ProfessorMatthew Wilson

Matt’s research is used in national flood risk assessment, community decision-making and environmental restoration in Aotearoa New Zealand.

• National flood maps: led the uncertainty theme of the MBIE Endeavour programme that delivered New Zealand’s first nationwide flood hazard and risk maps (2025).
• Te Awarua Kai Ora: a 3D platform with Ngāti Toa Rangatira supporting community engagement in restoring Porirua Harbour, launched in February 2026.
• Ōtākaro Digital Twin: developed with Ngāi Tūāhuriri and Christchurch City Council, guided by Te Mana o te Wai.
• Open-source software: the Flood Resilience Digital Twin and EDDIE, adopted by partners as an exemplar for digital twin technologies.
• Community decisions: flood visualisation helped to inform the relocation of a marae exposed to increasing flood risk.
• Risk communication: Virtually flooded VR tools with the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake, featured on RNZ.
• Standards and data: member of the NZS 9421 Flood Modelling Standard committee; Rongowai data are publicly available through NASA’s PO.DAAC archive.