Awa Environmental

What Awa Environmental does

Awa Environmental Limited is a New Zealand-based specialist stormwater consulting firm founded in 2015 by a group of flood modellers and engineers to transform how stormwater is managed in Aotearoa New Zealand. The company integrates five practice areas — Catchment Dynamics, Planning, Landscape Architecture, Engineering Design, and Digital Innovations — into a single interdisciplinary team, serving councils, water authorities, iwi collectives, land developers, and transport infrastructure operators across New Zealand. Major client relationships include Tauranga City Council (sole Specialist Modelling Assistant on the Stormwater Panel since 2018 with 80+ projects delivered), Tiaki Wai (formerly Wellington Water; 35 regional stormwater models), Kāpiti Coast District Council, Auckland Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, and Porirua City Council, alongside enterprise clients such as Escea and Ōmokoroa Country Club.

Awa's core technology stack combines industry-standard hydraulic modelling platforms (TUFLOW, InfoWorks ICM, DHI MIKE) with proprietary digital tools developed in-house. These include the Model Manager Platform (cloud-based model and data management), Model Compare and Model Backlog (QA/version control), mGIS (regional stormwater asset database), the System Performance Analysis (SPA) framework (region-wide standardised stormwater performance analysis delivered via ArcGIS Online), the Flood Risk Estimation Tool (FRET) launched in 2026, and a hybrid machine learning flood modelling approach combining BG-Flood with ML for sub-second flood predictions. The firm also served as technical lead, co-author, and co-editor of the National Stormwater Modelling Guide published by Water New Zealand in 2024.

The business model is project-based professional services delivery: fees are earned through consulting engagements, panel arrangements, and design management roles, with pricing quote-based on project scope. The firm is entirely NZ-domestic, privately held, and founder/management-owned, with operations across offices in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. There is no disclosed external institutional investment, and employee shareholder opportunities are referenced in hiring materials. Revenue is generated through a mix of long-tenure council panels, multi-million-dollar infrastructure projects (e.g., the $19.6m Greville Road Emergency Works for Auckland Council), and design management work for private developers, supplemented by industry-level thought leadership via conference presentations and published papers.

Name

Awa Environmental

Legal name

Awa Environmental Limited

Website

https://awa.kiwi

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Awa Environmental is a New Zealand-based specialist stormwater consulting firm offering integrated catchment dynamics, planning, landscape architecture, engineering design, and digital innovation services to councils, water authorities, developers, and infrastructure operators nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental and Stormwater Consulting Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Landscape Architectural Services (54132)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water, Wastewater & Stormwater Compliance (BPAHAJAJ), Water Quality & Watershed/Hydrologic Modeling (SWMM/HEC-RAS, Flood/Runoff/Nutrient) (EUAHAKAF)

Keywords

• Stormwater management consulting
• Hydraulic and hydrological modelling
• Nature-based stormwater solutions
• Flood risk assessment services
• Civil and environmental engineering design

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Environmental Consulting Services: Awa Environmental provides environmental consulting services including stormwater modelling, planning, and engineering design on a project-by-project basis. Revenue is generated through professional services engagements with councils, water authorities, developers, and infrastructure providers. Engagement models include project-based consulting, panel arrangements (e.g., TCC Stormwater Panel Specialist Modelling Assistant since 2018), and design management roles.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Awa Environmental provides integrated stormwater management consulting services, combining catchment dynamics, planning, landscape architecture, engineering design, and digital innovations into discrete project-based engagements for councils, developers, water authorities, and infrastructure operators across New Zealand. The firm delivers hydraulic and hydrological modelling, flood hazard mapping, stormwater engineering design, resource consent support, nature-based solutions (constructed wetlands, bioretention swales), and proprietary digital tools (Model Manager, SPA, FRET) embedded within consulting projects. Services are delivered via project-based consulting, panel arrangements, and design management roles on a quote-based pricing model.

