With the bleakness of winter behind us, the spring is not only providing brighter, warmer weather, but the outlook here in New Zealand continues to be upbeat.
This positivity is helped along by the expected annual local utility tenders beginning to roll-out.
Long may this prosperous situation last.
Certainly we have a number of trenchless initiatives to help things along.
In July we had the 21st NZ Trenchless Technology forum in Auckland, and this was quickly followed by the 22nd Forum held, for the first time, in Christchurch.
For past seven years, these forums have provided great opportunities for asset owners, consultants, contractors and material suppliers to network while learning about Trenchless Technology and how these advancing and innovative technologies are being used throughout New Zealand.
The intention is to bring these forums to the main centres, in addition to the existing regular Auckland events, as often as possible.
September is set to deliver another big trenchless event.
As planned, the ASTT again have a technical paper stream at the WaterNZ annual conference, to be held in Hamilton, on the 17th to 19th of September.
This will be the third time the ASTT has had a technical paper stream as part of the WaterNZ conference, the first was in Christchurch in 2010.
Each time this stream has been a popular part of the conference program.
At times it has been standing room only in the presentations.
This year the ASTT stream is set to be better than ever, with a two day program with 15 technical papers presented by New Zealand, Australian and international speakers.
In addition to the ASTT stream, the WaterNZ Conference also has six other water, wastewater and stormwater technical streams, a trade exhibition involving about 100 exhibitors and an expected 1,000 delegates.
The biannual ASTT stream provides a great the opportunity for people inside and outside of the trenchless industry to engage and learn about the technology.