21 May

Options Review Report public release. 

In September 2025, the Minister for Infrastructure invited NZUAG to lead a review investigating options to improve the planning, delivery, and management of works in Infrastructure Corridors, with a focus on the National Code of Practice and the respective roles of government and the network infrastructure sector. The Review, as a second priority, could also identify options and recommendations to improve Corridor workflow and asset management. NZUAG engaged independent consultants Martin Jenkins to conduct the Review, assisted by engineering consultants Harrison Grierson.  We submitted their report to the Minister in February 2026, along with our own recommendations, which differ slightly from those made by the consultants. The Minister has now announced his response at the Āpōpō Congress in Hamilton, which we are pleased to note reflects NZUAG’s advice.

Recommendations

Network infrastructure is a large, highly complex system, with many independent actors, components, interactions, and downstream effects.  Such systems are difficult to reform without major intervention, and there are no silver bullets to solve all the challenges; but there are significant opportunities for improvement.  In summary, the report offers a spectrum of policy options to strengthen stewardship, compliance, and planning processes.  It recommends:

1. A revised system stewardship and regulatory model, led by MCERT and NZTA;

2. A primarily sector-based funding model;

3. Various initiatives to improve system performance;

4. And a review of these arrangements.

The board of NZUAG includes representatives from across the network infrastructure sector — corridor managers, utility operators, and contractors.  We support the broad thrust of the Review report — in particular, a centrally-led and strengthened stewardship and regulatory model, which we believe is essential for the success of the other initiatives — subject to important caveats:

1. MCERT should lead, with NZTA in support (to minimise conflicts of interest with NZTA’s roles as a Road Controlling Authority and a part-funder of local roads);

1. Any initiatives should support the holistic management of our infrastructure corridors and, where practical, a continued collaborative approach, rather than simply exercising greater roading control;

1. Sector participants have differing views on the various initiatives to improve systems performance; for example:

• The extent of stronger compliance and enforcement mechanisms, and the checks and balances therein;

• Standardisation of processes and systems versus the ability to opt in or out of any national or federated framework or to impose alternative mechanisms;

• Control and influence over future systems development and the costs imposed.

Once we have a clear indication of policy direction and leadership, these concerns can be worked through and decisions made.  Hence, we additionally recommended a strong commitment to sector engagement in the work arising from this Review.

The Government’s decision to establish MCERT accelerates the shift to a more strategic, holistic, and integrated government oversight of New Zealand’s network infrastructure system (which ideally should include all types — road, rail, water, electricity, gas, telecommunications, oil, etc. — irrespective of ownership).  The new National Policy Statements for Infrastructure reinforce that more holistic stance, and espouse general principles which should guide any implementation of the Review’s recommendations. 

Closing

The Review team consulted widely with the network infrastructure sector, and the draft report’s main points were discussed in two well-attended webinars (now available online).  We stand ready to engage with the Minister and his officials on the choices to be made, and on developing and implementing the outcomes of those choices.  We should be able to measure success through the frequency, duration, scale, and causes of planned, overdue, and unplanned works and asset strikes in the infrastructure corridors.

Jim Donovan
Independent Chair, NZUAG

16 February

 Options Review Final Report sent to Minister of Infrastructure for his consideration. The sector will be updated once we receive a response.

 

3 February

Please join us for a second webinar on Monday 9 February, where we will share emerging options and invite your feedback and questions. Key details are below:

Date & time	Monday 9 February, 12pm-1pm
Location	Online webinar, with facility for Q&A
Link	Please register for the webinar via this link
Overview	Join MartinJenkins and Harrison Grierson, on behalf of NZUAG, for a second webinar on the review into options to improve how works are planned, coordinated and recorded in our transport corridors. This webinar will share the options that have been developed in response to the identified issues. The options are being developed based on interviews with sector representatives, an industry survey, analysis of relevant data, a literature review, and international case studies. This webinar will provide an opportunity for further feedback from the broader sector. There will also be a Q&A so you can ask questions about the review and provide feedback. The session is designed for corridor managers, utility operators, contractors, and technology providers who want to help lift performance under the National Code of Practice and strengthen the institutional settings that support effective management of works and records in our Transport Corridors. The first webinar was held on 14 November and a recording can be found on the NZUAG website: https://nzuag.org.nz/news/
Key contact	If you have questions or are unable to attend but would like to view a recording, please advise Sophie Te Whaiti (sophie.tewhaiti@martinjenkins.co.nz).

15 January 2026

• Positive progress continues to be made on project
• Draft options in final stages of finalisation
• Draft Options Report due out for NZUAG Board consideration and review by end of January
• Sector Update webinar proposed for 5 February – details to come
• Final report expected to be available to send to Minister for Infrastructure late February

14 November

• As part of this project a survey is available to capture a wide range of perspectives, including from stakeholders who may not be able to attend workshops, webinars or interviews. Your input will help ensure the review reflects the experiences and needs of everyone involved in the management of works and records in our transport corridors. This is available using the following link: NZUAG Review – Improving the management of works and records in transport corridors – Fill in form

29 October update