Shows
Infrastructure for a Better FutureA converging worldIn this episode of Infrastructure for a better future, Peter Nunns, Acting General Manager – Strategy at Te Waihanga, speaks to Professor Jim Hall, who is the incoming President of the Institute of Civil Engineers in the United Kingdom. They discuss the Commission’s work on a National Infrastructure Plan for New Zealand. Hall emphasises the importance of strategic infrastructure planning, sharing best practices, and addressing political short-termism. He also discusses the challenges of forecasting long-term infrastructure needs, the impact of climate change on infrastructure, and the necessity of prioritising resilience and adaptation.
2024-10-0725 min
When the Facts ChangeGazing into the infrastructure crystal ballAotearoa’s biggest problems are largely caused by a lack of infrastructure - housing, transport, water, hospital and education - in the areas that need it most. So how could (or should) we plan the systems that keep our country running? And who is responsible for divining the future to make decisions that can have an impact for decades to come? Bernard Hickey is joined by Peter Nunns, acting general manager of Te Waihanga NZ Infrastructure Commission, to discuss the murky business of planning infrastructure projects for an uncertain future. Learn more about your ad ch...2024-09-2632 min
Infrastructure for a Better FuturePricing our network infrastructureWe use a number of funding mechanisms to raise most of the money we need to pay for our network infrastructure services. Good infrastructure pricing is needed for efficient and sustainable infrastructure investment.
Sometimes funding approaches are obvious and connected to how much we use, like monthly electricity bills and mobile phone bills. Other times they are far less visible, like fuel excise that’s included in retail petrol prices or rates and taxes, which pay for many of the infrastructure services that we depend on.
In this episode of Infrastructure for a better future, Te...2024-07-0526 min
Infrastructure for a Better FutureUnpacking local government debtHow does local government debt finance infrastructure? What are the options and what situations should they be used? In this podcast episode, Te Waihanga Senior Communications Advisor Shelly Biswell speaks to Principal Economist Graham Campbell about our recent research that looks into if local government is debt constrained. We unpack this research and look at how local government debt options have been used in the past. We also look at constraints to these options and what they could mean for future infrastructure projects.
2024-04-3021 min
The New Zealand InitiativeAre councils debt constrained?In this episode, Eric and Nick talk to Peter Nunns and Graham Campbell from New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga. They discuss council debt and infrastructure funding and financing.2024-04-1640 min
NewsableStaff brace for TVNZ announcement on programme closure plans, David Seymour on which parents should be fined for kids truancy, the NZ company trying to help women in Gaza cope with period poverty, the scientists wanting to bring back mammoths in 3 yearsIt looks like today, staff at TVNZ will learn the outcome of consultations over the planned scrapping of One news at midday, One news tonight, current affairs shows Sunday and Fair Go and the youth focused service “Re:news.” We talk to Michael Wood, the E tū union representative involved in negotiations.We hear from David Seymour, the Associate Education Minister, about his thoughts on truancy, as plans are formulated to tackle school wagging.The NZ company which has been funded to supply some re-useable period product help to women and girls struggling to cope in Ga...2024-04-0818 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe debt rules being used to strangle NZTL;DR: My top six news items of note on the morning of Tuesday, April 2 include:* A review of council borrowing has found central Government-driven debt limits are strangling big councils’ ability to borrow to build enough infrastructure for growth, although some councils are further tightening the reins with even lower self-imposed limits and by over-playing fears of credit rating downgrades (see more detail and analysis below and in the podcast above, which includes my interview with Te Waihanga-Infrastructure Commission Director of Economics Peter Nunns);* Christopher Luxon has announced a new 97-day action plan to su...2024-04-0248 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyPublic infrastructure and service potholes under massive population pressureTL;DR: A CTU analysis of Government spending and investment has found already gaping holes in promised public services and infrastructure will widen by as much as a further $22.1 billion over the next four years if the population keeps growing at recent rates, and as the new Government screws down a real spending sinking-lid even tighter.I spoke with CTU Economist Craig Renney about the Investing in a Growing Population report released this morning. The full interview is available for all in video form above. Here’s excerpts from the report, some key charts and a...2024-03-0813 min
Infrastructure for a Better FutureBaselining the carbon impacts of educationIn this episode of Infrastructure for a better future, we look at the Carbon Neutral Government Programme, which aims to accelerate emissions reduction in the public sector. In particularly, we look at the work being undertaken by the Ministry of Education. As part of this programme, the Ministry has baselined its emissions across two and a half thousand schools and kura - no easy task. The work is just beginning, but it's already made a difference, through projects like the boiler replacement programme - which has a target to remove all coal boilers by the end of June 2025.
