All articles by James Paul

New Zealand’s infrastructure investment decisions are about to face a more rigorous and independent test before the money is committed. Cabinet has approved significant changes to the country’s Investment Management System, transferring external assurance responsibility from Treasury to the Infrastructure Commission from 1 November 2026.

New Zealand’s fuel crisis has done something years of industry lobbying could not: force the pace on heavy vehicle rules that operators have long argued are holding back productivity.

Over the past 18 months, TAIC has published or opened investigations involving runaway wagons at a port, two ferry groundings, a foreign ship that lost power twice in New Zealand waters, and a near miss between a freight train and track workers in Dunedin. Taken individually, each is a safety incident with its own circumstances. The pattern they form together is worth examining: not what went wrong in each case, but the conditions that allowed it to.

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On 5 April 2025, New Zealand’s aviation regulatory landscape underwent its most significant transformation in over three decades. The Civil Aviation Act 2023 (the 2023 Act) replaced the Civil Aviation Act 1990 (the 1990 Act), streamlining outdated legislation while expanding regulatory tools to address the realities of 21st-century aviation, from drone regulation and airport master planning to climate change and safety-sensitive operations.

The logistics sector has long balanced on the tightrope between rugged operational reality and fast-moving technological possibility. But in 2025, the signals are clear: successful logistics operators are turning to technology not just to keep up, but to get ahead.

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Making it easier to build critical infrastructure is the Government’s aim in reviewing the Public Works Act 1981 (PWA), with proposed amendments progressing through Cabinet since late 2024.

The Ministry of Transport has launched a new report, the Transport Network Performance Report, providing a comprehensive picture of how Aotearoa New Zealand’s air, road, rail, port and public transport networks are performing at a national level.

IKEA New Zealand has officially opened their external warehouse at The Landing Business Park, Māngere, following a blessing of the building by Te Ākitai Waiohua. The 20,000 square-metre warehouse, designed and built by Auckland Airport, will ensure IKEA products can be stored locally for countrywide distribution via the IKEA Sylvia Park store.

Touted as a one-stop shop, the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill was introduced under urgency in March 2024 to try and establish a permanent regime that streamlines the approval process for infrastructure and development projects of significant regional or national importance.

New Zealand’s approach to road construction has long been dominated by asphalt, but as infrastructure demands evolve, the question of long-term cost-effectiveness and sustainability has become increasingly pressing. Recognising the need for a thorough analysis of concrete pavement as an alternative, Concrete NZ commissioned Infometrics Ltd to reassess the case for concrete roads.

The proposal includes constructing new infrastructure to enhance the trail’s appeal and accessibility. “We’re aiming to create one of the largest cycleways in New Zealand,” Mr Kirton says, “attracting year-round tourism, generating jobs and boosting local businesses.”

The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission’s latest report, Taking Care of Tomorrow Today: Asset Management State of Play, shines a spotlight on the challenges and opportunities in managing New Zealand’s aging infrastructure.

Drowsy driving has long been a silent threat on the roads, responsible for countless accidents and near-misses worldwide.