Product overview

Awa Environmental is a specialist stormwater consulting firm offering integrated services across Catchment Dynamics, Planning, Landscape Architecture, Engineering Design, and Digital Innovations. Their digital portfolio includes proprietary tools and methodologies such as System Performance Analysis (SPA) for region-wide stormwater model analysis, the Model Manager cloud platform for model governance and lifecycle management, and the Flood Risk Estimation Tool (FRET) for comprehensive risk assessment. They also co-authored the National Stormwater Modelling Guide as a national industry standard. These offerings are delivered as consulting services rather than standalone SaaS products, with digital tools embedded within project delivery to enhance modelling quality, efficiency, and consistency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Catchment Dynamics Services Innovative modelling approaches for hydraulic and hydrological analyses covering urban stormwater modelling, river/wetland/pond/basin modelling, flood hazard analysis and mapping, water quality modelling, and guidelines development. Designed for councils, water authorities, and developers across New Zealand.
• Planning Services Integrated consenting, development management, and engineering services spanning strategic advice, urban design, resource consents, plan changes, and GIS and spatial analysis. Sold to councils, developers, and other parties requiring planning support for stormwater and land development projects.
• Landscape Architecture Services Full project lifecycle landscape architecture from feasibility through detailed design, consenting, and construction observation, covering public realm, transport corridors, ecological restoration, and residential developments. Designed for councils, infrastructure operators, and developers.
• Engineering Design Services Stormwater engineering, civil engineering, water supply and wastewater engineering, water-sensitive design, flood risk assessment, and water resource engineering and demand management. Delivered to councils, water authorities, and developers requiring engineered infrastructure design.
• Digital Innovations Services Digital capabilities that strengthen stormwater modelling lifecycles — improving consistency, reducing rework, and enabling better decisions. Includes Model Manager, Model Compare, Model Backlog, and mGIS tools delivered as part of consulting engagements for councils and water authorities.
• System Performance Analysis (SPA) Standardised methodology for analysing stormwater model results across entire regions, replacing reactive issue-specific analysis with consistent, automated outputs accessible to non-modellers via interactive ArcGIS Online web maps. Designed for water authorities and regional councils managing multiple stormwater models.
• Model Manager Platform Scalable cloud-based system supporting secure file uploads, service desk requests, metadata tracking, web-based mapping, knowledge base creation, activity monitoring, quality assurance, and data archiving for stormwater model management. Designed for councils managing extensive hydraulic model portfolios.
• Flood Risk Estimation Tool (FRET) Data-driven spatial tool synthesising human safety, economic risk, and recovery and resilience data to help decision makers plan, prioritise, and communicate flood risk across property, street, suburb, and sub-catchment scales. Built in FME to process diverse publicly available spatial datasets and produce composite risk scores.
• National Stormwater Modelling Guide Aotearoa's first national reference for urban stormwater modelling, providing consistency, clarity, and best-practice methodology for councils, consultants, iwi, land developers, and government agencies. Awa served as technical lead, co-author, and co-editor.
• Hybrid Machine Learning Flood Modelling Hybrid approach combining hydraulic modelling (BG-Flood) with machine learning using a Monte Carlo approach to generate large catalogues of realistic storm events, producing accurate flood predictions in under a second for rapid assessment of flood scenarios for stormwater planning, emergency response, and early warning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80 projects delivered for Tauranga City Council alone since 2018, including model builds, flood mapping, and guidelines development
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

