What Tonkin & Taylor does

Tonkin + Taylor is a New Zealand-headquartered environmental and engineering consultancy founded in 1960 (some sources cite 1959), operating as a privately held, employee-owned firm with offices across New Zealand and Australia. The firm provides professional consulting services across environmental impact assessment, geotechnical engineering, civil infrastructure design, water resources, dam engineering, climate and sustainability advisory, and digital services. Its client base is anchored by central and local government agencies (e.g., NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, KiwiRail, MFAT), iwi, hapū and Māori organisations, private infrastructure developers, and Pacific island governments, with major project engagements including the Ōtaki to north of Levin expressway alliance (24km highway, 4.5 million cubic metres of earthworks, 15 bridge structures) and a $6.2 million climate resilience initiative co-designed with the Republic of Marshall Islands.

The firm generates revenue through fee-for-service consulting engagements, with project-based pricing determined by scope, complexity, and duration rather than publicly disclosed rates. Delivery is structured around direct consulting engagements and strategic delivery alliances with major contractors (Downer, McConnell Dowell, Fulton Hogan, HEB) and peer engineering firms (Beca, WSP, Aurecon). Distribution relies on thought leadership (white papers, podcasts), industry events (Building Nations, COP28, COP29), professional networks (Inogen Alliance, NZSOLD, ICOLD), and direct enterprise sales targeting government and infrastructure clients.

Operating geographies span New Zealand (Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Wellington, Nelson, Napier, Tauranga), Australia (Sydney, Melbourne/Southbank, Brisbane), and Pacific island nations (Fiji, Samoa, Tuvalu, Niue, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands), with global reach enabled by the Inogen Alliance partnership joined in February 2023. The group includes wholly-owned subsidiaries for specialist geotechnical testing (Geotechnics Limited, Geosales Limited, Chadwick Geotechnics Pty Limited), Australian operations (Tonkin & Taylor Pty Limited), and international projects (Tonkin & Taylor International Limited). A November 2024 strategic merger with Australian consultancy Bligh Tanner expanded Australian footprint and a minority investment in SaaS firm InfinityStudio.AI (February 2023) signals digital capability expansion.

Name

Tonkin & Taylor

Legal name

Tonkin & Taylor Limited

Website

https://tonkintaylor.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Tonkin + Taylor is an employee-owned New Zealand environmental and engineering consultancy providing geotechnical, civil, environmental, water, climate, and digital consulting services to government agencies, iwi/Māori organisations, and infrastructure developers across New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental and Engineering Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water, Wastewater & Stormwater Compliance (BPAHAJAJ), Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH)

Keywords

• Environmental consulting services
• Geotechnical engineering services
• Infrastructure design services
• Dam engineering consulting
• Climate resilience advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: Fee-for-service consulting engagements across environmental, engineering, geotechnical, digital, and advisory services. Projects range from short-term assessments to long-term infrastructure delivery partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tonkin + Taylor is an environmental and engineering consultancy that sells professional consulting services across civil, geotechnical, environmental, water resources, dam engineering, climate and sustainability, digital, transport infrastructure, and waste/resource recovery disciplines. Engagements are delivered through direct contracts and strategic delivery alliances with government agencies, infrastructure providers, local councils, iwi/Māori organisations, and private sector developers. The firm also operates a specialist materials testing subsidiary (Geotechnics Limited) and provides Pacific island climate resilience services.

