Challenges in transport and logistics over the next decade
The CILT Annual Forum, held after the Awards Dinner in Wellington, brought together industry leaders, analysts, and policymakers to examine how transport and logistics can “make it happen” in the decade ahead. Sponsored by MITO and hosted at the Ministry of Transport, the afternoon moved with the steady rhythm of a sector taking stock, linking workforce development, infrastructure planning, and supply chain productivity into a single conversation about capability and readiness.
Central Section Chair Andrew Body opened the forum, before handing to Sturrock Saunders, Chair of MITO. Mr Saunders framed the day’s first discussion by reflecting on the April decision to disestablish Te Pūkenga, an intervention he described as an opportunity for MITO to return to industry ownership and regain the agility needed to respond to shifting skill requirements and technological change. With transport and logistics facing escalating pressures on capability, he underscored MITO’s commitment to partnering closely with industry to shape training pathways that match real-world demands.
Phil Urlich of MITO then guided the room toward the forum’s two central themes: infrastructure and supply chain productivity. He introduced a panel tasked with examining what a future-ready workforce should look like by 2035, and how targeted training, qualifications, and industry partnerships could support it.
Rob Hayes of Infometrics set the analytical foundation. He charted demographic, technological, and economic trends likely to shape the sector, noting that provincial regions and the South Island may lead short-term recovery. Opportunities, he argued, will come from greater diversity, more flexible training systems, deeper engagement with schools and technical education providers, and the increasing influence of digitisation, climate adaptation, freight growth, and tourism recovery. Yet the longer-term picture remains tempered by labour constraints, cost escalation, global volatility, and the restructuring of supply chains. These themes threaded through the contributions of fellow panellists Dallas Vince (Booths), Henry Boon (Toyota), James Smith (Road Carriers Association), and Wendy Morrison (Tranzit), each highlighting priorities specific to their operational contexts.
A second panel, introduced by Andrew Body, shifted attention toward infrastructure planning and investment. Robbie Woods outlined the progress of Te Utanganui, a major development near Palmerston North designed to strengthen national freight connectivity and unlock regional potential. His presentation reflected the hub’s strategic significance, previously explored in depth in the September issue.
KiwiRail’s Walter Rushbrook followed with an update on electrifying the Golden Triangle rail corridor, highlighting how decarbonisation is reshaping long-term rail planning.
Nadine Dodge of the Infrastructure Commission then brought a macro lens to the sector, presenting insights from the Infrastructure Priorities Programme (IPP). She noted that nearly $80 billion worth of major initiatives remain without identified funding, $65 billion of them transport related. The IPP, she explained, is designed to offer a disciplined, transparent framework for assessing projects so decision-makers can avoid common pitfalls: unclear problem definitions, costly or inefficient solutions, inadequate options analysis, and projects not being as delivery-ready as proponents believe.
NZTA’s Emma Speight provided a practical grounding by walking the audience through key roading projects across the Lower North Island. Her update spanned programmes already delivered, projects under construction, and major works still undergoing consultation or consent processes, from the Ōtaki to north of Levin corridor to improvements through Wellington city. Together, the briefings painted a picture of a region where strategic investments in roading, safety, resilience, and connectivity must contend with tight funding, rising costs, and high public expectations.
The forum’s final panel (chaired by CILT President Suhail Sequeira) returned to the question of productivity and how New Zealand might strengthen performance across supply chains. Speakers Wayne Johnson (ContainerCo), Marian Willberg (Ministry of Transport), Dom Kalasih (Transporting NZ), Andrew Locke (CentrePort), and Alan Piper (KiwiRail) contributed a spectrum of practical and policy perspectives.
Chris Money of EY provided the panel’s anchor presentation on supply chain efficiency. He highlighted five persistent challenges: New Zealand’s distance to markets, low capital intensity, an ageing and highly competitive labour market, rising input costs, and the increasing weight of sustainability obligations, including (embedded) Scope 3 emissions. His analysis, set to feature in more detail in the next issue, framed productivity not merely as an economic measure but as a central determinant of resilience and competitiveness in turbulent global conditions.
Across the afternoon, a narrative emerged: transport and logistics in New Zealand stand at a critical junction where workforce capacity, infrastructure decisions, and supply chain design must intersect rather than evolve in silos. The forum created a space where industry and government could not only surface challenges but also identify the interdependencies that will shape the next decade.
This conversation continued into the evening at the CILT Annual Awards Dinner, Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court, and Andy Foster, Chair of the Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee, signals of the political weight placed on this sector’s performance.
Suhail Sequeira summed up the Forum:
“The 2025 CILT NZ Forum brought together leaders from across the transport, logistics, and supply chain industry for a day of valuable insights, honest conversations, and forward-thinking solutions. With expert presentations and engaging panel discussions, the event highlighted the challenges facing our industry and the opportunities we can collectively unlock. The strong turnout and positive energy reinforced the industry’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and lifting capability across New Zealand. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making the Forum a standout success.”
