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Ohakune residents demand answers after reservoir runs dry
Civil Defence

Ohakune residents demand answers after reservoir runs dry

Residents were warned too late as Ohakune's reservoir emptied, leaving businesses and households without water on a busy winter weekend.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 5 min read • Last month
'Never had anything like it' - The crisis that changed New Zealand, 10 years on
Risk & Compliance

'Never had anything like it' - The crisis that changed New Zealand, 10 years on

Ten years on, the outbreak still shapes drinking-water rules after contaminated taps sickened more than 5,500 people and killed four.

By Local Democracy Reporter • 6 min read • Last month
New Zealand unveils nine industry-led school subjects
Agricultural Technology

New Zealand unveils nine industry-led school subjects

Students in Years 12 and 13 will gain school qualifications tied to jobs and training as the government seeks to ease skills shortages.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Last month
Water New Zealand hails STEM subjects to ease skills gap
Data Analytics

Water New Zealand hails STEM subjects to ease skills gap

The sector's 10,000-worker shortfall could widen unless more students see water jobs beyond engineering, Water New Zealand says.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last month
Opportunity seeks law for New Zealand infrastructure plan
New Zealand Labour Party

Opportunity seeks law for New Zealand infrastructure plan

Long-term asset upkeep would take priority under a plan aimed at shielding New Zealand infrastructure from election-cycle politics and funding gaps.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Last month
Politicians across party lines call for end to stop-start infrastructure investment
New Zealand Labour Party

Politicians across party lines call for end to stop-start infrastructure investment

Consensus remained broad, but party MPs still clashed over who should pay for long-term works and how to curb costly overdesign.

By RNZ • 3 min read • Last month
New Zealand widens levy funding for infrastructure
Local Government

New Zealand widens levy funding for infrastructure

More housing and transport projects can now tap private finance as Parliament broadens levy-backed funding to ease council borrowing pressure.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Tue, 28th Jul 2026
Engineering enrolments rise but skills gap remains
Tertiary education

Engineering enrolments rise but skills gap remains

The rise in graduates has not kept pace with demand, as New Zealand still needs up to 2,300 extra engineers a year.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Mon, 27th Jul 2026
New Zealand report flags strain in wastewater networks
Risk & Compliance

New Zealand report flags strain in wastewater networks

Untreated discharges, leakage and ageing assets are putting public health and the environment at risk, the water watchdog says.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Mon, 27th Jul 2026
Infrastructure New Zealand says spending too costly
Local Government

Infrastructure New Zealand says spending too costly

Poor value from public works is pushing up costs for taxpayers and households as political interference and weak planning bite, the body says.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Mon, 20th Jul 2026
LISTEN to our publisher Mike Bishara on Mediawatch
Radio New Zealand

LISTEN to our publisher Mike Bishara on Mediawatch

RNZ’s Mediawatch put infrastructure coverage under the spotlight after citing Mike Bishara’s commentary on Wellington’s wastewater woes.

By Staff Writer • 2 min read • Mon, 23rd Feb 2026
Key features of a defining year
Digital twins

Key features of a defining year

A weak project pipeline is leaving firms underused and engineers heading overseas, sharpening fears of a future skills crunch in New Zealand.

By Staff Writer • 18 min read • Wed, 21st Jan 2026
Future fund would secure long-term pipeline
Local Government

Future fund would secure long-term pipeline

It could attract private capital and give infrastructure projects more certainty, if Labour’s proposed New Zealand Future Fund is designed well.

By Staff Writer • 2 min read • Mon, 8th Dec 2025
Be careful what you wish for
Public Sector

Be careful what you wish for

Councils could struggle to fund repairs and new works if planned rate caps go ahead, according to Infrastructure New Zealand.

By Staff Writer • 2 min read • Wed, 3rd Dec 2025
Plunge in business confidence
Productivity

Plunge in business confidence

Only 16 percent now have a positive outlook, as a lack of work and uncertainty threaten jobs across New Zealand's civil construction sector.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Mon, 4th Aug 2025
Should rates be based solely on land value?
Green Party

Should rates be based solely on land value?

Rates on homes and developments could fall under a land-value system, as the idea wins backing from Greens and the Taxpayers’ Union.

By Staff Writer • 5 min read • Wed, 23rd Jul 2025
Wellington deserves better water network governance
Procurement

Wellington deserves better water network governance

Ratepayers could face continued delays and higher costs unless Wellington’s water managers stop blaming others and fix governance failures, Civil Contractors New Zealand says.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Wed, 5th Mar 2025
Contractors not to blame for Wellington Water dysfunction
Supply Chain

Contractors not to blame for Wellington Water dysfunction

Blame on builders could distract from governance reforms as Wellington’s water networks face persistent failures, mounting costs and service risks.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Wed, 5th Mar 2025

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