WWLA is delighted to welcome Bayleigh Howarth to our Kumeu office. Bayleigh joined the team in May 2026 as a Graduate Contaminated Land Scientist. She graduated from the University of Auckland in 2025 with a Master of Environmental Science, specialising in Coastal Geography. During her studies, Bayleigh spent eight months as an Environmental Monitoring Intern at Auckland Council, where she gained valuable experience assessing resource consents and undertaking risk assessmen

We have great pleasure in announcing Ben Tait and Jaide Derbyshire as new shareholders to the company effective 1 April 2026. Ben is a Principal Planner based in our Auckland office and has just re-joined WWLA after previously working in our Whangarei office from 2020 to 2022. Ben is a highly respected planning professional with over 18 years’ experience in natural resource planning and policy development. He has built a reputation for navigating the complexities of resource

WWLA is pleased to welcome Ben Tait to the Kumeu office. Ben re-joined WWLA in April 2026 as a Principal Planner, having previously worked for the company from 2020 to 2022. With over 18 years’ experience in natural resource planning and policy development, Ben is a highly respected practitioner, known for his depth of expertise and pragmatic approach. Ben specialises in water quality and freshwater management and has a strong track record in securing complex resource consent

Brooke James, a graduate hydrologist at WWLA, recently attended the Underwater Hockey Interzone Championships (Regionals) located in Wellington. The Interzone Championships is New Zealand’s most prestigious underwater hockey tournament, where elite players across New Zealand compete representing their home regions. This year, fifteen teams representing different regions competed. Brooke played for the Mid-Northern Women’s team who were up against seven other women’s teams.

WWLA would like to welcome Kevin Burdette to the Kumeu office. Kevin joined in March 2026 as an Intermediate Hydrogeologist and holds a PhD in Geology from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. Originally from the United States, Kevin recently made New Zealand his permanent home, moving out here with his wife, 2 dogs and cat. New Zealand’s dramatic and thoughtfully preserved landscapes have long inspired Kevin and the opportunity to not only explore this environment but al