Infrastructure 2020 – Looking Ahead

Industry leaders came together at an Infracom (Infrastructure Commission Te Waihanga) event at Beca House in Auckland today to discuss the future of infrastructure in New Zealand.

Infrastructure Minister, Hon. Shane Jones, announced a $190 million infrastructure injection into eight regions across the country. The Minister said the projects, across land, air and sea would grow the regions, modernise infrastructure and prepare for climate change.

Infracom CEO, Jon Grayson gave an update on New Zealand’s Infrastructure Pipeline, talking about the need for investment in both new and existing infrastructure.

Welcoming the pipeline, Greg Lowe, Beca CEO said, “Beca is supportive of any mechanism that encourages long-term thinking and investment to support sustainable growth and liveable cities across New Zealand. The Infrastructure Pipeline and the development of a long-term infrastructure strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand will help us to achieve a coordinated approach to infrastructure planning, a key enabler in reaching our economic potential and lifting the well-being of all New Zealanders."

Speaking on the panel, Darryl-Lee Wendelborn, Managing Director New Zealand talked about the role of infrastructure in creating safe, resilient communities. “To create successful communities over the next few decades,” she said, “we need to create infrastructure that enables people to be effective in their lives - supporting social, cultural, environmental and aesthetic demands. We need to bring together these different perspectives at a very early stage. It’s going to require very real collaboration, not just consultation.”

The audience heard from key influencers in the infrastructure space including Infracom Chair, Alan Bollard; CEO of Infrastructure New Zealand, Paul Blair; CEO of Infrastructure Victoria, Michel Masson; and Futurist Jaap Suermondt.