Finalists Named For NZ's Peak Infrastructure Construction Awards
The finalists for the 2025 Civil Contractors New Zealand Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards have been announced, with awards to be presented on the big stage during the Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards Dinner at Mercury Baypark in Tauranga on Friday 25 July August as part of CCNZ National Conference.
The entries are documented in an awards book, which features the work New Zealand's civil infrastructure construction contractors have put in to deliver great outcomes for their communities in the form of new roads, water systems, wharves, airport runways and more.
CCNZ Chief Executive Alan Pollard congratulated the finalists on their outstanding achievements in constructing and maintaining the country's vital infrastructure.
'All this year's finalists and their local communities should be proud of the amazing infrastructure their hard work has created. Their efforts have made a huge difference, ensuring transport networks, ports and airports are open for business, properties are protected, assets are maintained and communities have access to power and clean water.'
Expert judges tour projects nominated for the awards each year to assess their performance, as well as reviewing comprehensive information provided by entrants. This year, 37 exceptional finalists have been announced from 63 outstanding entries.
Tickets for the awards dinner are available at The Civil Contractors Conference website. First presented in 1978, the CCNZ Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards represent the pinnacle achievements of New Zealand's civil infrastructure construction industry. Winners are awarded with carved Toki for their work each year.
The CCNZ Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards Book for more information on the entries and finalists. The awards book is available for download from the CCNZ website.
And the finalists are:
Category 1 – Projects up to $2m
Bridge It NZ – Tukemokihi Station 50m bridge (Hawke's Bay)
Cassidy Construction – Upper Nihotupu Headworks (Auckland)
Fulton Hogan – Masterton District Council Post Cyclone Road Repairs (Wairarapa)
Geovert – Lennel Road Slope Stabilisation (Wellington)
HEB Construction – Bridge 57 Pier Wash Out (Canterbury)
Pipeline & Civil – Auckland Harbour Bridge 90 Degree Bend Pipe Replacement (Auckland)
Category 2 – Projects between $2m and $5m
Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure – Fish Passage Pumps Churchill East Pumpstation Construction (Waikato)
Brian Perry Civil – Te Ara Tupua Reef – Precast supply and install (Wellington)
Geovert – Brynderwyns Slope Stabilisation and Resilience Project (Northland)
Isaac Construction – Aldwins-Ensors-Ferry roads Intersection Upgrade (Christchurch)
McConnell Dowell – Waikouaiti Water Treatment Plant Intake Upgrade (Otago)
Utilities Infrastructure New Zealand – Scruttons Road Pipeline (Christchurch)
Category 3 – Projects between $5m and $20m
Brian Perry Civil – Project Burgundy (Taupō)
Brian Perry Civil – Matiu Soames Island Wharf Replacement (Wellington)
CB Civil & Drainage – Kahika Rising Main & Diversions (Auckland)
G.P Friel – Taranaki St Wastewater Rising Main Upgrade (Wellington)
HEB Construction – Wynyard Crossing Bridge Coating Remediation (Auckland)
HEB Construction – Westport Wharf Repair (West Coast)
MAP Projects – Brenwe Hydro Power Project (Vanuatu)
MAP Projects – Morey Street Flood Detention Dams and Wetlands (Rotorua)
McConnell Dowell – Greville Road Stormwater Upgrade (Auckland)
Category 4 – Projects between $20m and $100m
Brian Perry Civil – Peacocke Strategic Wastewater Transfer Station (Hamilton)
Brian Perry Civil – Kaitoke Flume Pipe Bridge Replacement (Wellington)
Brian Perry Civil – Whenuapai Air Base Hardstand and Taxiway Replacement (Auckland)
Downer – Wellington Railway Station Re-signalling project (Wellington)
Fulton Hogan – Te Marua Water Treatment Plant Optimisation (Wellington)
HEB Construction – Waltham Mechanical Hub (Dunedin)
HEB Construction – Ōpōtiki Harbour Development (Bay of Plenty)
McConell Dowell – Ports of Auckland Outfall Upgrade (Auckland)
Category 5 – Projects with a value greater than $100m
Fulton Hogan Taylors Contracting Joint Venture – Waimea Community Dam (Nelson)
HEB Construction – Peacocke Waikato River Bridge & Strategic Service (Waikato)
McConnell Dowell Constructors – Warkworth to Snells (W2S) transfer Pipeline and Pump Station (Auckland)
Te Ahu a Turanga Alliance – Te Ahu a Turanga Manawatū Tararua Highway (Manawatu)
Category 6 – Excellence in the management and maintenance of assets
Downer – Connect Hamilton Collaborative Corridor Agreement (Hamilton)
Fulton Hogan – Hastings District Council Three Waters Maintenance Contract (Hawke's Bay)
Downer – North Canterbury Network Outcomes Contract (Canterbury)
ASM Alliance – Auckland System Management (Auckland)
ABOUT CIVIL CONTRACTORS NEW ZEALAND
Founded in 1944, Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ) is the national association for infrastructure construction in New Zealand.
