Williamson Water & Land Advisory

10/08/2026

Wishing Wendi Williamson all the best at the World Championships in Aachen tomorrow.

06/08/2026

The former Waiwera Hot Pools, an iconic 1.73-hectare geothermal resort north of Auckland, fell into disrepair following its closure in 2018 and subsequent demolition in 2023. To restore the historical site, developer Waiwera Thermal Springs Property Limited initiated a $50 million transformation to build a world-class wellness destination.

Williamson Water & Land Advisory provided contaminated land and groundwater services to support this development.

https://www.wwla.kiwi/projectnew/waiwerathermalsprings

13/07/2026

At WWLA, training is part of everyday work. It happens through formal courses, weekly in-house sessions, webinars, industry events and memberships, as well as through informal mentoring, observation and on-the-job learning. Together, these approaches create a practical development environment where people can keep improving at every stage of their career.

A recent example is first aid training, which all field staff complete every two years. This training helps ensure our people are prepared when working outside the office environment, where quick thinking and practical response skills can be critical. It builds confidence, supports calm decision-making and reinforces WWLA’s wider health and safety culture.

Some of the most valuable training at WWLA happens on the job. Experienced team members pass down practical knowledge: how to approach a task, how to solve problems, how to communicate with clients and how to apply judgement in real situations. This transfer of knowledge builds confidence in newer staff.

Each department also runs weekly in-house training sessions. These sessions provide a regular opportunity to share information, discuss updates, review processes and learn from recent work. They help ensure important knowledge is not held by one person or one team but is shared across the company in a consistent and practical way.

WWLA’s learning culture also extends beyond the company. Our people take part in industry webinars and events, and WWLA maintains memberships with leading industry organisations. We are also members of various Industry committees. These connections keep us informed about current thinking, emerging issues and best practice across the sectors we work with. It also allows WWLA to contribute to wider industry conversations.

By continuing to invest in our people and encouraging knowledge to be shared across WWLA, we strengthen both individual capability and the company. Our strong learning culture helps us to work safely, adapt to change, support one another and continue to build the expertise our clients rely on.

At WWLA, training is part of everyday work. It happens through formal courses, weekly in-house sessions, webinars, industry events and memberships, as well as through informal mentoring, observation and on-the-job learning. Together, these approaches create a practical development environment where....

23/06/2026

Last week was National Volunteer Week. We would like to recognise all the amazing volunteers who work at WWLA and thank them for their support and the difference they make in our communities.

A huge thanks to:
Laila Alkamil – Kumeu Volunteer Fire Brigade
Shane Moore – Coastguard Kaipara
Jon Williamson – Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre Taupo, Waimauku Community Association
Beth Murphy – Rotorua Citizens Advice

https://www.wwla.kiwi/post/thanks-to-all-our-volunteers-3

18/06/2026

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.

https://www.wwla.kiwi/post/wwla-s-dream-team-over-120-years-of-combined-experience

11/06/2026

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.

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 hydr...

08/06/2026

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.

https://www.wwla.kiwi/post/wwla-achieves-sitewise-gold-again

05/06/2026

Wendi Williamson has been named for the FEI World Championships, such an incredible achievement.

𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗖𝗘 | 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘀
ESNZ is very pleased to announce the first New Zealand first combination to represent us at the 2026 FEI World Championships. Our congratulations to Wendi Williamson and Don Vito MH 👏🥳 🐎 “I am super proud to be selected,” says Wendi, an environmental engineer from Waimauku, near Auckland. 🌿🥝 🇳🇿

Click 👇for the full announcement
https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2026/05/williamson-and-junior-named-for-worlds/

📷 Libby Law Photography - NZL
Dressage NZ

20/05/2026

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!

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, Bayle...

07/05/2026

It was great to support Maori Bay Board Riders Club at their recent Col McNeil Memorial event.

Looks like an awesome day was had by all, and the Club managed to raise $6,500 for the Pinc & Steel Cancer Rehab Foundation, which is incredible!