Programme - day two 2025

REGISTRATION, TEA AND COFFEE

TRADE EXHIBITION OPEN

DAY TWO WELCOME FROM THE MC AND RE-CAP DAY ONE

USING AI IN ROADING APPLICATIONS

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) AS THE CO-ENGINEER: ENABLING TRANSPORT SYSTEM PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH AI-ENHANCED ASSET MANAGEMENT

As road networks grow more complex and funding pressures intensify, the need for smarter, data-driven asset management has never been greater. Auckland Transport is leveraging AI to transform how its transport network is monitored, maintained, and optimised. Discover the tools, the data, and the thinking behind a new era of asset management:

• how Auckland Transport is using AI to enhance asset condition assessment, predictive maintenance, and lifecycle planning
• the integration of AI tools with geospatial data, sensor networks, and historical performance records
• early results from pilot programs and what they reveal about cost savings, risk reduction, and service improvements
• the cultural and organisational shifts needed to embed AI into everyday decision-making
• how you can right-size the use of AI for your organisation

Myles Lind – chief engineer, Auckland Transport

IMPLEMENTING AI IN ROADING MAINTENANCE

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept—it’s a practical tool councils can use today to transform how they manage and maintain roading infrastructure. This session from EY Parthenon offers a strategic roadmap for implementing AI in roading maintenance, from foundational frameworks to real-world applications.

• AI implementation frameworks tailored for infrastructure and asset-heavy organisations.
• opportunities for councils to leverage AI for predictive maintenance, lifecycle cost optimisation, and risk-based asset prioritisation.
• key steps in the AI adoption journey, including data readiness, stakeholder engagement, and integration with existing asset management systems
• opportunities for cross-council collaboration to drive costs down
• a case study on EY’s Space Tech platform, which uses satellite imagery and machine learning to monitor land movement, vegetation encroachment, and asset condition at scale. Learn how Watercare trialled this technology to enhance visibility across its network—and how similar approaches can be applied to roading assets

Chris Money – NZ economics lead, EY Parthenon

MAINTENANCE. ASSET MANAGEMENT

THE ROAD LESS MAINTAINED: RETHINKING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES

New Zealand’s infrastructure challenges are not a secret—but what’s less discussed is the quiet crisis unfolding beneath our wheels. Despite billions in capital investment, road maintenance has lagged, leading to deteriorating networks, rising repair costs, and growing safety concerns.

Historically, our road networks were fully funded through user charges (for example, through fuel excise duty and road user charges). Over the last decade, however, spending on land transport has significantly exceeded current revenues from user charges. Crown grants and loans, plus long-term borrowing like public-private partnerships, have filled the gap.

So, is our land transport system at a crossroads?

Peter Nunns – general manager – strategy, New Zealand Infrastructure Commission

INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER: BRIDGING THE GAP – ALIGNING ASSET MANAGEMENT WITH LONG-TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING

Effective transport infrastructure requires strategic long-term investment, yet many asset management plans fail to align with the financial planning task. This misalignment leads to funding gaps, deferred maintenance, increased life cycle costs, and reactive decision-making, jeopardising asset sustainability and service reliability.

This presentation explores the what, why, and how of asset-financial misalignment, focusing on key structural, financial, and data-related barriers. It highlights best practices for integrating asset renewal forecasts with financial models, leveraging predictive analytics, and fostering cross-department collaboration.

A real-world case study will illustrate how a transport authority overcame misalignment by shifting to an integrated planning approach. The results: improved funding predictability, extended asset lifespans, and cost savings.

• understanding the risks of misalignment in asset and financial planning
• best practices for integrating asset condition data with financial forecasting
• lessons from a case study on achieving better funding and maintenance outcomes
• actionable steps for implementing smarter planning frameworks in transport agencies

Steve Verity – principal advisor asset management, IPWEA  Australia

MORNING TEA AND NETWORKING

ROUND TABLES

Main Plenary

EXHIBITION HALL PRESENTATIONS

Expo Theatre 1

INTRODUCTION FROM THE MC AROUND HOW THE ROUND TABLES WORK

INTRODUCTION FROM THE CHAIR

THE GROUND LEVEL ALLIANCE - SUSTAINABILITY IN CIVIL CONSTRUCTION 

How to make sustainability a daily practice and how this can help your organisation’s bottom line. 

