Transport, including electric modes, takes up much of the annual Infrastructure New Zealand Building Nations Symposium on August 16 and 17 at the ANZ Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland.
“With over 600 registered delegates, this is our largest ever conference and couldn’t come at a more important time for an industry experiencing a mix of ups and downs,” Infrastructure NZ chief executive Stephen Selwood says.
Representatives from central and local government, infrastructure operators and contractors, investors and professional service providers who make up the infrastructure sector will hear from prime minister Jacinda Ardern, four ministers, opposition leader Simon Bridges, three mayors and deputy mayors and more.
Others include China’s New Zealand ambassador Xi Wu, the United Kingdom’s investment minister Graham Stuart, seven other international speakers and more than 30 sector leaders.
“Industry will be looking to the very strong Government contingent to give confidence to the path ahead,” Selwood says.
“Infrastructure funding and financing, regional and urban transport and development, infrastructure capability and reform of planning and water are all key issues for the sector, so presentations from ministers (Grant) Robertson, (Phil) Twyford, (Shane) Jones and (Nanaia) Mahuta will be keenly observed.
“We are privileged to have a number of government infrastructure body leaders over from Australia and the UK to discuss how specialised procurement and strategic infrastructure planning capability can improve public investment.
“Tackling Auckland’s growth crisis, most notably congestion and the housing crisis, is a key topic for delegates, both as residents and as employers finding it challenging to attract and retain staff. Presentations from the Auckland Council and Ministry of Transport provide an opportunity to demonstrate how authorities are addressing key public concerns.”
Policy priorities, including rail roll-out, transport funding, construction productivity and procurement, technology and governance reform will all be discussed.
“This is our largest ever programme and our biggest ever event, a sign that infrastructure remains the outstanding priority for New Zealand,” Selwood says.