2024-02-1124 min
Infrastructure for a Better FutureAcross the ditch: Choosing Victoria's futurePopulation growth is one of the biggest drivers of infrastructure services. More people, means more transport connections, more housing and more jobs. Last year, Infrastructure Victoria published research titled Choosing Victoria’s future that sketches out five urban form scenarios and makes the case that when it comes to an urban footprint, we have a certain set of choices that we can make. These choices lead to different social, environmental and economic outcomes – from the dollars in your bank account, to the resting heart rate on your watch, to the amount that we collectively choose to spend on infrastructure serv...2024-01-1638 min
Infrastructure for a Better FutureBridging the diversity gapWe know that teams that reflect our communities can listen better, understand better and better engage with our communities, and together can build better more resilient
infrastructure. So why is it that only 11% of infrastructure workers identify as women? In this episode, Te Waihanga Director - Leadership Nicola Richardson speaks to Stacey Mendonça, MNZM, Senior Quantity Surveyor and Estimator at Newcrest Construction, and Co-founder of the National Association of Women in Construction, about how we bridge the diversity gap and encourage more women into the construction sector.
2023-11-0222 min
The Transformation of Value with Cody EllinghamOnce Were Builders: Learning from New Zealand’s Past to Develop Better Infrastructure with Dr Matthew BirchallI talk with Dr Matthew Birchall, a Research Fellow at The New Zealand Initiative.
The New Zealand Initiative is a policy think tank conducting independent research on a wide range of issues. They interface with policymakers across the political spectrum, the business community, media, academics, and the public.
Matthew wrote a report titled “Paving the Wave: Learning from New Zealand past to Build a Better Future.” The report explores how the country effectively tackled infrastructure projects in the past, and offers guidance on how the country can rediscover this talent.
Topics we look at in...2023-10-061h 10
Infrastructure for a Better FutureShared resilience and Māori communitiesHow are researchers currently seeking to understand the role that indigenous communities play in infrastructure development including post-disaster recovery? How has engineering teaching changed to consider these issues?
As part of our research into Māori engagement in infrastructure, Clare Sinnott, Writer and Researcher at Te Waihanga spoke to Dr Matthew Hughes, Senior Lecturer - Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at University of Canterbury about shared resilience and Māori communities.
2023-10-0229 min
Infrastructure for a Better FutureIs our critical infrastructure vulnerable?Is our critical infrastructure vulnerable? What does New Zealand need to do to ensure that it has the planning capabilities to effectively deal with natural disasters and other events when they occur?
In this episode, Te Waihanga Senior Communications Advisor Simon Thomas speaks to Chair of the New Zealand Lifelines Council Roger Fairclough about the Council's recent Critical Infrastructure National Vulnerability Assessment. Roger spoke about how communities and the infrastructure sector can do more to prepare for events that impact on the delivery of infrastructure and how the interdependence of infrastructure supply means that planning is more...2023-09-1423 min
Infrastructure for a Better FutureTaking the long view – a tale of two bridgesMuch of the infrastructure we build today will still be in use a century from now. Would we make better infrastructure decisions if we thought more about the long term?
2023-08-2123 min
Infrastructure for a Better FuturePlanning for an uncertain futureThe future is uncertain. While we can do our best to predict what will happen next month, next year, or fifty years from now, we can’t be sure what will actually happen.
In this episode, Te Waihanga Senior Economist Nadine Dodge catch up with Brad Singh, to learn about how the transport team at Wellington City Council is dealing with uncertainty in their business. Brad talked about many sources of uncertainty – from climate change to labour supply to aggregate availability – and what we can do in the face of uncertainty to plan for future generations.
2023-08-0925 min
Infrastructure for a Better FutureThinking ahead: Protecting land for infrastructureWhile the future is uncertain, when done well, corridor protection – designating or acquiring land for infrastructure in advance of when it’s needed – can have benefits for day and tomorrow. In this episode of ‘Infrastructure for a better future’, Nadine Dodge, Senior Economist – Strategy at Te Waihanga talks with KiwiRail representatives David Gordon, Capital Planning and Asset Development Officer, and Marija Batistich, Senior Corporate Counsel, about how corridor protection works in practice for KiwiRail.
Corridor protection is discussed in one of our recent reports, ‘Protecting land for infrastructure: How to make good decisions when we aren’t certain about th...2023-07-1317 min
Tātai Aho Rau Core EducationWhat Matariki Means To Me - Jamie TaylorIn our latest podcast Content Developer – Te Aho Māori | Waihanga / Kaihuawaere Ngaio Māori, Jamie Taylor explores how she learnt to celebrate Matariki - from the first time she witness Matariki rising, to how her and her whānau now choose to celebrate the occasion.2023-07-0710 min
Infrastructure for a Better FutureA global view of infrastructure project costsLarge-scale and complex infrastructure projects, often take longer and cost more than expected, but some places seem to get better results than others. In our latest podcast, we take a global view of infrastructure project costs and why certain places are better at delivering infrastructure on time and in budget.
