PO Box 242
Nelson
Get In Touch
Say Hi to Beca in Nelson
From the top of the South, our Nelson team supports projects that keep the region moving – from marine facilities and ports to roads, water, manufacturing and public buildings. As part of one of New Zealand’s more established engineering companies, we bring together engineers, designers and consultants with decades of experience across a diverse range of industries and a shared commitment to the highest standards of engineering excellence.
Based in Nelson and working across the wider Tasman and Marlborough area, we provide engineering services and consulting support for clients in infrastructure, manufacturing, marine and primary production. Our focus is on dependable, cost-effective engineering solutions that lift safety and performance, backed by long-term relationships and ongoing support for your assets, plants and projects to keep doing their job well after the initial build.
Services We Provide
With strong expertise across geotechnical, structural and civil engineering, we bring the experience and commitment needed to support even the most ambitious projects. Our team works with councils, operators and producers across the region to translate engineering requirements into practical solutions from concept and design through to construction support.
Geotechnical Engineering in Nelson
Geotechnical services underpin much of the work we do in and around Nelson, where hillsides, coastal cliffs and varied ground conditions can all influence how projects are planned and built. Our engineers carry out investigations, slope and stability assessments, foundation and retaining wall design, and input to land-use planning. This all serves to give you a clear picture of ground-related risks and options before you commit. Gain the informed confidence you need to move forward with designs that are safe, resilient, and suited to the sites they sit on.
Structural Engineering in Nelson
Our structural design and engineering team is experienced across projects from commercial and industrial buildings to marine structures and equipment supports. We provide checks and strengthening for new builds and existing assets, working in steel, stainless steel, concrete and timber to meet performance, safety and durability requirements. Earthquake resilience is always top of mind in all our structural undertakings.
Civil Engineering in Nelson
Our civil engineers in Nelson work on roads, water networks and land development projects that keep the region’s towns and industries moving. You’ll see this in local street upgrades, new links and intersections, stormwater and drainage works, and civil design around sites such as schools and public facilities. We keep our designs practical and buildable, aligned with council requirements and real site constraints.
Our Work in Nelson
Our Nelson team is involved in projects that support how the region grows, moves and looks after its people. Much of this work brings together our local engineering services with Beca’s wider expertise in sustainability, resilience and long-term asset performance.
Waimea College – Low Carbon Teaching Block
At Waimea College, just south of Nelson, Beca worked with the design team to deliver a new teaching block that shows how school buildings can cut carbon without losing function. The project uses an engineered timber superstructure instead of a more typical concrete and steel frame. This sequestered and avoided about 270 tonnes of carbon compared with a standard build, while creating warm, light learning spaces for students and teachers. Our structural and building engineering expertise helped the team meet tight Ministry of Education design requirements and pushed innovation in materials and detailing.
Bridge Street Linear Active Transport Corridor – Bridge to Better
The Bridge Street Linear Active Transport Corridor, part of Nelson City Council’s “Bridge to Better” programme, will turn Bridge Street into a safer, people-friendly route for walking and cycling while also upgrading the water infrastructure beneath it. Beca is contributing civil and engineering design to help create a new street layout between Rutherford and Collingwood Streets that supports mixed modes, high-quality public spaces and improved connections to the wider active transport network. It will further add capacity and resilience for hundreds of new homes in the city centre by linking transport, infrastructure and urban regeneration in one coordinated upgrade.
Nelson Hospital Redevelopment – Project Whakatupuranga
Project Whakatupuranga is a multi-phase, 10-year programme to redevelop Nelson Hospital so it can safely meet the region’s future health needs. Beca has contributed engineering and consulting expertise through the planning and business case stages, helping Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora shape options for new acute and inpatient facilities, seismic upgrades and site-wide infrastructure. The programme represents a major investment in forward-thinking health infrastructure at the Top of the South, designed to improve clinical capacity, safety and patient experience while providing a more sustainable, efficient hospital campus for decades to come.
Nelson Slope Instability Overlay
Nelson’s hillsides and coastal escarpments present real landslip and debris-flow risks, so Nelson City Council asked Beca to help map where slope instability could affect people, property and infrastructure. Our team prepared the Slope Instability Overlay using regional geotechnical assessment and national landslide risk guidance to highlight areas of known and potential instability and run-out. The overlay now feeds into planning rules, LIM hazard notations and triggers for site-specific geotechnical work, giving council and landowners a clearer view of where extra care is needed.
Waimea Community Dam Inquiry
Tasman District Council commissioned Beca to carry out an independent inquiry into the Waimea Community Dam project after significant cost increases and design changes. We were brought on to review engineering, governance, risk and estimating information and provide clear findings on what had driven overruns and how similar issues could be better managed on future major projects. The resulting report has helped the council, Waimea Water Ltd and other partners strengthen how they oversee critical infrastructure investments for the region.
Awards
2025 World Partners in Asset Management Recognition
Certified Fellow in Asset Management (CFAM) – Priyani de Silva-Currie MNZM, a Beca Technical Director based in Whakatū Nelson, recognised as the world’s first CFAM for her leadership in asset management practice and education in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally.
Beca Civil Engineering Scholarship – Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
Sponsor of the Beca Civil Engineering Scholarship for NZ Diploma in Civil Engineering students in the Nelson-Tasman region, reflecting our long-term commitment to local engineering education and to building future capability for the region’s engineering industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of industries do you mostly work with in the Nelson–Tasman region?
We provide engineering services for a mix of local councils, infrastructure owners and private clients, but a lot of our day-to-day work is with developers, manufacturers, marine operators and primary producers. Those projects range from general engineering support and small steel or stainless steel items through to larger upgrades that keep plants, ports and processing facilities running safely and efficiently.
Can you review designs or equipment that were developed elsewhere to check they suit our site?
Yes. If you’ve bought equipment, structures or designs from another supplier, we can review them against your specific site conditions and engineering requirements in the Nelson–Tasman context. For instance, we can check loads and fixings, look at corrosion and durability for marine or industrial environments, or verify that designs align with local standards and council expectations before you install or build.
How do you support innovation and better performance in our operations?
We spend time understanding how your equipment and systems are used in the real world, then look for engineering solutions that lift productivity and safety rather than just meeting minimum standards. This often looks like refining designs, improving layouts or controls, or developing more efficient ways to maintain or replace critical components so your projects deliver long-term performance gains.
Do you offer opportunities for graduates or students who want to start their engineering career in Nelson?
We welcome early-career engineers in Nelson, including graduates from the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) which offers a range of educational programs in engineering. If you’re studying or recently qualified and interested in joining a local team that works on real projects in Nelson–Tasman, the best first step is to keep an eye on Beca’s Careers page and note any roles in the region that match your background or area of study.
What are engineering job prospects like in Nelson?
Job prospects for qualified engineers in the Nelson-Tasman region are generally strong, with demand across civil infrastructure, manufacturing, marine services and related consulting work. Beca is one of several established companies in the Nelson–Tasman region that hire engineers, so people with solid experience or relevant qualifications can often find opportunities to build a career here without having to move to a larger city.