Robin Power – founding chair, The Ground Level Alliance

ROAD MARKING CONTRACT ADVICE FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES

A discussion around contract term, inclusions and rollover options for road marking services. 
How these should be considered alongside other service providers, and how to effectively engage your road marking
contractor.

Bruce Goodall – general manager, New Zealand Roadmarking Federation

PANEL DISCUSSION: TTM - CLARITY AROUND THE RISK-BASED APPROACH AND HOW FUNDING IS LINKED TO ADOPTION

Temporary Traffic Management (TTM) practices are expected to have transitioned to the new risk-based approach by 2026.

Councils and contractors that adopt the risk-based approach and demonstrate alignment with government priorities are more likely to receive support through the National Land Transport Fund, especially when their investment proposals reflect fit-for-purpose planning and value for money. 

• who has adopted it thus far and what have the findings been 
• training available 
• procurement advice 

Andrew Clark – NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

Darren Wu – TTM Industry Steering Group

Tony Bonetti – Co-Lab

more panelists to be confirmed
session description to be revised
 

EXCESS SOIL DISPOSAL: EXCESSIVE COST?!

Excavating soils to landfill can cost hundreds of dollars a tonne. Yet it is happening at a huge scale: soil is now 45 % of waste going to our major municipal landfills and 78 % of waste going to our construction and demolition landfills. Excessive soil disposal costs are project killers and in many cases soil disposal is an unnecessary waste of money, time, landfill space and road space, which could be avoided by better planning, design and management. We discuss issues such as:

• getting a grip on soil contaminant levels and regulatory settings
• designing and planning for soil retention
• pushing for local and national change

Dave Bull – director, site contamination specialist, HAIL Environmental

Fraser May – communications and advocacy manager, Civil Contractors New Zealand

KEEPING THE CONNECTIONS: FUNDING LOCAL ROADS AND BRIDGES IN A CHALLENGING CLIMATE

Local councils are on the front line managing vast roading networks with limited funds, ageing infrastructure, and increasing pressure from more intense weather events. As bridges age, low-volume roads erode, and renewals outpace budgets, councils are grappling with difficult decisions: How do we fund resilient infrastructure amid constrained rates and shifting population dynamics? And when, if ever, is it time to say that maintaining access is no longer viable?

This roundtable will explore practical and policy solutions from funding reform to prioritisation frameworks and ask the tough questions about the future of local connectivity in a climate-challenged world.

Michelle McCormick – policy director, Infrastructure New Zealand

PROMISES REGISTERS FOR COUNCIL ROADING CONTRACTS  

Promises Registers are being hailed as the holy grail to address the disjoint between procurement and contract management. Too often, what is promised in tender responses has not been monitored or managed, (and sometimes not delivered!) by the successful contractor.  But there’s a gap between this emerging practice and the ideal solution. This roundtable discussion will explore:

• what issues should Promises Registers address? 
• how will they work – what inputs are needed, what process must be followed, what outputs are expected?
• what issues might constrain success – for client agencies? For contractors? 
• how can those issues be resolved and what are the next steps towards implementation?

Caroline Boot – director, NZ Procurement and Probity Services

UNDERSTANDING THE NEW M/3 SUB-BASE SPEC

The development of M/3 has continued with the introduction of classes of aggregates. In the absence of a clear national specification many councils have developed their own. Quarries may look to adapt to the additional requirements where asset owners’ specifications are different.

• how asset owners should specify sub-base aggregate
• what does this mean for aggregate supply

Stacy Goldsworthy – customer solutions manager, HIWAY Group

AI-POWERED FOOTPATH CONDITION MONITORING AT CHRISTCHURCH CITY

• deployment of two footpath buggies equipped with mobile devices running the Vaisala Road AI app
• video capture and automated condition rating of over 1,200 km of footpaths in the Christchurch City Council contract area
• integrated outputs into the AWM Footpath Condition UDT
• benefits for proactive maintenance, renewal planning, and funding support

Carol Ma – national maintenance assets lead, HEB Construction

3D PREDICTIVE TOOL PROGRESS

This Round Table is a follow-on from the Day One presentation - CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL: DE-RISKING ROADING PROJECTS THROUGH HOLISTIC DATA MODELLING AND MANAGEMENT

David Edge – team leader transport asset management, Christchurch City Council

WE CAN DELIVER WORLD CLASS ROADING PROJECTS IN NEW ZEALAND

Delivery of world class roading infrastructure, on time, on budget and meeting environmental expectations is possible and deliverable in New Zealand. What we need to do is strip out current specification, resource management and regulatory requirements that add no value to these projects and constrain contractors and suppliers from delivering projects productively.

