Who We Are
Te Miro Water brings together specialised skills of hydrology, stormwater management, hydraulic modelling, flood risk assessment, water supply and wastewater design, and environmental planning to deliver an integrated engineering and scientific service for our clients.
Te Miro Water work throughout New Zealand. Our main office is in Cambridge with our branch office in Auckland.
The word ‘Te Miro’, from the acceptance speech of the first Maori King, Potatau te Wherowhero, translates to ‘three intertwined strands’ which we feel aptly reflects the diversity and strength of the relationship between our expertise, our clients needs and the environment we are working in, enabling us to provide innovative and practical solutions.
OUR SERVICES
We understand the full water cycle. We know the steps required to deliver water resources projects and the decision makers to engage with to get it done.
We Specialise In:
Flood Risk & Catchment Management
We take an integrated, catchment-wide view of flood risk — from regional hazard assessments and floodplain analysis through to detailed catchment management planning and community-level mitigation solutions.
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Hydrological assessment and flood hazard management
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Floodplain management planning
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Catchment management plans
Consenting & Advisory
We support clients through the full consenting process — from preparing and submitting resource consent applications through to expert witness, peer review, including technical consent reviews for local and regional councils.
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Resource consent applications and management
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Expert witness and peer review
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Engineering technical consent reviews
Stormwater, Water Supply & Wastewater Design
Our team delivers end-to-end three waters design, combining technical rigour with practical, buildable solutions across the full water cycle — from concept through to construction.
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Integrated stormwater, water supply and wastewater management
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Low impact design and green infrastructure
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Project and construction management
Strategic Planning & Master-planning
We provide trusted independent advice across the full range of three waters challenges, supporting councils and private clients with long-term planning and infrastructure investment decisions.
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Strategic planning
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Master-planning
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Long term plans and planning assistance
Testing & Monitoring
We provide specialist on-site testing services to support consenting, compliance, design and asset management requirements.
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Soil hydrological group determination
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Permeability testing
Community & Stakeholder Engagement
Effective water management requires meaningful engagement with the people and communities it affects.
We bring experience in facilitating complex stakeholder processes and managing community expectations across a wide range of project types — including the experience and relationships to engage meaningfully with iwi and mana whenua as an integral part of the process.
OUR TEAM
Our team is made up of great people with complementary skills. Because we are small, we have aligned ourselves with others in the industry, whose skills we respect and know are driven to do a great job.
Get in contact to find out more about the teams we assemble to deliver our projects.
Mike Chapman
Director Principal - Three Waters Engineer/Hydrologist
BSc, MSc (Hons) (Env Science)
Mike is founding Director of Te Miro Water - a three waters engineer and hydrologist with over 25 years proven track record of flood risk assessment and stormwater design solutions. Mike is known for his abilities to work across multiple disciplines, specialising in technical and strategy direction in the stormwater space.
Mike’s unique mixture of technical and strategic skills mean he is often sought after by government and private agencies to formulate and lead stormwater projects. Mike has led the development of over 30 catchment management plans and flood hazard studies.
Britta Jensen
Director Principal - Three Waters Engineer/Hydrologist
B.ENG (Civil and Env) & MBA (2020)
Britta is a Director of Te Miro Water, and an experienced three waters engineer and project manager of 17 years. Britta has developed a strong focus on project delivery, technical outcomes, and client liaison, both in Australia and NZ.
With a bachelor in Civil Engineering and Master’s in Business Administration, Britta is passionate about governance and strategic planning in the local and national government space. Her specialist technical field is within stormwater, with experience ranging from catchment planning scale to detailed flood risk assessments and civil design of soft and hard stormwater mitigation. Britta’s roles transgress the planning, civil, asset management and transport environments and she is familiar with the needs of both private and public sectors.
Andrew Boldero
Principal - Three Waters Engineer
Andrew is a principal three waters engineer with 28 years experience in the civil engineering sector. This includes over 15 years in the water sector with the last 7 years specialising in stormwater. Andrew has a proven track record of project delivery and solving complex design issues.
Andrew has an excellent understanding of hydraulics along with stormwater catchment and asset management. Andrew is known for his abilities to work across multiple disciplines to create effective solutions. Andrew has worked for private and the public sectors, specialising in leadership, strategy, and governance.
