Independent Research
Research built around your question.
Aqualinc is one of New Zealand’s few genuinely independent water and land management research organisations. We design and deliver applied research funded through contestable grants, government contracts and industry partnerships, and we bring the same rigour to commissioned research as we do to our consultancy work. No downstream design work. No commercial interest in the outcome. Just the science.
What we do.
Our research covers the full range of water and land management challenges. We work on problems that are too complex for standard consultancy, where the answer genuinely isn’t known yet, or where an independent view is what’s needed. Data, analysis and conclusions that connect to real management decisions.
How research partnerships work.
Research doesn’t follow a single path. We engage through several different mechanisms and we’re experienced in navigating all of them.
Contestable fund proposals.
We lead proposals to competitive funds including MBIE Endeavour, typically in collaboration with universities, Public Research Organisations (formerly Crown Research Institutes), councils and industry bodies. Building the teams that answer the hard questions.
Sub-contracting arrangements.
We partner with organisations submitting their own proposals, providing specialist expertise as a sub-contractor on research programmes led by others. Connecting our depth to their programmes and helping deliver better research outcomes together.
On-demand fund applications.
We prepare and lodge applications to funds such as the Primary Sector Growth Fund, which require co-funder support from industry or government partners. Experienced in making the case for research that delivers real-world value.
Commissioned research.
We respond to requests from government and industry for work with a genuine research component, where the question goes beyond standard consultancy and an independent view is needed. No commercial interest in the outcome. Just the science.
Internal research.
Internal research programmes including student internships supported through MBIE funding, developing young water engineers and scientists, and addressing questions that don't fit neatly into external funding rounds. Investing in the next generation of people who love this work.
Who we work with.
Government agencies including MPI, MfE and Taumata Arowai. Regional councils. Industry organisations including IrrigationNZ. Universities and Public Research Organisations. International research organisations working on water and climate questions with relevance to New Zealand conditions.
Funders and collaborators have included: MBIE Endeavour Fund · Marsden Fund · Deep South Science Challenge · MPI · MfE · IrrigationNZ · NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development.
How we approach it.
Independence matters in research and ours is genuine. When councils and government agencies commission research that will inform regulation or policy, they need findings they can stand behind. Findings that won’t be questioned because the researcher had a commercial stake in the outcome. We have no interest in design or implementation work on the back of what we find. That’s what makes the science trustworthy and it’s what our research partners tell us they value.
Water Modelling & Hydrology.
Hydrological assessments, catchment modelling, flood and drought analysis. The science that underpins good water management decisions at every scale – from a single farm crossing to a regional catchment.
Water Resource Management.
Strategic, integrated, cross-sector. We work with councils, government and scheme operators on long-term water strategy, allocation frameworks, storage feasibility and national-scale supply assessment.
Groundwater Management.
From aquifer testing and monitoring to complex numerical modelling. We build the complete picture of what's happening below the surface and what it means for users, regulators and the environment.