Designing sponge cities for New Zealand

Join us at the Watersmart Innovation Hub for an engaging and practical session designed specifically for civil engineers, urban designers, and public sector professionals looking to stay ahead in stormwater management, flood resilience, and water-sensitive urban design.

This 1.5-hour, in-person event begins with relaxed networking over drinks and nibbles, followed by a series of focused presentations exploring how sponge city principles and permeable surfacing can be applied within Aotearoa New Zealand’s urban infrastructure context.

As climate pressures intensify and urban environments continue to densify, traditional stormwater systems are increasingly under strain. This session will examine how a shift beyond “pipe and convey” toward a catchment-based approach can support more resilient, water-sensitive cities.

Led by Watersmart, alongside additional industry perspectives, the session will explore how integrated design thinking can improve flood resilience, water quality outcomes, and long-term urban performance.

Attendees will gain insight into:

• The limitations of conventional stormwater approaches under increasing climate and urban pressures
• Sponge city principles and their relevance in the New Zealand context
• Applying a catchment-based approach to manage flooding, runoff, and water quality
• The role of permeable surfacing in restoring natural hydrological processes
• Practical pathways for integrating water-sensitive design into projects, policy, and infrastructure delivery
• Emerging considerations around climate resilience, urban intensification, and water quality outcomes

The session will conclude with an open Q&A, providing an opportunity to engage directly with presenters, test ideas, and explore how these approaches can be applied across a range of project types.

Whether you're working across civil infrastructure, urban design, or local government, this event will provide practical insight and strategic context to support more resilient, integrated water outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Speaker – Umar Farooq

PhD candidate and Research Assistant at Massey University, Auckland, specialising in sustainable urban stormwater management, Sponge City design, and flood resilience. He holds a Master’s degree in Construction Engineering and Management (Gold Medallist) and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. His doctoral research focuses on advancing Sponge City approaches for New Zealand cities, integrating decision-support frameworks and digital tools such as BIM to enhance flood mitigation and climate resilience. Umar has contributed to academia and industry through peer-reviewed journal and conference publications, teaching assistantships, and collaborative research with industry stakeholders. He also brings practical experience from highway construction supervision, community-based transport surveys, and over 120 BIM projects delivered internationally. A recipient of the Massey University Doctoral Scholarship and Presidential Gold Medal, Umar is a member of Water New Zealand, Engineering New Zealand, and NZIOB, committed to bridging research and practice in resilient stormwater solutions.