About

Future Roads is a conference for the New Zealand roading industry, which was first held at Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton in November 2022. The first event was well received, attracting over 300 delegates. 

Waka Kotahi sponsored the inaugural event, and then Minister of Transport, Hon Michael Wood, gave the opening address. 

The annual conference is designed to attract an audience from road owners throughout New Zealand including central and local government. The conference is also supported by the engineering and infrastructure services community. 

Conference content is assembled under the guidance of an advisory panel. The key subject areas are leadership and government strategy; network futureproofing; procurement; materials; technology; sustainability; and, smart traffic signal technologies and control centres.  

The large exhibition hall hosts technology displays and equipment providers from throughout New Zealand with exhibitors ready to discuss and share their knowledge. 

Future Roads is pleased to have the support of industry associations including Infrastructure New Zealand, UDINZ, Civil Contractors New Zealand, The Signals NZ User Group (SNUG) and the Aggregate & Quarry Association. 

 

CONFERENCE CONTENT

Leadership and government strategy

  • Waka Kotahi direction and overall government policy around roading
  • government funding and financing options
  • iwi investment and partnering in roading
  • network design
  • regulation

Procurement

  • contract models
  • social procurement
  • standards and consistency
  • sustainability responsibilities – contractor or owner
  • the role of consultants and contractors
  • understanding and overcoming constraints in procurement processes

Network future-proofing

  • designing your roading network to withstand changes in climate
  • water-proofing and drainage considerations
  • re-sealing techniques
  • the question around managed retreat

Technology

  • future technologies around road construction and maintenance
  • international developments in roading technology
  • asphalt and bitumen plant technology
  • pavement design technologies
  • R & D

Materials

  • near sourcing
  • aggregate supply and specification
  • the supply of bitumen and asphalt
  • recycled materials

Smart Traffic Signal Technologies and Control Centres

  • developments in new signals technologies
  • wireless systems around cameras and radars
  • traffic monitoring and use of data

Organisers

Freeman

Freeman is an information services provider to the New Zealand corporate community, established in 2002.

It specialises in online subscription news and information services for specific business sectors, publishing a range of reports and maps, and running industry events.

Its publications include Energy News, Inside Resources and Capital Letter. Inside Resources covers the extractives sector and includes the production of roading aggregates, concrete and cement.

Other events Freeman owns and runs include the New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards, Downstream, Energy Resources Taranaki Forum, Emissions Workshop and Energy Trader Forum. 

Freeman also publishes six large, detailed industry maps, which provide an in-depth picture of the different sectors the company works with. Maps include the popular Roading Map and Quarries Map.

As a niche industry information and events organisation, Freeman is working to lower its own emissions profile and assist other organisations on the path towards a lower carbon future.