An incorporated society, CCNZ represents 540 contractor members who work to physically construct and maintain the country's transport, water, energy and other infrastructure networks; and 320 associate members who provide equipment and services to contractors.
Collectively, CCNZ's contractor members undertake approximately $12 billion in capital and maintenance works each year, and employ approximately 60,000 people. Find out more at www.civilcontractors.co.nz.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Techday NZ
28-07-2025
- Techday NZ
NZ civil construction sector faces confidence drop, workforce shortage
New research from Civil Contractors New Zealand and Teletrac Navman shows that New Zealand's civil construction industry is contending with a drop in business confidence and shrinking workforce numbers, but many businesses remain focused on finding solutions. The 2025 Construction Industry Survey, now in its ninth edition, compiles feedback from sector professionals and reveals a mixed picture. Of those surveyed, 16 percent reported a positive business outlook - a significant decrease from 50 percent in 2021. Alongside this decline, 42 percent of businesses reported downsizing or laying off staff over the past 12 months, with 73 percent citing a lack of work as the industry's predominant challenge, compared to just 15 percent in 2021. Despite the difficult operating environment, almost half (47 percent) of civil construction businesses expressed confidence in their ability to withstand and overcome current challenges. Many are responding by investing in new technology and climate-resilient projects with the aim of supporting business growth and meeting community needs. Government pipeline concerns Industry leaders point to uncertainty surrounding the project pipeline as a critical factor in declining business confidence. Alan Pollard, Chief Executive at Civil Contractors New Zealand, said: "New Zealand's civil construction industry is facing a confidence crisis where a lack of work, and uncertainty is placing the long-term health of the industry at risk, but there is plenty of hope on the horizon." The National Infrastructure Pipeline, managed by the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, currently forecasts projects worth USD $207 billion across central government, local government and private sector contributions. Despite this, Pollard says there is often a gap between forecasted investments and projects reaching the market, with many projects delayed for prolonged periods. He emphasised the need for more transparent communications regarding project opportunities and more stable investment to provide certainty for infrastructure construction workers. The impact is particularly pronounced for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which make up 60 percent of the sector. The survey found that 27 percent of SMEs expect their revenues to decrease in 2025, which is three times the number from the 2021 survey. Pollard continued: "It's never been more important for central and local government to step up with a clearer, more consistent and visible pipeline of infrastructure construction and maintenance work, rather than just announcements. We see this playing a central role in strengthening business confidence, helping to keep skilled workers in the industry, and ensuring we're ready to meet not just today's needs, but also New Zealand's future infrastructure needs." Skills and workforce challenges The survey highlights that human resources and skills are a significant issue. Seventy-three percent of respondents reported a lack of available work for contractors, up from only 15 percent in 2021. This environment increases the risk of skilled professionals seeking employment overseas or leaving the sector to maintain income security. Looking ahead, 85 percent of civil construction professionals believe that clarity around central and local government projects is needed to restore business confidence and financial stability in the sector. Climate change and infrastructure Resilience to climate change is another matter raised by respondents. Fifty-eight percent are not confident in New Zealand infrastructure's current ability to withstand climate change. Civil construction professionals are unified in calling for greater investment in resilience infrastructure, such as seawalls and stopbanks, seeing these developments as essential for community safety during flood or fire events. Role of technology Technology is increasingly being recognised as a strategy for business efficiency and growth in New Zealand's civil construction sector. More than 40 percent of those surveyed indicated that adopting