13 Apr 2026
New Fellow Dr Emily Afoa is a proud descendant of Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Maniapoto, co-director of Tektus Consultants, and kairangahau (researcher) and co-Principal Investigator for Wai Ora Kāinga Ora with Pūrangakura. She leads with purpose, foregrounding mātauranga and tikanga Māori in water-sensitive design and water infrastructure delivery.
Her work spans catchment-scale water management, public infrastructure, and land development, guided by a commitment to te mana me te mauri o te wai and the advancement of indigenous leadership. Her diverse experience across local government, academia and consultancy has earned her a range of accolades including the Te Mana Kiwi SPPEEx Te Ngaru Whakateo Award (2025), recognition as a Business Leader in the 2023 University of Auckland 40 under 40 Awards, and 2017's Young Water Professional of the Year.
What attributes make you a good leader?
I’m collaborative, creating inclusive environments that value mātauranga and tikanga Māori alongside technical rigour. I act with integrity, am willing to share my vulnerabilities and I lead by example, bringing people together around shared goals.
At the end of each day, what tells you whether you’ve been successful?
I feel successful if I’ve learned something new, shared knowledge or sparked new ideas with others. Or if I’ve inspired someone to share my passion for wai and our water sector, if I’ve moved a kaupapa forward, supported my team’s wellbeing, or delivered tangible value for clients and communities.
Emily Afoa
Who opened a key door for you?
So many people – initially my parents, for instilling the belief that I could excel no matter what path I chose and giving me a strong foundation. Others include Dr Elizabeth Fassman-Beck and Dr Robyn Simcock, who shared their passion for water-sensitive design, challenging me to stretch my thinking and turn it into action. Dr Kēpa Morgan for encouraging me to join South Pacific Indigenous Engineering Students and inspiring my ongoing journey to ground my professional practice in cultural integrity.
What mistake have you learned from most?
Early in my career, I focused on technical detail and thought that design would speak for itself. It didn’t. My biggest lesson has been leaning into how relational work is – relationships with colleagues, clients, industry peers, communities, tangata whenua and with the environment itself. Without these, and open, honest communication, even good solutions can fail.
How do you approach a difficult conversation with someone you lead?
With responsive understanding. I find these a challenge and am still improving in this area. I've learned to avoid delay, prepare and allow sufficient time to ground the kōrero in our shared kaupapa and desired outcomes. I work to understand the person’s perspective, listening first, before clearly articulating impacts, speaking unambiguously. Then working together to create practical next steps.
Who is a leader in Aotearoa you admire?
Te Arikinui Kuini Ngā wai hono i te po. She reminds me that our relationship with wai is ancestral and alive, something we inherit and are obligated to protect. I admire how she elevates kaupapa that matter deeply to our sector: environmental stewardship, strengthening partnerships and collaboration, and pursuing prosperity without diminishing people or place.
What questions have you been asking yourself lately?
How do we make the water sector visible and compelling, telling clear stories about what we do and the breadth of roles and skills needed, so people see a stable and long-term career pathway where they can improve.
This article was first published in the March 2026 issue of EG magazine.