Peter Nunns Director - Economics at Te Waihanga speaks to Dr. Eric Goldwyn from New York University and the Transit Costs Project, and Liz Innes, Director - Investment and Reviews at Te Waihanga, to take a deeper look into global infrastructure costs.
This sits alongside...2023-05-1128 min
Infrastructure for a Better FutureStormwater and resilienceTe Waihanga Principal Advisor - Strategy, Nik Green recently spoke to Senior Advisor - Delivery Christian Gamst about stormwater and resilience. This is part of our work to understand the severity of the January 2023 Auckland Anniversary weekend storm resulting in stormwater flooding in Auckland, the impact of the storm on Auckland’s infrastructure and the issues or weaknesses this event has raised about stormwater management and our infrastructure system.
This sits alongside our report, The 2023 Auckland Anniversary weekend storm: An initial assessment and implications for the infrastructure system.
2023-05-0316 min
Infrastructure for a Better FutureMore than a labour of loveWe need our cities to be attractive and inclusive places to live. An important aspect of achieving this is by ensuring our infrastructure services are accessible to everyone. Two Auckland Transport advisory groups – the Public Transport Advisory Group (PTAG) and the Capital Project Advisory Group (CTAG) have been true catalysts for change and have been at the forefront of making Auckland's transport network work for all. Jane Godfrey, Senior Advisor - Strategy at Te Waihanga spoke to Alison McLellan, former representative for Headway, the Brain Injury Association Auckland, and Chris Orr, former representative for Blind Low Vision New Zealand ab...2023-03-2821 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeySlow consenting could create $16b climate liability by 2050TLDR: Now we have a climate liability number to measure the potential failure of the RMA reforms with. Along with housing affordability effects, I think it’s the lens through which we should assess all our big decisions and changes.A damning and detailed report by Sapere for the Infrastructure Commission (Te Waihanga) on the RMA reforms was released this morning. Sapere forecast the expected delays in the new system could block projects responsible for up to 34% of the emissions reduction needed to hit our net zero targets by 2050. It estimated that meant Aotearoa faced climate liabilities wo...2023-03-1707 min
Infrastructure for a Better FutureThe climate cost of consentingA recent report commissioned by Te Waihanga looks at how and why the consenting system needs to change for Aotearoa to deliver on it's net-zero targets. Sapere Research Group completed the research.
Ross Copland, Chief Executive at Te Waihanga spoke to Corina Comendant, Senior Managing Economist at Sapere about the findings of the report.
2023-03-1621 min
Infrastructure for a Better FutureInfrastructure in a complex worldA changing macro-economic and geopolitical environment can act as either a headwind or tailwind to better infrastructure. In this complex world how does Aotearoa New Zealand make sure it can deliver successful infrastructure projects? How, and to what, do we shift our priorities as a small country at the bottom of the pacific? How do we compete for the talent we need to produce world-class infrastructure?
Geoff Cooper, General Manager - Strategy at Te Waihanga, speaks to David Skilling, Director at Landfall Strategy Group, about these questions and more.
2023-02-2127 min
Infrastructure for a Better FutureBenchmarking the Cost of InfrastructureTo solve New Zealand's infrastructure challenges we need to deliver quality infrastructure at an affordable price. So, how much does it cost to build infrastructure in New Zealand? And how do we compare with other high-income countries? That's the subject of a report that we published last month, entitled ‘The lay of the land: Benchmarking New Zealand's infrastructure delivery costs’. In our report, we draw on research from Oxford Global Projects, who provide expert advice on infrastructure project management and benchmarking around the world. In this episode we're joined by Andreas Leed and Dirk Pöker from Oxford Global Proje...2023-01-2328 min
Infrastructure for a Better FutureManaging an award winning projectEarlier in 2022, a culvert replacement project won the award for Excellence in Environment and Sustainability, Best Public Works Project ($2–5 million) and Supreme Asset Management Excellence at the 2022 IPWEA (Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia) New Zealand Asset Management Excellence Awards. At first glance, it might be hard to understand how a culvert replacement project could attract so much interest, but this project highlights the important connection our infrastructure has with our people and places, how important it can be to get infrastructure right for its place, the environment surrounding it, and the people who use that environment. Blake Lepper, Ge...2022-12-0520 min
Infrastructure for a Better FutureIs our construction sector productive?A recent report by Te Waihanga highlights the importance of productivity growth in reducing construction costs and addressing workforce demands. In this episode, the authors of the report, Hannah Ouellet Economist (secondment) and Peter Nunns Director of Economics, discuss their findings.
