pakuranga Plaza with Porous Lane created a continuous, permeable walking surface designed to accommodate gradual root movement and let rainfall reach the soil beneath. Made with recycled tyre rubber, the semi-flexible pavement brings pedestrian safety, tree health and the potential for less maintenance into one practical upgrade.
Water off, business on: a reminder of water resilience
When a water interruption affected Rosebank Road, our rainwater harvesting and treatment system kept the Watersmart Innovation Hub running and helped us lend a hand to a neighbouring café. A practical reminder of the value of planning for the unexpected.
El Niño in New Zealand: Why Two Regions Face Opposite Water Problems
El Niño does not make New Zealand drier everywhere. It moves the rain, leaving the north and east short while the west takes heavier downpours.
Rainwater Tanks for an El Niño Summer: Storing Water on a Tight NZ Site
NIWA expects El Niño to peak this summer, bringing drier conditions to the north and east. Slimline rainwater tanks store water on sections with no room for a round tank.
How to reduce heat island effects caused by El Niño
During hot, dry El Niño summers, traditional asphalt and concrete absorb heat while preventing rainwater from reaching the soil and surrounding vegetation.
Permeable surfaces such as Porous Lane allow rainfall to filter into the ground, supporting tree roots, reducing surface runoff and helping retain moisture beneath urban areas. This can strengthen natural cooling and reduce pressure on stormwater networks when sudden summer downpours arrive.
Discover how permeable paving can help create cooler, greener and more climate-resilient urban spaces.
Why Watersmart was recognised as a Market Mover
Watersmart has been named a finalist in the Market Mover category of the 2026 Sustainable Business Awards.
For us, moving a market means more than introducing new technology. It means helping councils, engineers, developers and communities gain the confidence to adopt better approaches to water management.
Read more about the work and thinking behind our submission, and our goal to help reshape how Aotearoa manages water.
Infrastructure Before Intensification: What Auckland Must Get Right to Enable Growth
Auckland has ambitious plans for housing, intensification and economic growth. But zoning land for development is only part of the equation. The supporting transport, water and wider infrastructure must be planned and delivered at the right time.
We’ve shared five key insights from the Property Council New Zealand’s Enabling Auckland: Infrastructure for Growth event, including what they could mean for the future of water management and resilient urban growth.
Re-cementing our commitment to sustainability through Toitū accreditation
We are pleased to share that we have extended our Toitū certification, reinforcing our dedication to rigorous environmental accountability, reduced operational emissions, and sustainable business practices.
This accreditation validates our commitment to resource conservation and climate resilience - extending from our product development all the way to the end-of-life recycling.
Learn more about Toitū and our commitment to sustainability
Flood Barrier Case Study - Hydraulically Actuated Tilting Flood Barriers
Explore the features of the FloodFree Hydraulic Tilting Flood Barrier, an automated flood defence solution engineered to protect buildings while prioritising safe, reliable deployment.
Greywater recycling pilot unlocks greater housing yield in Hamilton
A centralised Hydraloop greywater recycling system helped a Hamilton development increase its proposed yield from 33 to 52 dwellings while remaining below the site’s existing wastewater discharge limit.
Fast-track Development Still Needs Infrastructure Certainty
Fast-track approval may help a development move through consenting sooner, but it does not resolve how the infrastructure needed to service it will be funded or delivered. We look at the Government’s proposed changes and what councils and project teams should establish early to create greater certainty.
Porous Lane Case Study: Hutt Road, Lower Hutt
Hutt City Council is using Porous Lane to replace damaged asphalt around established pōhutukawa on Hutt Road, creating a permeable surface that better supports tree roots while maintaining a durable, accessible footpath.
Aquacomb Case Study - Cottonwood Lane, Woodridge
Aquacomb provided 7,250 litres of in-slab stormwater detention for this Woodridge home, protecting its valley views while avoiding the space, cost and disruption of a conventional tank.
Off-Grid Water in NZ: What It Takes to Rely Less on the Mains
Off-grid water in NZ, explained: how capture, storage, reuse, and pumps work together to cut mains reliance, from lifestyle blocks to suburban homes.
Greywater Recycling for NZ Developments: Designing In Hydraloop
Water is one of the running costs a development carries for its whole life, and most of it is used once and sent down the drain. Greywater recycling changes that. It captures the water from showers, baths, and laundry, cleans it on-site, and puts it back to work for toilets, laundry, and irrigation. For a New Zealand development, designing it at the build stage can recycle up to 45% of a building's water, lowering running costs and strengthening the project's sustainability position.
Tell Us About Your Project
From conceptualising to constructing, we’re ready to design your architectural dream. We promise a client-centric approach that empowers ideas, eases concerns, and delivers quality craftsmanship we’ll all be proud of.