technology could help improve efficiency and manage ongoing challenges. Over half of business leaders say that mandated technology assists them in securing new work, indicating a shift in how projects are approached. James French, Construction Industry Specialist ANZ at Teletrac Navman, said: "While confidence in the sector is under pressure, our research with CCNZ clearly shows that businesses that embrace digital tools and connected platforms are positioning themselves to win work and navigate today's industry uncertainty. Technology isn't just a nice-to-have for civil construction businesses – It's become a business imperative. This year's Civil Construction Industry Report revealed that 60 percent of business leaders in the sector say that mandated technology helps them win work, so its clear technology is playing a key role in building a more resilient and competitive civil construction industry." The annual report by Teletrac Navman and Civil Contractors New Zealand aims to provide data-driven insights to support the sector as it navigates changing market conditions and prepares for future demands. The 2025 survey was based on 172 responses from civil construction professionals gathered between May and June 2025.
NZ Herald
22-07-2025
- NZ Herald
Civil Contractors Conference 2025 tackles NZ infrastructure challenges
Traffic banked up on State Highway 2 north of Tauranga. The TNL would bypass this route. Photo / File Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech. Traffic banked up on State Highway 2 north of Tauranga. The TNL would bypass this route. Photo / File New Zealand civil infrastructure construction leaders will converge in Tauranga this week to discuss how to get the country's infrastructure pipeline back on track. More than 600 people are expected to attend the Civil Contractors Conference 2025 at Mercury Baypark from July 23 to 25, including infrastructure construction chief executives, local government employees and representatives from major political parties, a statement from event organisers said. Civil Contractors New Zealand chief executive Alan Pollard said central and local government efforts to create and communicate a clear programme of work were critical for the industry's ability to deliver key projects that support the country's development. 'If we want to retain talent locally and deliver on the urgent infrastructure needs of Kiwi communities, our industry needs to have confidence that the future stream of work will be protected from the political winds of change. 'I'm grateful for the commitment made by senior central and local government politicians and officials to join us in Tauranga, and to work with us as we try and move the country's vision for infrastructure from a plan to a reality.'
Scoop
21-07-2025
- Scoop
Flood-Resilient Infrastructure Among The Winners At Nelson Marlborough Awards
Exceptional infrastructure projects that enhance flood resilience and protect communities were among the standout winners at the Civil Contractors New Zealand Nelson Marlborough Contractor Awards on Friday night, including an impressive solution to futureproof Queen Charlotte Drive. Hundreds of people from across the region packed the Rutherford Hotel in Nelson to celebrate the vital projects and people safeguarding the Nelson Tasman region, only days after it experienced what Nelson Civil Defence described as its worst flood in almost 150 years. Taylors Contracting demonstrated its engineering expertise in the projects valued $750,001 to $2m category for its work on the Mahakipawa Hill Mechanically Stabilised Earth Wall, Culvert and Spillway, which boosted Queen Charlotte Drive's resilience after flood damage in 2022. The work involved securing foundations in challenging soil conditions using 24 nine-metre-deep reinforced concrete piles anchored with 23 ten-metre-deep self-drilling anchors, all while a stream was diverted and access was maintained for the public and forestry traffic. Judges Peter Fisher, Bruce Taylor and Steffan Eden praised the project's completion on time and within budget, noting the effective use of 3D site scanning for stability monitoring and the fact it was the largest mechanically stabilised earth wall the company has ever tackled. Continuing the recognition of projects contributing to community resilience and flood prevention, Tasman Civil won the Nelson City Council Health and Safety Award for the Washington Valley Stormwater Upgrade. The project involved managing services including sewer, water main, electrical and telecommunications alongside stormwater systems to improve resilience against extreme weather events. Fulton Hogan Nelson was recognised with the Connexis