This is not just excessive road cones and political rhetoric but working out what actually delivers good road projects. This presentation will give some examples of where current specifications and requirements constrain innovation and productivity, adding unnecessary cost and time.

Wayne Scott – chief executive, Aggregate & Quarry Association

UNDERSTANDING LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENTS OF ROADING CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS 

Life cycle assessments (LCAs) of construction materials took a lift in the last year. The Aggregate and Quarry Association (AQA) commissioned a LCA for the New Zealand aggregate and sand products sector, delivering an average carbon footprint. The AQA is now offering low-cost LCAs to quarry companies. This will make it easier for the roading industry to work out the carbon footprint of their input products, and for those seeking a sustainability edge to their business.

Bernie Napp – director, Prospect Consulting

CARBON ACCOUNTING FOR ROADING PROJECTS 

• what are the different types of emissions to consider in roading projects
• how did AT set its embodied emissions target, report embodied carbon for roading and infrastructure projects, and use these for climate financial disclosures or other reporting
• how to engage contractors to obtain data for Scope 3 reporting
• what are Green Bonds and Sustainability Linked Loans, and can they be used to fund public transport and roading

Dr Manoj Pokhrel – principal energy & emissions specialist, Auckland Transport

Sandra Murray – manager – climate transition, Auckland Transport

NETWORKING LUNCH IN THE EXHIBITION HALL

STATE HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE IN THE IDM ERA: AN UPDATE 

Fourteen new maintenance contracts will be announced by year-end in the rollout of NZTA’s new Integrated Delivery Model (IDM) - the most significant change in road maintenance procurement since early last decade. Is the sector ready to meet ambitious targets for resealing, rehabilitation, and drainage maintenance? 

• how did the contestable funding trial work and what are the next steps here 
• professional services tenders including road marking and street lighting 
• full road maintenance closures: lessons learned from the bold Desert Road closure and an update on phase 2 – what's next? 

Andrew Clark – national manager maintenance and operations, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

FOCUS ON COST AND PERFORMANCE: LEARNINGS FROM A SUCCESSFUL PERIOD OF PROJECT DELIVERY

Auckland Transport is setting a new benchmark in infrastructure delivery—bringing roading projects in ahead of time, under budget, and without litigation.

This session explores how AT has achieved this through a disciplined and innovative approach to contracting and delivery. Including:

• strategic use of NZS 3910 and NZS 3917 contract models and road maintenance partnerships
• appropriate use of PPPs, Alliances, Incentivised Target Cost, and ECI contract models 

Murray Burt – director of infrastructure, Auckland Transport

THE NEXT GENERATION: YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND THE FUTURE OF THE SECTOR 

As the roading sector faces mounting challenges — from climate resilience to funding pressures — one of the most urgent is talent. How can the industry attract, retain, and empower the next generation of leaders? 

This dynamic youth leadership panel brings together early-career professionals, apprentices, and rising stars in the New Zealand roading and transport sector to explore what it takes to make the industry a destination of choice for young talent. 

• are young people choosing roading over competing sectors like tech, construction, and the environment — and why or why not? 
• what career pathways exist for school leavers, graduates, and tradespeople — and are they visible enough? 
• diversity and inclusion and the next generation of workers 
• how can employers better support training, mentoring, and professional development? 
• the uptake of technology and the use of AI 

Jack Whittle – Isaac Construction
Vi Hausia – Auckland System Management
Kylie Wech – Higgins
Fatima Leung-Wai – Auckland Transport
Facilitator:
Rebecca Fox – Civil Contractors New Zealand

PRIZE DRAWS

CONFERENCE WRAP-UP AND CLOSE