Council wins Supreme Award for Pathways to the Sea strategy at local government awards

Waikato Regional Council’s Pathways to the Sea strategy won the Supreme Award at the 2026 LGFA Taituarā Local Government Excellence Awards last night, after winning the category for Excellence in Environmental Leadership.

The LGFA Taituarā Local Government Excellence Awards recognise excellence in local government management across a range of programmes and projects.

There were seven categories and 69 entries in total, a record-breaking number of entries celebrating the innovation, leadership and collaboration happening across local government in Aotearoa.

Chief Executive Chris McLay, Senior Freshwater Ecologist Alicia Williams and Reliability Engineer Steve Hall collected the awards on behalf of the council at the ceremony at Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre. 

Senior Freshwater Ecologist Alicia Williams Alicia says Pathways to the Sea was a real passion project for everyone involved.

“Developing this strategy to provide safe downstream passage for tuna (eels) and other native fish through our flood protection infrastructure was something we deeply believed in, and we’re incredibly proud of the positive environmental outcomes it will deliver. 

“Winning this award wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our 14 funding partners, and our iwi and hapū partners across the Waikato.”

Waikato Regional Council has more pump stations than any other council in Aotearoa New Zealand. Many of these pump stations were constructed decades ago, and with little consideration for ecological impacts. They prevent safe downstream migration of fish species and can cause a high level of injury and mortality for long-lived native tuna (eels). 

The strategy embeds ecological outcomes into infrastructure planning and is grounded in a six year, evidence based research programme undertaken by council staff. 

Co-funded by 14 partners, the research included testing fish friendly solutions, including new pump technologies, gravity bypasses, electrical deterrents and trap and transfer operations. 

Altogether, more than 20 technical reports were produced, and the research generated significant national and international interest. 

Field tested pumps – including a New Zealand designed retrofit prototype – achieved safe passage rates of between 74 and 100 per cent. 

Waikato Regional Council Chief Executive Chris McLay says: "The Pathways to the Sea Strategy has now been embedded into our business as usual operations and has been designed so it can be adopted by councils across the motu.
 
“The passion and dedication of our staff throughout this project ensures it will deliver long term benefits for our freshwater ecosystems, while upholding Te Mana o te Wai.” 

View the Pathways to the Sea video that supported the council’s application here.

Senior Freshwater Ecologist Alicia Williams and Reliability Engineer Steve Hall with the awards. 

Waikato Regional Council Chief Executive Chris McLay, Senior Freshwater Ecologist Alicia Williams and Reliability Engineer Steve Hall at the awards ceremony.