Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting an event in New Zealand’s fastest growing district – Selwyn. Guests received economic insights from Shamubeel Equab (Simplicity), who was then joined by James McKenzie (Mt Hutt/Ōpuke Hot Pools), Mark Tavendale (Tavendale and Partners) and Sam Broughton (Selwyn District Council/Local Government New Zealand).
Elliot Duke, Davis Ogilvie Director and Chartered Professional Engineer shares some insights from the conversation.
“The discussion was broad but my main takeaway was that there is insufficient long-term planning happening by the Crown for Infrastructure.
Shamubeel explained that the funded pipeline of infrastructure drops off a cliff almost immediately after the next general government election. He also showed us that public investment has effectively been well under what is required since the 1980s.
While this isn’t news to our sector, seeing this underinvestment and thin pipeline of work graphed was confronting,” says Elliot.
The South Island is facing a critical juncture in its infrastructure development. From Christchurch to Dunedin, delays and funding shortfalls are not just inconveniences – they are symptoms of a deeper issue: a lack of sustained Crown commitment to the future. This approach is particularly interesting when you consider the more significant contribution to GDP that the South Island delivers per person compared to the North Island. What’s more, deferring maintenance and delaying projects means it just ends up costing more to deliver.
“For those who, like us, deliver these projects this lack of infrastructure funding and inconsistent planning makes it difficult on many fronts, one example is workforce planning. Our neighbours (Australia and some of the Pacific Islands) are thinking longer term when planning and funding infrastructure, which provides more certainty for employers and therefore more opportunity for employees. Due to this we are losing critical talent and experience offshore.”
Here at DO we believe that infrastructure is more than concrete and steel — it’s about people. It’s about ensuring that communities have access to resilient transport networks, and cities and towns that are well serviced now and for future generations.
Davis Ogilvie (DO) is a multidisciplinary consultancy that provides comprehensive engineering, surveying and planning services, as well as specialist expertise in civil, geotechnical and structural engineering, resource management and environmental sciences.
With a legacy of over 90 years, we have a wealth of local knowledge and experience, with South Island offices in Christchurch, Nelson, Greymouth, and Timaru. Whether it is a multidisciplinary or a standalone project, we can help.
From dirt to development, resilience to recovery, DO provides collaborative efficient solutions. DO delivers.