Andrew's cross-sector experience and leadership approach align closely with Te Miro Water's commitment to delivering effective, integrated solutions for the communities and catchments it serves.
John Male
Principal Water Resources Engineer
John is a seasoned Water Resource Specialist with more than 45 years of experience in hydrology, catchment modelling, and water resource management across Aotearoa and the Pacific.
With a strong foundation in science and a career spanning senior technical and leadership roles, John brings deep expertise in flood risk, stormwater management, water allocation, dam safety, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
He has contributed to the planning and delivery of major transport, urban development, and environmental projects, always with a focus on practical, sustainable, and community-focused outcomes. John’s strength lies in combining robust technical analysis with clear, balanced advice—supporting Te Miro Water’s commitment to resilient, future-ready water solutions grounded in the health of the land, the catchment, and the people who rely on them.
Costas Chryssafis
Principal - Three Waters Engineers
Costas Chryssafis is a chartered three waters engineer with almost 30 years of experience in New Zealand plus 25 years internationally, specialising in stormwater, wastewater, and water supply infrastructure. Known for delivering innovative solutions to complex engineering challenges, Costas has worked on a variety of high-profile projects for both public and private clients.
Costas is also a published author and presenter at industry conferences, including works on stormwater design and infrastructure challenges at events such as the Water New Zealand Stormwater and Water Conferences and StormCon in the USA.
With certifications in New Zealand and the UK, Costas provides sustainable, efficient infrastructure solutions that meet the needs of today’s growing communities.
James Oakley
Principal – Three Waters Engineer
BE (Hons), MEngNZ
James is a civil and environmental engineer with 15 years of experience in land development and three waters design, specialising in stormwater management. His skills span stormwater master planning, integrated catchment management, engineering design, hydrologic and hydraulic modelling, consenting, and construction supervision.
James has a proven track record of delivering technically challenging projects from concept through to construction, across both New Zealand and international settings, for public and private sector clients. He is known for his ability to relate to a wide range of stakeholders and work collaboratively across disciplines — bringing a practical, solutions-focused approach wherever it's needed.
His experience includes leading stormwater master plans for Hamilton City Council and Hamilton Zoo, stormwater design for major NZTA infrastructure projects, and providing technical review on behalf of Waikato Regional Council at Environment Court level. James's hands-on, collaborative style sits naturally within Te Miro Water's commitment to delivering practical, community-focused outcomes for the catchments and clients it serves.
Lucy Williams
Landscape Architecture Lead
Lucy is a Technical Director level Landscape Architect with 25 years of experience leading landscape and urban design projects in New Zealand and internationally.
She specialises in creating integrated, functional, and resilient landscapes that balance environmental, cultural, and community outcomes. Lucy has extensive expertise in stormwater treatment systems, wetlands, riparian planting, detention basins, streetscapes, cycleways, and mixed-use developments, and guides projects from concept through to detailed design, including planting plans, specifications, and 3D visualisations.
She has significant experience collaborating with mana whenua, stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure landscapes reflect local identity, ecological values, and practical functionality. Lucy’s work embodies Te Miro Water’s commitment to delivering sustainable, community-focused, and technically robust design solutions.
Dr Muhammed Waqas Sawar
Stormwater Engineer & Flood Modeller
Waqas recently completed his PHD in water resource engineering from the University of Waikato with a special focus on catchment and streamflow interaction.
With a keen interest and expertise in GIS automation and hydrologic/hydraulic modelling, Waqas has lead various stormwater modelling and management projects including stream restoration, developing strategies for flood hazard control in urban areas and estimation of stormwater runoff for the purpose of integrated catchment modelling.
Arun Gopi
Project Management Lead & Senior Three Waters Engineer
Arun is a stormwater engineer and project manager with 10-years experience in the construction industry both in New Zealand and India.
Arun is known for his experience in trenchless installation of utilities and have proven experience in managing, setting out and programming three waters projects and installation by directional drilling and open trench methods.
Arun’s previous experience as project manager and quantity surveyor, Arun is highly focussed on costs and contracts and negotiating subcontracts and supplier agreements to bring the best value to the project. His collaborative manner allows for good relationships with the team, clients and contractors.
