Reshaping NZ’s infrastructure delivery system

At the end of August, Sophie South, Principal Civil Engineer, attended Infrastructure New Zealand’s Building Nations 2024 event in Auckland. The theme was ‘Reshaping New Zealand’s Infrastructure Delivery System’ where leaders, industry experts, and government representatives came together for some honest discussions on how to transform New Zealand’s infrastructure landscape. 

After some reflection, Sophie sat down with us to share the key messages and ideas that stood out to her during the two-day event. Here are some of the moments and insights that made the biggest impact on her. 

Setting the scene 

Geoff Cooper, Acting Chief Executive of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, delivered a compelling summary of what infrastructure really means. He highlighted that infrastructure is about movement – whether it’s the movement of people via public transport, goods through roads and pipelines, energy through transmission lines, or even ideas through schools and universities. Each of these types of infrastructure are deeply interconnected and we tend not to notice them until they fail. It’s important to understand how much our quality of life is dependent on this infrastructure.  

Another standout session came from the Infrastructure New Zealand Delegations Panel. They spoke about the importance of infrastructure as more than just physical assets – it’s about creating vision and outcomes. For me this touched on the intergenerational and cross-society nature of infrastructure, meaning we need to bring our youth along on the journey and encourage diversity in decision-making from all parts of society. 

These discussions set the tone for an informative and thought-provoking conference. 

Moving from strategy to action 

One of the encouraging themes of the conference was hearing about New Zealand’s move from strategy into action. For years, there has been a lot of strategic thinking aimed at addressing our infrastructure deficit.  

Hon. Chris Bishop’s presentation on the National Infrastructure Plan and the Infrastructure Priorities Programme signalled that we appear to be moving from strategy to planning into action. This will hopefully give confidence back to the industry and encourage upskilling.  

Key takeaways 

In additional to robust discussions around the future of infrastructure delivery in New Zealand, there were a few other gems that cropped up during Building Nations. 

• AI and data security: As AI becomes more integrated into delivery, it’s essential to protect your data and ensure that you know what AI does with your data once its finished. 

• Climate resilience and adaptation: Often disaster drives opportunities, but this needs to be paired with local leadership and input. Although moving communities and assets away from hazard-prone areas can feel overwhelming to those affected, prior planning – like disaster management or dynamic adaptive pathway planning (DAPP) – can lead to more thoughtful responses and even improvements to infrastructure in the process. 

• Be persistent and consistent – this helps to create change and transition. One of the examples discussed was the transformation of Utrecht in the Netherlands, now known as the Cycling Capital of the World. In the 1980s, Utrecht was heavily car-dependent, but through persistent and consistent efforts, the city transitioned to a bike-friendly urban space. This serves as a powerful reminder that change is possible where there is a clear vision. 

Looking ahead 

The term “bilateral” came up a lot during the event. While not yet in place, many attendees expressed interest in seeing a bilateral agreement that would provide a clear, long-term vision for New Zealand’s infrastructure. This would help create confidence for future investment and help shape the Aotearoa of tomorrow. 

Have a question for Sophie? Feel free to get in contact with her.