Building Nations – paving the path for consistent resilient infrastructure
Building Nations 2024 brought together leaders and experts from across the infrastructure sector to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s infrastructure landscape. To raise productivity and deliver resilient infrastructure, we must break down industry silos and harness the collective strength of government, private sector, and communities.
Rhys Clark, Commercial Director at Tonkin + Taylor reflects on the event: “Coming out of Building Nations 2024, there was a real sense of optimism in the air. The key takeaway for me was when Hon. Chris Bishop announced the National Infrastructure Agency. The government is looking at opening the doors to Foreign Investment to support our Infrastructure deficit, however, we need to ensure we have the policy settings aligned around RMA reform, Fast Track legislation and the Overseas Investment Office guiding legislation to support the agency to be a success”
Depoliticising infrastructure to deliver on the 30-year National Infrastructure Plan
Charlotte Arcus, Three Waters Design Engineer, shares one key topic that emerged from the two-day event, the call for the Infrastructure Industry to have a shared vision for New Zealand, “so we can have assurance that politics won’t derail important projects.”
Ken Macdonald, Sector Director – Water was also present and shares this sentiment: “The main thing for me was hearing repeated themes around working towards overcoming political cycles to get a longer-term view on infrastructure pipeline. It was encouraging to hear the collective aim toward depoliticising the agenda. I think we should give huge credit to Nick Leggett and the Infrastructure NZ team because they’ve been repeatedly communicating those messages to the government.”
The government’s recent moves to depoliticise infrastructure planning and create a unified project roadmap are a welcome step for the industry. The 30-year National Infrastructure Plan is designed to provide much-needed stability in setting infrastructure priorities, making it easier for us to plan, fund, and deliver critical projects. With the establishment of the National Infrastructure Agency in December, we expect a more streamlined approach that sets projects up for long-term success.
This shift signals a positive direction for the engineering sector, paving the way for more effective and sustainable outcomes. Success under the new plan will hinge on how we collaborate to deliver, with a strong emphasis on effective procurement, fair commercial terms, and sufficient resources.
“Maintaining consistent economic policies across political changes can attract and retain businesses, driving economic growth.” Jane Small, Director, Infrastructure & Place for Auckland Transport shared this at the recent Construction Clients Group event where Tonkin + Taylor’s team were present.
The focus on consistency in economic policy is strongly emphasised, and with plenty of work still ahead, our collective efforts will be essential to achieving lasting progress.
