From drain to habitat: Re-engineering a creek with life in mind
Background: About this project What began as a simple drain removal became a rare opportunity to reimagine a working creek as a living, breathing feature for the Aphrodite Development in Casebrook. The site wasn’t straightforward; weak soils, known soil signs of contamination nearby, protected trees and a live creek along the southern edge made it…
Read MoreProtecting Oashore for Generations to Come
Fox and Associates are proud to have supported the long-term protection of Oashore, a 530-hectare property on Banks Peninsula that is now safeguarded in perpetuity through ownership by the CCC and a Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust (BPCT) covenant. The project involved years of collaboration to ensure the land’s ecological and cultural significance would be preserved…
Read MoreGiving Back at Birdlings Flat
The Fox and Associates team recently joined forces with our friends at e2environmental for a weeding bee at Birdlings Flat. It was a brilliant day out in the fresh air, working together, getting our hands dirty, and giving back to the land that means so much to us. We were volunteering alongside the Banks Peninsula…
Read MoreThe Drain That’s a Pain (and falls partly in the Domain)
Sometimes a seemingly obvious solution can turn into a major obstruction, and so it was with a Council-owned drain along one boundary of a development in Casebrook. The drain in question was a so-called “box drain” of the type common all around Christchurch. It was about 1.5m square with timber sides held apart at the…
Read MoreCelebrating Craig’s Double Win at the 2025 Survey and Spatial Awards
Each year, Survey and Spatial New Zealand (S+SNZ) celebrates the contributions of surveying professionals who raise the standard of our profession. Recently, S+SNZ held their 2025 Professional Excellence Awards which recognise outstanding contributions across various streams and specialties. We are thrilled to share that Craig McInnes received not one, but two of the top honours…
Read MoreSurveying the Ōhau Canal
The Waitaki Hydroelectric Scheme in the Tekapo Basin and Waitaki Valley is NZ’s largest hydroelectric power scheme. The picturesque Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki hold around 50% of the country’s hydroelectric storage, and the scheme provides around 16% of our annual electricity needs. NZ’s largest electricity generator, Meridian Energy Ltd owns the portion of the scheme…
Read MoreSetting the Benchmark: The New Era of Cadastral Licensing
Craig McInnes, a director at Fox and Associates, is helping to shape the future of surveying in New Zealand through his role on the Cadastral Surveyors Licensing Board. As a long-serving board member, Craig is at the forefront of setting national standards for cadastral surveyors. He is championing modern, accessible pathways into the profession and…
Read MoreTaking the Guesswork Out of Development Feasibility
For property developers and investors, one of the biggest challenges is identifying land that is genuinely suitable for development. Finding the right site is more than spotting empty lots or underutilised parcels. You need to understand where zoning, site size, and regulatory overlays align with your development goals. Often, that initial search for viable land…
Read MoreUAV Surveying: Smarter Data, Faster Projects
When time, accuracy and safety matter, UAV Surveying delivers. At Fox and Associates, helping clients unlock the full potential of their land starts with obtaining the right data. UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) Surveying is one of the most powerful tools in our kit. It’s transforming the way land is measured, mapped, and managed across New…
Read MoreUSV Surveying: A Smarter Way to Measure the Water
When it comes to understanding the landscape, we believe that what lies beneath the surface is as important as what’s above it. That’s why Fox and Associates offers cutting-edge USV (Unmanned Surface Vehicle) surveying solutions, giving you detailed, safe, and efficient insight into the underwater world. What is USV Surveying? USV Surveying uses a compact,…
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