Ioannis Antonopoulos
Vice Chair
Over the past 12 months, the NZGS has made significant strides in several areas. The annual paper and poster awards saw a notable increase in participation, fostering innovation and excellence in geotechnical research. These awards provided a valuable platform for professionals and students to showcase their work, facilitating networking and knowledge exchange within the industry.
The NZGS website was comprehensively updated to enhance user experience and accessibility. Improvements including a more intuitive navigation system, updated content, and a responsive design for mobile devices, making it easier for members to access resources, stay informed about events, and engage with the geotechnical community.
Additionally, the NZGS has been diligently preparing the “Code of Practice on the Design of Ground-Governed Structures and Design in Nonelastic Conditions.” This document aims to provide clear and standardized procedures for designing structures that interact with ground conditions and behave in nonelastic ways. Our aim is to align with current MBIE/NZGS Guidelines and ongoing work with TS1170.5 and other significant guidelines. Its main goals are to offer detailed and precise instructions, reduce ambiguity, promote consistency in design and construction practices, and maintain high professional standards and accountability within the industry.
These initiatives reflect NZGS’s commitment to advancing geotechnical engineering practices and supporting its members through valuable resources and recognition.
Emilia Stocks
Treasurer
We’re pleased to share that NZGS remains financially stable, with consistent income from membership dues and sponsorships enabling us to support a wide range of activities and initiatives. This year, we successfully implemented our budget, which includes funding for industry research, 2025 NZGS symposium support, and educational programs. A key highlight is the development of Slope Stability Units, proudly sponsored by the NHC with acknowledgment by MBIE.
As we move forward, we’re keeping a close eye on our finances to ensure we continue meeting our goals and providing the best support for our members.
Jesse Beetham
National branch coordinator
There has been a flurry of activity in the national NZGS branches over the past six months, including the addition of several new branch representatives. A number of long-standing branch representatives have also stood down during this time period, we thank them for their valuable contributions to the society and their respective local branches.
The overall activity of our branches is variable, and something we are trying to improve. Some of our smaller regional branches have struggled to gain momentum and to build local crowd. As with all NZGS Management Committee roles, the branch representatives are also volunteers, and they need your help! If you have an idea for a local branch presentation or a site visit, please get in touch with your local branch representative, or alternatively please contact the NZGS Secretary and they will point you in the right direction.
Richard Justice
Project Lead – Slope Stability Guidance
The final version of Slope Stability Guidance Unit 1 has recently been released onto the NZGS website. Thank you to all of those that submitted comments: we have addressed most (but not all) of these in the final version.
At the time of writing, draft versions of Unit 2 – Landslide Recognition and Identification and Unit 3 – Slope Stability Analysis were being finalised. After going through graphic design, they will be published onto the NZGS website for member comment, in much the same way as Unit 1 was last year.
In parallel with finalising Units 2 and 3, work is currently underway on the development of:
Unit 4: Mitigation and Design Principles
Unit 6: Debris Flow Assessment, Analysis and Mitigation
Parts of Unit 7: Special Cases and Materials
We hope to release these Units for comment to the Society in the first quarter of 2025. The remaining document, Unit 5, is earmarked for Rockfall; and is intended to be an update to the MBIE Design Considerations for Passive Protection Measures. We intend to start discussions with MBIE and NHC early in 2025 as the first part of this process.
Martin Larisch
Chair of NZGS Climate Change Resilience & Adaptation Group
The working group have met once every quarter over the past six months and we have focussed on three main topics: ‘Organisation of the NZGS climate change Symposium 2024’, ‘Sustainable decarbonation and resilience’ and ‘Material Re-use and circular economy’.
The NZGS Climate change symposium was held on Wednesday 23 October 2024, please refer to the separate report summarizing the event.
The two other topics are investigated by two subgroups with the following aims:
Sustainable decarbonation and resilience (what does it mean and how to address it?)
- Resilience effects on climate change and could this be implemented
- Resilience, adaptation and embodied carbon
- Material Re-use and circular economy
- How to turn construction waste into a building material?
- Incorporation of recycled concrete into gravel matts for residential buildings
If you are interested in actively shaping our future and profession and consider joining our group, please send an enquiry to secretary@nzgs.org with your short bio and some background why you would like to join the group.
Liam Wotherspoon
Training & short courses
Liam has led the organisation and management of a number of short courses in 2024. These have included:
• AGS Landslide Risk Assessment
• GIS for Geotechnical Professionals
• Performance, Design and Management of Slopes for Resilience in Earthquakes
• Engineering Geological Models
There will be a set of new short courses presented in 2025, including those that will sit alongside the 2025 NZGS Symposium later in the year.
Liam has been part of the NZGS events sub-committee, supporting coordination of NZGS Branch Activities across the branches, short courses and other events. This has included support of the organisation of the NZGS Climate Change Symposium. He has been involved in the geo-education subcommittee that has been developing initiatives related to the development and expansion of the profession. This has included a number of regional events throughout the year and presentations at international conferences.
