Veolia Voice: Safeguarding Te Mana o te Wai: Veolia's Commitment to Water Security in New Zealand

Water security is a big deal.

We all have an obligation and duty, but especially those within our sector, to honour and bring effect to Te Mana o te Wai.

This is why it’s so important that New Zealand gets the upcoming water reforms right - because the health and livelihoods of our communities depend on it.

As a global expert in water treatment, collection, distribution, and management, it’s important that we do our part to maintain the purity and mana of our natural water sources. We’ve done this by bringing our global expertise, but also, some of the world's most advanced water treatment and network technology to Aotearoa New Zealand.

This includes injecting $300 million into New Zealand since 1997 as part of our continued investment into the country.

As a locally run and resourced business, we work alongside tangata whenua, employ close to 300 people, engage local suppliers and contractors to serve over 700,000 customers across seven regions.

This long-standing investment can only be expected to grow following the recent New Zealand-EU Free Trade Agreement - which strengthens our ability to bring even more of our global expertise, technology and innovation to New Zealand.

One example of this is Veolia’s ZeeWeed & ZeeLung technologies - used in the most advanced water management regions, including APAC, Europe, Northern and Latin America - recently installed as a part of a new water treatment plant in Te Kauwhata, Waikato.

And in the Waikato River specifically, we are both treating the water from the local water source and safeguarding the River by returning highly treated water back into it.

Designed for efficiency and a longer life expectancy, this innovative membrane technology gives the community confidence that not only will their water be treated to the highest standard, but that this culturally-significant water body will be cared for and protected for generations to come.

ZeeWeed is also operational in thousands of local council, industrial and commercial applications worldwide, because these hollow fibre membranes can treat virtually any raw water to the water quality that’s compliant with stringent standards.

As an added benefit, both of these Z-technologies use less energy than less advanced systems, so come with a reduced carbon footprint.

So this newer technology is helping New Zealand achieve its emissions reductions targets. All without interruption to the local water supply.

Ultimately, it’s the local community that benefits.

We know that water health is generational, so support with long-term solutions means a healthier water future for all Kiwis.

Veolia is privileged to be responsible for our part in honouring Te Mana o te Wai, and  bring improved treatment quality, control, and resilience to the community, which can only be done because of our strong global experience over the last 170 years.