Integration1 record

AI capability6 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Te Wahapū o Waihī (Iwi Collective)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Te Wahapū o Waihī, an iwi collective, partnered with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Waihī District Drainage Society, and local farmers on the $2m Te Heriheri Wetland project. Awa Environmental served as Chartered Professional Engineering Lead. The partnership reflects iwi involvement in environmental stewardship and cultural value integration in infrastructure projects.
• Waihī District Drainage SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The Waihī District Drainage Society partnered with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, iwi collective Te Wahapū o Waihī, and local farmers on the Te Heriheri Wetland project. The Society's existing pump station was leveraged in Awa's innovative pump station-driven wetland design to draw water out of the wetland, which was central to overcoming the site's flat topography challenge.
• Wellington Water (Tiaki Wai)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Awa Environmental partnered with Wellington Water (now Tiaki Wai) on the Non-Residential Customer Water Efficiency programme, delivering tailored water efficiency assessments to high-water-use commercial, industrial, and institutional customers. The programme achieved 10–60% reduction in water use among top 20 clients, saving over $3 million annually. Awa also partnered with Wellington Water on public engagement with flood hazards, co-presenting at the 2022 Stormwater Conference & Expo.
• StanteccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Awa Environmental partnered with Stantec on the Tiaki Wai – Karehana Bay Catchment Optioneering project (2020–2022), with Stantec leading the project overall and delivering engineering design, while Awa led stormwater modelling for the catchment-wide optioneering. The partnership enabled a $17.9m investment decision on flood resilience works for Porirua City Council and Tiaki Wai. Stantec and Awa assessed dozens of options and configurations until optimal solutions were developed.
• Water New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Awa Environmental served as technical lead, co-author, and co-editor in the development of Aotearoa's first National Stormwater Modelling Guide, published in 2024. Water New Zealand coordinated the multi-year, nationwide effort working alongside councils, consultants, government agencies, and industry specialists. The guide establishes national consistency and best-practice methodology for urban stormwater modelling.
• Watercare (Auckland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Watercare, Auckland's water service provider, partnered with Wellington Water on non-residential water efficiency strategies, with Awa contributing expertise. Awa also co-authored a paper with Watercare staff (Priya Thuraisundaram) on driving non-residential water efficiency in Aotearoa New Zealand, presented at the 2023 Water New Zealand conference.
• TUFLOWcoreTechnology or IntegrationAwa Environmental uses TUFLOW software as a primary platform for 1D-2D coupled hydraulic modelling across its projects. Awa's tools and workflows are built around strengthening the modelling lifecycle using TUFLOW and other platforms including InfoWorks ICM and DHI MIKE. Models are built for open use by any TUFLOW user.
• InfoWorks ICMcoreTechnology or IntegrationAwa Environmental uses InfoWorks ICM as one of its primary hydraulic modelling platforms alongside TUFLOW and DHI MIKE. The company's digital capabilities are focused on strengthening workflows around these specialist modelling software platforms.
• DHI MIKEcoreTechnology or IntegrationAwa Environmental uses DHI MIKE as one of its primary hydraulic modelling platforms alongside TUFLOW and InfoWorks ICM. The company's proprietary tools and workflows are designed to enhance how models are built, maintained, and used over time across these platforms.
• Safe Software FMEcoreTechnology or IntegrationAwa Environmental uses Safe Software's Feature Manipulation Engine (FME) as a core technology for network processing, data standardisation, and building the Flood Risk Estimation Tool (FRET). FME workflows automate processing of diverse spatial datasets for flood mapping, risk definition, and model data management.
• Esri ArcGIS Online / ArcGIS Web MapcoreTechnology or IntegrationAwa Environmental uses ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS web maps as platforms for delivering interactive model outputs to clients. The System Performance Analysis (SPA) framework developed for Tiaki Wai is delivered via an interactive ArcGIS web map, and Model Manager incorporates web-based mapping capabilities.
• NaturRestaurering AS (Norway)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwa collaborated with Norwegian consultancy NaturRestaurering AS on an urban green infrastructure study in Moss, Norway. Karen Creagh (then working with Awa) and NaturRestaurering colleagues conducted the assessment using the Nature in Norway EcoSyst and UNEP TEEB frameworks, with results presented at the World Green Infrastructure Congress 2024 in Auckland.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Watercare Services: Auckland's water service provider, an existing Awa partner on non-residential water efficiency strategy and co-author of conference papers. Comparable as a major NZ water sector client and thought-leadership partner rather than direct competitor, but its procurement priorities (stormwater, water efficiency, network planning) closely mirror Awa's service offering and validate the addressable market.

Direct peers

• Isthmus Group: New Zealand landscape architecture and urban design practice delivering integrated planning, public realm, and ecological restoration projects for councils and developers. Comparable in delivering landscape architecture integrated with stormwater, ecological, and infrastructure outcomes for the same NZ council clients.
• Morphum Environmental: New Zealand specialist environmental engineering consultancy focused on stormwater, water sensitive design, low-impact design, and water quality for councils and developers. Closely comparable in domain specialisation (stormwater-focused), service offerings (catchment dynamics, water quality modelling), and customer base (NZ councils and developers).
• Boffa Miskell: New Zealand specialist consultancy combining landscape architecture, urban design, ecology, and environmental planning. Comparable in offering integrated landscape architecture, ecological restoration, and planning services alongside environmental and stormwater-related work, with similar NZ council and developer client base.

Broad incumbents

• Stantec (New Zealand): Global engineering consultancy with a significant NZ presence delivering water, stormwater, and infrastructure services to councils and water authorities. Already partnered with Awa on the Tiaki Wai Karehana Bay catchment optioneering project, demonstrating direct overlap on the same client base and similar service offerings.
• WSP (New Zealand): Global engineering consultancy with established NZ operations covering water, environment, infrastructure, and climate resilience. Competes for the same council stormwater, hydraulic modelling, and climate adaptation work as Awa, with substantially larger bench strength and international capability.
• GHD (New Zealand): Global engineering consultancy with NZ operations delivering water, environmental, and infrastructure services to local authorities and developers. Overlaps with Awa on stormwater modelling, catchment management, and three waters advisory to NZ councils.
• Tonkin + Taylor: New Zealand's largest specialist environmental and engineering consultancy with deep expertise in stormwater, flood modelling, coastal, and geotechnical disciplines. Directly comparable to Awa in stormwater hydraulic modelling, catchment management, and council panel work, but at substantially larger scale and broader service scope across NZ and the Pacific.
• Jacobs (New Zealand): Global professional services firm with NZ water and environmental consulting operations delivering stormwater, flood risk, and infrastructure advisory to councils and water authorities. Comparable target customers and overlapping service offerings, though at much broader portfolio scale.
• Beca Group: One of New Zealand's largest employee-owned engineering consultancies, delivering water, civil, environmental, and infrastructure services to councils and government. Comparable in serving NZ local authority clients on stormwater, flood resilience, and three waters programmes, but at much greater scale and broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/awa-environmental-nz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Awa Environmental