New Zealand’s urban growth system is broken and must be revised to incentivise cities to grow, an infrastructure expert maintains   City leaders must be given the flexibility and tools they need to succeed, says Stephen Selwood, CEO of Infrastructure New Zealand. Continue →

Good communications is essential for safety, but the latest Consumer NZ survey reveals some telecommunications companies aren’t getting the message Telco customers rated Vodafone last for both mobile and broadband services in Consumer NZ’s latest satisfaction survey, the same place it occupied last year. Continue →

Six Australian infrastructure projects have been announced as finalists in global software solutions provider Bentley Systems Incorporated’s Year in Infrastructure 2018 Awards programme Artist’s impression of the new bridge over Richmond River at Broadwater The annual awards programme honours the extraordinary work of Bentley software users advancing the design, construction, and operations of infrastructure throughout the world. Continue →

There are several simple steps that New Zealand could implement to achieve the goal of a low-emission economy, says Toyota New Zealand CEO Alistair Davis   The Productivity Commission’s draft on the move to a low carbon emission economy through a Zero Carbon Act is a sound report on what lies ahead. Continue →

The Productivity Commission says early action on key policy reforms is needed if New Zealand is to achieve its emissions‑reduction goals and transition to a low-emissions economy Chair of the Productivity Commission, Murray Sherwin, says that the period to 2050 will pass quickly and that delaying action is “likely to make the transition costlier and more abrupt and limit viable and cost-effective mitigation options in the future.” Amongst the numerous changes that will be required across the economy – some disruptive, some less obvious – three particular shifts must happen for New Zealand to achieve its low-emissions goals: stop burning fossil fuels and switch to using electricity and other low-emission energy sources – this means a rapid and comprehensive switch of the light vehicle fleet to electric vehicles (EVs) and other very low-emissions vehicles, and a switch away from fossil fuels in providing process heat for industry; undertake substantial levels of afforestation to offset New Zealand’s remaining emissions – this will require sustained rates of planting over the next 30 years (mostly on land currently used for sheep and beef farming), potentially approaching the highest annual rate ever recorded in New Zealand change the structure and methods of agricultural production – this will include diversification of land use towards more horticulture and cropping, and greater adoption of low-emissions practices on farms. Continue →

The Productivity Commission’s inquiry into local government funding and financing is welcome, but it is concerning to see the Terms of Reference will constrain an objective assessment of all options, says Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Stephen Selwood It is particularly disappointing that ‘asset recycling’ – the process of selling down public shareholding in one public asset in order to invest in another more valuable asset – has been precluded from the terms of reference, he adds. Continue →

Auckland Council’s Cecilia Tse won the risk management professional of the year award while the council’s risk team won the excellence in developing capability in risk management award at RiskNZ’s annual awards in Auckland Ryan McBrearty of Unison Networks won the other award for best emerging risk practitioner of the year. Continue →

Freight cost rises for a wide range of goods is inevitable says the National Road Carriers Association, the country’s leading road transport organisation “Road transport companies are under increased cost pressure from a variety of directions which will flow through to consumers,” says David Aitken, NRC’s CEO. Continue →

Will we be able to face the challenge of decoupling biogeochemical cycles Fabio Masi asks Current centralised vs. Continue →

When showing up for work, going down to the local mall, spending time in a hotel, visiting clients, going to see the doctor… are all those buildings perfectly safe and fit for purpose? Continue →