What Riley Consultants does

Riley Consultants Ltd is a New Zealand multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy founded in 1984 by Peter Riley in Auckland. The firm provides geotechnical, civil, water resources, and environmental engineering services to clients in the energy, water, and land sectors, with a particular focus on dam engineering, hydropower, wind farm development, flood and stormwater modelling, land development, and contaminated land assessment. It operates from headquarters in Takapuna, Auckland and a second office in Christchurch, delivering projects across New Zealand and into the Pacific Islands including Fiji.

The business is built on a 100% employee-owned ownership model in which over 30% of staff hold shares, aligning incentives across a team of more than 100 engineers, geologists, and technical specialists. Service delivery is project-based, with engineers engaged directly by enterprise and government clients such as power generators (Trustpower), the Department of Conservation, Auckland Council, Central Plains Water, and multiple wind farm developers. Core technical work is supported by advanced numerical analysis, CAD, GIS, 3D modelling, and specialised software including HEC-HMS, HY-8, Hydraulic Toolbox, and 12D, and the firm is ISO 9001 certified and Totika pre-qualified.

Riley's commercial model is sales-led, relying on long-term client relationships, repeat engagements, and a strong sector specialisation in New Zealand and Pacific geotechnical and hydrological conditions. The firm is recognised through ACE NZ industry awards and Engineering New Zealand affiliations, and maintains a graduate and scholarship pipeline with the University of Auckland and University of Canterbury. Recent strategic emphasis has been on leadership renewal, Pacific Island expansion, renewable energy infrastructure, and embedding employee ownership as a long-term operating model.

Name

Riley Consultants

Legal name

Riley Consultants Ltd

Website

https://riley.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Riley Consultants is a 100% employee-owned New Zealand engineering consultancy delivering geotechnical, civil, water resources, and environmental engineering services to energy, water, and land sector clients across New Zealand and the Pacific.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engineering Consulting Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (54133), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

Keywords

• Geotechnical engineering services
• Civil engineering consultancy
• Water resources engineering
• Dam engineering services
• Environmental engineering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Takapuna

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engineering Consulting Services: Professional engineering consultancy services billed on a project basis. Services include geotechnical investigations, civil engineering design, water resource engineering, environmental assessments, and construction supervision. Revenue is generated through project fees, typically involving investigation, analysis, design, and project management tasks.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Riley Consultants is a multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy delivering project-based professional services in Geotechnical, Civil, Water Resources, and Environmental engineering disciplines. Services span investigation, analysis, design, and construction supervision for energy, water, and land sector clients across New Zealand and the Pacific, including wind farms, hydropower, dams, irrigation, land development, and contamination remediation projects.

Product overview

Riley Consultants is a multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy offering a unified suite of professional engineering services organized by discipline and sector. The core service portfolio comprises four main disciplines: Geotechnical Engineering (engineering geology, foundation analysis, slope stability), Civil Engineering (infrastructure design, earthworks, stormwater), Water Resources Engineering (dam engineering, hydropower, flood modelling), and Environmental Engineering (contamination assessment, remediation). Services are delivered across three key sectors: Energy (wind farms, hydro projects), Water (dams, irrigation), and Land (development, hazard mitigation). The company operates from Auckland (head office) and Christchurch offices, serving clients throughout New Zealand and the Pacific.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Geotechnical Engineering Services Multi-disciplinary geotechnical engineering offering engineering geology, investigation analysis, foundation design, slope stability assessment, retaining wall design, and ground improvement solutions for infrastructure, energy, and land development projects.
• Civil Engineering Services Design and project management for civil infrastructure including roading, earthworks, stormwater management, wastewater systems, three waters engineering, and contract administration for public and private clients.
• Water Resources Engineering Services Hydropower, dam engineering, flood assessment, hydraulic modelling, irrigation systems, water storage infrastructure design, and construction supervision for utilities, councils, and developers.
• Environmental Engineering Services Site contamination investigation, remediation and validation, land contamination assessment, and environmental impact analysis for land development and infrastructure projects.
• Energy Sector Services Engineering consultancy for energy projects including wind farms, hydropower developments, and renewable energy infrastructure such as Kaiwakawe, Kaiwera Downs, Southland, Tararua, and Waipipi Wind Farms.
• Water Sector Services Water infrastructure engineering including dams, water storage, irrigation schemes, and water resource management for utilities, irrigation cooperatives, and regional councils.
• Land Sector Services Land development engineering including geotechnical assessments, natural hazard mitigation, contaminated land assessment, and resource development for residential, commercial, and industrial projects.

Named customers5 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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DC Structures StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with New Zealand's leading specialist long-span footbridge design firm led by architect and structural engineer Dan Crocker. Collaboration ensures bridges are not only structurally sound but also aesthetically pleasing. The partnership has delivered award-winning projects including the Manganui Gorge Suspension Bridge.
• Department of Conservation (DOC)coreOthersClient and collaborative partner for projects in conservation areas. Riley maintained open communication with DOC staff throughout the Manganui Gorge project, working closely with DOC's in-house engineers and project managers to ensure practical, maintainable solutions aligned with DOC's specific needs and constraints.
• University of AucklandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering scholarship partnership through the university's Scholarships Office. Riley provides financial assistance with fees, summer internships, part-time work opportunities, and potential graduate placement upon degree completion.
• University of CanterburyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering scholarship partnership through the university's Scholarships Office. Riley provides financial assistance with fees, summer internships, part-time work opportunities, and potential graduate placement upon degree completion.
• Civil Engineering Students Association (CESA) AucklandminorOthersCommunity sponsorship assisting students to develop networks with other students and the professional industry.
• Engineering Society of the University of Canterbury (ENSOC)minorOthersCommunity sponsorship of New Zealand's oldest university club that stages events and helps students with university life.
• Lake House ArtsminorOthersCommunity sponsorship of arts and cultural organization in North Shore providing exhibitions and classes, home to 25+ resident artists.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/riley-consultants-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/rileyconsultantsnz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Riley Consultants