Product overview

Tonkin + Taylor is an award-winning environmental and engineering consultancy offering a comprehensive portfolio of professional services across multiple sectors. The core offering consists of environmental consulting, geotechnical services, climate and sustainability advisory, digital services, and specialized engineering disciplines including dam engineering and water sector services. The company operates across sectors including transport, water, waste management, energy, land and buildings, and Pacific development. Geotechnics Limited (a subsidiary) provides specialist materials testing services. The company has expanded through strategic mergers including Bligh Tanner in Australia. Additional offerings include the BCM (Bulk Earthworks Model) calculator tool and published sustainability reports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Environmental Consulting Services Environmental consulting services including environmental impact assessments, contaminated land remediation, ecology, and sustainability advisory for government, iwi, and private sector clients.
• Engineering Consulting Services Civil, infrastructure, and engineering consulting services spanning transport, water, and construction project delivery for public and private clients.
• Geotechnical Services Geotechnical engineering services including slope stability, retaining walls, foundation assessment, and construction materials testing for infrastructure and building projects.
• Climate and Sustainability Services Climate change risk assessment, sustainability strategy, carbon certification, and environmental compliance advisory services for public and private sector clients.
• Water Sector Services Water supply, wastewater treatment, stormwater management, hydraulic modeling, and water resource engineering services for utilities and councils.
• Transport Infrastructure Services Transportation planning, pavement engineering, road design, and infrastructure project delivery services for government transport agencies and private developers.
• Waste and Resource Recovery Services Waste management strategy, circular economy planning, landfill engineering, and resource recovery solutions for councils and private operators.
• Pacific Development and Resilience Services Infrastructure and environmental consulting services supporting Pacific island nations with climate resilience, water, sanitation, and sustainable development projects.
• Dam Engineering Services Dam safety assessments, dam investigations, design, construction oversight, and dam safety management services across New Zealand, Australia, Pacific, and internationally.
• Digital Services Digital transformation, technology platforms, and data analytics capabilities for infrastructure and environmental projects.
• Geotechnics Limited (Specialist Materials Testing) Specialist materials testing company providing laboratory and field testing services for geotechnical, civil, and environmental engineering industries, operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ōtaki to north of Levin expressway: 24km highway with 4.5 million cubic metres of earthworks and 15 bridge structures
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NZ Transport Agency Waka KotahicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026NZTA Board confirmed funding for Ōtaki to north of Levin expressway project. Tonkin+Taylor part of southern delivery alliance with Downer, McConnell Dowell, and Beca for 24km highway with 4.5 million cubic metres of earthworks and 15 bridge structures. Project aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on one of New Zealand's most dangerous road sections.
• Downer, McConnell Dowell, BecacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouthern section delivery alliance for Ōtaki to north of Levin expressway. Approximately 4.5 million cubic metres of earthworks and multiple bridge structures to be delivered.
• Fulton Hogan, HEB, WSP, AureconcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthern section delivery alliance for Ōtaki to north of Levin expressway project.
• Inogen AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal alliance of Environmental, Health, and Safety consulting firms. Tonkin + Taylor joined Inogen Alliance in February 2023, providing international reach and cross-border collaboration capabilities.
• Bligh TannercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic merger completed November 2024 to strengthen Tonkin + Taylor Group's presence and capabilities in Australia, particularly in Queensland and Victoria.
• MFAT (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and RMI (Republic of Marshall Islands)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-designing a $6.2 million climate resilience initiative for the Marshall Islands, including multi-hazard early warning systems and climate adaptation projects.
• KiwiRailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTunnel 21 (Tar Barrel Tunnel Bypass) project - KiwiRail Main North Line Resilience Project for rail infrastructure resilience.
• Government of TuvaluminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunafuti Water and Sanitation Project in Tuvalu - sustainable infrastructure for Pacific island communities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Beca: Employee-owned ANZ-headquartered engineering and environmental consultancy. Direct competitor in NZ and Australian infrastructure, transport, water and environmental work, and a frequent delivery-alliance partner of Tonkin + Taylor on NZTA projects.
• Aurecon: ANZ-headquartered engineering, infrastructure and advisory consultancy with comparable services in transport, water, environment and geotechnical. Direct peer in NZ/AU and named alliance partner on Ōtaki to north of Levin northern section.
• GHD: Australia-headquartered employee-owned engineering, environmental and advisory firm with deep ANZ presence. Closely comparable on environmental consulting, water, transport and geotechnical services across the same customer base.
• SLR Consulting: Global environmental and advisory consultancy with strong ANZ presence. Closely comparable on environmental impact assessment, contaminated land, climate and sustainability advisory — T+T's core environmental service line.
• Pattle Delamore Partners: NZ specialist environmental, water resources and geotechnical engineering consultancy. Direct ANZ peer in environmental assessment, water resources, contaminated land and geotechnical services for public and private clients.

Broad incumbents

• WSP Global: Global engineering professional services firm with a large ANZ presence. Competes with T+T on transport, infrastructure and environmental consulting and is also an alliance partner (e.g., Mt Messenger Alliance), giving it both collaborative and competitive overlap.
• Stantec: Global engineering, environmental and infrastructure consultancy with significant ANZ operations following the MWH/Cardno acquisitions. Overlaps with T+T in water, environmental, geotechnical and climate resilience work for government clients.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with established ANZ presence across transport, environment, water and geotechnical services. Competes for the same government alliance work and offers similar multidisciplinary capabilities at greater scale.
• Jacobs: Global professional services firm with ANZ operations spanning water, environment, transport and infrastructure. Competes for government advisory and infrastructure delivery roles directly comparable to T+T's portfolio.

Emerging players

• Entura: ANZ-based specialist water and renewable energy engineering consultancy (part of Hydro Tasmania). Comparable to T+T's water sector and dam engineering practices, particularly in Australia and the Pacific.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tonkin-&-taylor

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tonkin & Taylor