Welcome

On behalf of the Organising Committee, I am pleased to invite you to save the date for the 2026 NZSOLD Symposium. This year’s symposium will be held in Rotorua at the Novotel Rotorua Lakeside Hotel on 18–19 November 2026 .

The NZSOLD Symposium is a key event for professionals involved in dams, stopbanks, and water infrastructure across New Zealand. It provides a valuable opportunity to come together, share knowledge, and strengthen our collective approach to dam safety, asset management, and long-term resilience. We are developing a high-quality programme that will bring together industry leaders, practitioners, regulators, and emerging professionals for two days of technical exchange and discussion.

Rotorua offers an excellent setting for both professional engagement and informal networking, and we look forward to welcoming you to this vibrant location. Further details, including registration information, the programme, and opportunities to contribute, will be shared in the coming months. In the meantime, please mark your calendar — we look forward to your participation.

I look forward to seeing many of you in November!

Andrew Balme, Chair of NZSOLD — Andrew Balme Chair, NZSOLD

Co-Converor Message:

The 2026 NZSOLD Symposium continues a focused discussion on Legacy Risk, with a two day programme of keynote sessions, member presentations, and interactive formats. The symposium combines technical learning with practitioner dialogue, and is intended for dam and stopbank owners, managers, engineers, regulators, and emerging professionals. The aim is to improve understanding of legacy risks and to strengthen how these risks are actively managed in practice through a holistic approach that supports long-term system resilience.

Shreesh Basnyat and Peter Fox 2026 Symposium Co-convenors

Understanding and Managing Legacy Risk for a Resilient Future

Objective: To advance dam safety risk management practice in New Zealand by improving how legacy risks are understood, identified, analysed and managed across technical, regulatory and decision-making domains.

The symposium combines technical learning with practitioner dialogue, and is intended for dam and stopbank owners / managers, engineers, regulators, and emerging professionals. The aim is to improve understanding of legacy risks and to strengthen how these risks are actively managed in practice through a holistic approach that supports long-term system resilience.