It's been a while. Here's what's happened in NZ trenchless and water since mid-September, with the big one first: International No-Dig came to New Zealand for the first time, and the industry turned up.
Lead Story: International No-Dig Auckland 2026
International No-Dig lands in New Zealand for the first time: ISTT's 40th International No-Dig Conference and Exhibition ran at the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), 101 Hobson Street, Auckland. Pre-conference training courses and welcome drinks were on 27 October, with conference sessions and the exhibition on 28 and 29 October. It was the first International No-Dig held in New Zealand and marked ISTT's 40th anniversary. Read more
Image: International No-Dig Auckland / Prime Creative Media.
A programme with a strong NZ water focus: 39 technical papers ran across three streams: Rehabilitation, New Installation and Other. The panel "The Road Ahead: Trenchless Technology in New Zealand's Water Future" brought together Watercare, Auckland Council, Veolia and Selwyn Water to talk about renewals, upcoming projects and working under the new water reform settings. Lorraine Kendrick gave a keynote on the water sector after reform. Read more
Sold-out floor and 1,600 plus through the door: A post-show report says more than 1,600 industry professionals attended, the exhibition sold out, and more than 400 people went to the closing ISTT Awards Gala at the Aotea Centre. Read more
Photo: No-Dig NZ (no-dignz.com) file image of a No-Dig exhibition floor.
No-Dig Award finalists include an Auckland sewer job: ISTT named its No-Dig Award finalists on 6 October. WSP's Ōrākei Main Sewer Response and Recovery was a Rehabilitation finalist: after the 114-year-old sewer collapsed in 2023, a 600 L/s bypass went in within 20 days, and the 2.3 m egg-shaped sewer was renewed by GRP segmental sliplining without open-cut replacement. Other finalists included OptionX, Herrenknecht, Swietelsky-Faber with A-Plast, and HDI Lucas / Spiecapag's Jansz-Io HDD project. Winners were announced at the gala on 29 October. Read more
Next up: No-Dig Down Under returns to Sydney in July 2027.
NZ Council and Utility Infrastructure Projects
Watercare, Ōtara wastewater upgrade: Watercare is investing in Ōtara's wastewater network to cut wet-weather overflows and support growth. A 2.5 km section of the new pipeline will be made by relining a decommissioned section of the Hunua 1 watermain, and trenchless drilling will take a section under the Tāmaki Estuary. Completion is expected in late 2028. Read more
Map: Watercare.
Watercare, Herne Bay Collector: The Herne Bay Collector hit a milestone on 13 October with a 56.5 m tower crane installed at Point Erin Park. Ghella is delivering the 1.7 km, 2.1 m diameter tunnel, which will feed wet-weather overflows into the Central Interceptor instead of the Waitematā Harbour. Read more
Photo: Watercare.
Watercare, Helensville wastewater renewals: Watercare plans to renew about 4 km of ageing wastewater pipe across Helensville, mainly by trenchless methods where they suit. Planning and procurement are under way and a contractor has not yet been appointed. Work is scheduled from October 2026 into 2027. Read more
Map: Watercare.
Tiaki Wai, Wellington renewals ramp up: Since 1 July, Tiaki Wai had replaced 12.5 km of pipe, more than Wellington Water managed in the whole previous year. It's on track for 35 to 49 km this year, with a target of 100 to 120 km a year. Most work is now going to open tender on multi-year contracts. Read more
Christchurch, Brougham Street wastewater: Christchurch is in for about 18 months of wastewater work on Brougham Street from early October. Stage one at the Brougham and Selwyn intersection uses trenchless installation. About 2,300 m of new pipe follows from 2027. Read more
Procurement and Tenders
Dunedin City Council, Three Waters pipeline renewals: DCC went to market (RFP, GETS 34753060) for three significant term contracts for 3 Waters renewals, starting 1 July 2027 and running for up to 10 years. The tender closed on 8 October 2026, so it's no longer open. It's worth watching who picks up these contracts. Read more
Regulation and Water Reform
Waikato Waters goes live: Waikato Waters, set up by six Waikato councils under Local Water Done Well, took over drinking water and wastewater services on 1 October 2026. Read more
Eastern Bay of Plenty, multi-council water CCO on hold: Whakatāne postponed its Local Water Done Well consultation, planned for 7 October to 9 November, after Kawerau and Ōpōtiki paused their part in a four-council water CCO with Rotorua. Whakatāne is still on track for an internal business unit by 1 July 2027. Read more
Taumata Arowai, second round of wastewater standards: Taumata Arowai consulted from 10 September to 22 October on proposed national standards for odour from wastewater treatment plants and metals in treated discharges. Consultation has now closed. Read more
Trenchless Methods and Industry Developments
UV relining beneath Maraetai Power Station: Recore Pipe Relining Specialists relined 20 m of DN250 overflow drainage line in the drainage gallery under Maraetai Power Station on the Waikato River. The gallery is several storeys down and below tailwater level. The job used UV-cured lining, with the liner prepared off site so the outage window stayed short. Read more
ASOE and PipeTech
PipeTech exhibited at International No-Dig Auckland. Thanks to everyone who came past the stand.
NZ Trenchless Industry Update is published by ASOE NZ, powered by Pipe Technologies Ltd. Every story links to its original source. Images are credited to their owners.