Dr Saeed Ashouri
Stormwater Engineer & Flood Modeller
Saeed recently completed his PhD at the University of Waikato, where his research focuses on the reduction of permeability in soil over time. Saeed is a highly skilled water engineer with extensive experience in GIS, river hydraulics, hydrology and eco hydraulics. Saeed has worked on a variety of stormwater projects at Te Miro Water and has undertaken extensive hydrological and hydraulic modelling.
Saeed has completed designs of complex stormwater management devices and assets. Saeed previously worked for consulting engineers in Iran on the estimation of environmental flows for rivers, 1-D and 2-D hydraulic modelling, and river restoration.
Saeed has a passion for linking the hydraulics of waterways with the needs of the natural aquatic ecosystems to protect biodiversity.
Rodrigo Jaca
Flood Modelling Lead & Principal Three Waters Engineer
Rodrigo is a seasoned civil engineer with a specialization in hydraulic modelling. His expertise lies primarily in the assessment of flooding in open channels, urban drainage systems, and the management of integrated catchments.
His work is pivotal in understanding and mitigating flood risks, ensuring the safety and resilience of communities and infrastructure.
Rodrigo has conducted extensive analyses of hazards and economic damage assessments, proposing effective flood alleviation options through both 1D and 2D hydraulic modelling.
His innovative approach and dedication to precision have made significant impacts in the field of hydraulic engineering. He has played a crucial role in the creation of comprehensive model build guidance across New Zealand.
Dean Miller
Digital Design Lead
Dean is a seasoned civil designer and modeller with 27 years of experience in engineering consultancy across New Zealand and overseas.
He specialises in practical, efficient design solutions with particular strengths in stormwater, pump stations, rising mains, landform design, and advanced 2D and 3D modelling. Dean works across the full design process—from concept development to detailed construction documentation—and is highly proficient in AutoCAD, 12d, Revit, BIM workflows, and digital modelling.
He brings a practical, detail-focused approach that supports Te Miro Water’s commitment to clear, effective, and community-minded engineering solutions.
Saeid Esmaeil Nia
Water Engineer
PhD, MSc, BSc (Irrigation & Drainage)
Saeid is a water engineer with a strong background in hydraulics, hydrology, and advanced modelling, bringing experience from both industry and local government across New Zealand and internationally.
He is technically versatile, with hands-on expertise in HEC-RAS, InfoWorks ICM, SWMM, Civil 3D, and a range of other modelling tools.
Saeid holds a PhD from the University of Waikato and has lectured in hydraulics, water and wastewater systems, and GIS at tertiary level — staying closely connected to current engineering practice while helping develop the next generation of practitioners.
Before moving to New Zealand, Saeid held senior roles with the Tehran Regional Water Authority, managing surface water and flood risk across a large and complex river district. He is experienced in stakeholder engagement, consenting, and delivering projects in challenging environments. Saeid's technical depth and genuine enthusiasm for solving water problems make him a great fit for Te Miro Water's approach to delivering resilient, evidence-based solutions for communities across Aotearoa.
Rajeesh Ummalath
GIS Analyst
Rajeesh is a highly skilled GIS analyst with extensive expertise in spatial data analysis and advanced GIS applications.
With a robust background in geographic information systems, Rajeesh excels in the art and science of mapping, using advanced GIS techniques across ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, QGIS, and MapInfo to produce maps and visualizations that are not only accurate but also engaging and compelling. His proficiency includes designing interactive Story-Maps and detailed spatial maps, adopting visualization principles and cartographic techniques to present complex data in an understandable and compelling manner, transforming technical analysis into actionable insights for informed decision-making.
Rajeesh also has a background in geological investigations and subsurface analysis and brings specialised geoscience expertise to infrastructure projects.
Sandra Hurst
Office & Finance Administrator
Sandra serves as the cornerstone of our office operations, excelling in her role as Office Administrator.
With a keen eye for detail and a dedication to excellence, she efficiently manages billing, invoicing, proofreading, and project administration, ensuring that every facet of our administrative needs is met with precision and timeliness.