Read the report
2022-10-2124 min
Auckland Writers FestivalTHE VISIONARIES – OPPORTUNITY OR THREAT: CHARTERS & RURU (2022)In 2010, the National Government signed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, joining more than 140 other countries; in 2019 the Labour Government set up a working group tasked with creating a plan to realise that commitment. The result is He Puapua, a discussion document whose title refers to the break between waves and evokes the concept of a disruption to political and legislative norms. Within days, it would become a political football, with some demanding a “national conversation”. So let’s talk. Is this an opportunity or a threat for the country? Working group members, writers and lawyers Claire Charte...2022-10-071h 01
Infrastructure for a Better FutureCongestion Charging in StockholmIn episode two of our Infrastructure for a better future series we look to Stockholm. Stockholm was one of the first cities in the world to implement a congestion charge to reduce its traffic – and it worked. Following implementation of the charge, traffic was reduced by 20% and congestion by 30% to 50%. Not only that, but public perception of the charge swung markedly in its favour after a well thought out trial.
Geoff Cooper, General Manager – Strategy at Te Waihanga, spoke to Gustaf Landahl, former Head of Department – Environment and Health Administration in Stockholm, about how the city took decisi...2022-08-1726 min
Infrastructure for a Better FutureHealth InfrastructureYears of underinvestment in hospitals and other public health facilities mean that many are no longer fit for purpose. Health reforms offer an unprecedented opportunity to deliver a step change in how we plan and deliver health infrastructure. Recommendations from a recent health infrastructure report by Robert Rust show just how to do this. Robert recently visited New Zealand and Te Waihanga asked him to unpack some of his findings.
2022-07-1314 min
The HoonThe weekly hoon with Peter BaleTDLR: This is a podcast of the live weekly ‘hoon’ webinar I do with Peter Bale most Friday afternoons for paid subscribers. This week we spoke about the wealth tax debate, National’s rise above Labour in the polls, the scale of our infrastructure deficit and what’s being done about it, what a higher debt ceiling means and how the war in Ukraine is going. Here’s more detail on what we talked about here:* Te Waihanga’s estimate of our infrastructure deficit and how much more we’d need to build to cope with future po...2022-05-0959 minThe Kākā by Bernard HickeyThe weekly hoon with Peter BaleTDLR: This is a podcast of the live weekly ‘hoon’ webinar I do with Peter Bale most Friday afternoons for paid subscribers. This week we spoke about the wealth tax debate, National’s rise above Labour in the polls, the scale of our infrastructure deficit and what’s being done about it, what a higher debt ceiling means and how the war in Ukraine is going. Here’s more detail on what we talked about here:* Te Waihanga’s estimate of our infrastructure deficit and how much more we’d need to build to cope with future po...2022-05-0959 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyA hoon of gallery wonks with Thomas CoughlanTLDR: Bernard Hickey and the NZ Herald’s senior political reporter Thomas Coughlan talk through the events in the political economy this week in the podcast above, including closer looks at:* Te Waihanga’s estimate of our infrastructure deficit and how much more we’d need to build to cope with future population growth, improve our water quality and prepare for climate change ($1t in today’s money over 30 years or a doubling of investment to 10%/GDP per year);* Finance Minister Grant Robertson’s response that such a doubling was not financially or politically possible, and that w...2022-05-0633 min
The Kākā by Bernard HickeyInside our housing supply catastropheTLDR: A research paper from the Te Waihanga (The Infrastructure Commission) has estimated house prices rose 69% more than they would have done if councils had not down-zoned both close to city centres and on the fringes over the 1970s and 1980s to allow fewer houses to built.Insufficient investment in transport infrastructure over the last 30 years also slowed traffic and commuting speeds from the 1990s onwards, which increased demand for homes closer to the city centre just as the number of new homes close to the centre was broadly frozen.This is an updated and...2022-04-0616 min
Master Builders Elevate: Building a Better BusinessMBE 51 Jason Hungerford, Director BCITO, discusses the reform of vocational education with BCITO and Te Pūkenga WBLIn this month's podcast episode, Ryan talks to Jason Hungerford, Director at BCITO, who has played a significant role in BCITO’s Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) transition.BCITO is the largest provider of construction trade apprenticeships in New Zealand. Recently, under the Government’s Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) the work BCITO does to arrange, support and assess work-based training (apprenticeships, traineeships and micro-credentials) has been transferred to Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning Ltd (WBL), which is a subsidiary of Te Pūkenga. With the qualification standard-setting functions being transferred to a new entity called Waihan...2021-11-2525 min