Judges Recognition Award for two critical water infrastructure projects – the Maitai Dam Aeration System and Treatment Plant Contracts. Both have enhanced Nelson's town and river water quality, with cost-saving innovations that reduced council rates by $1 million, the judges noted. Local company Egypt Civil Construction received the Avada Traffic NZ Innovation Award for its Bridge 256 Replacement Platform Clamp System. This innovative safety system involved building a clamp-system working platform to enable a team to climb piles and construct pile heads safely nine metres above the flood-prone Waihopai River. The judging panel congratulated Egypt Limited and said that this was the 'greatest challenge for the company to date'. Environmental stewardship was showcased through Downer NZ Nelson's work on the Kaiteriteri Footpath and Boardwalk, which won the Tasman District Council Environmental Award. The project enabled community access while protecting the sensitive ecosystem near Abel Tasman National Park, including penguin breeding areas. Downer NZ Nelson also received recognition for the Tāhunanui Beach Contaminated Sawdust Remediation project, which sought to remove timber waste contaminated with arsenic, chromium, copper, boron and dioxins that had been historically dumped at the beach. The judges noted that Downer played a key role in the remediation, helping to removed more than 10,000 tonnes of contaminated material while implementing strict environmental controls to minimise environmental impact. Tākaka business Diggs showcased how smaller companies can deliver outstanding environmental outcomes, winning the projects valued at $0 to $200,000 category for its work on stage 3 of the Reilly Wetland project, which involving earthworks to support restoration of the wetland in Golden Bay. Judges said despite working with limited design specifications, the team demonstrated skilful execution and achieved an excellent outcome, receiving 'high praise from all authorities involved'. The awards also celebrated emerging talent, with 25-year-old Jack Whittle from Isaac Construction winning the Franklin Smith Young Achiever Award. The project engineer impressed judges with his technical competence, initiative and ability to overcome challenges, as well as his achievement of a wide range of industry qualifications at a relatively young age. Marijke Isley from Simcox Construction was honoured with the Humes Pipeline Systems Women in Civil Construction Award. Judges commented on her technical expertise and exceptional project management capabilities overseeing complex projects and maintenance contracts while managing teams of more than 70 staff. They described her as a 'true role model for those following in her footsteps'. The Hirepool Supreme Award and Hynds Projects valued over $2m category was won by Simcox Construction for the Inter-Island Resilient Connection (iReX) Picton Enabling Works for KiwiRail. This technically challenging project involved constructing deep dewatering systems, new marshalling yards and a 300-metre culvert through operational areas. While the wider iReX terminal and Cook Strait ferry upgrade project was cancelled with the change of Government in 2023, the infrastructure built by Simcox Construction will serve both existing ferries and the lower-cost replacement vessels, when they arrive in the years ahead. KiwiRail train and Interislander ferry services remained uninterrupted during the project's lifespan. Judges commented that despite its 'significant complexity', the project finished three months early and delivered more than $1m in savings, noting a 'very happy' client. These infrastructure improvements were recognised as the region continued its long-term recovery from extreme weather events in 2022 and dealt with the devastation of multiple severe flooding events over the last three weeks. CCNZ Nelson Marlborough Branch Chair Luke Donaldson said the expertise and innovation demonstrated by the award winners will be crucial to the Nelson Marlborough region's future resilience, with it facing months if not years of flood recovery work. 'We have had our fair share of wild weather down these ways in recent times and our members have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to repair, rebuild, and strengthen our region's infrastructure. These awards celebrate not just excellence in construction, but the vital role our industry plays in building community resilience and supporting economic recovery.' The CCNZ Nelson Marlborough Contractor Awards 2025 was sponsored by Hirepool, Hynds, Humes, Tasman District Council, Eliot Sinclair, Pumps and Filters, and GPIL. This year's winners TotalEnergies NZ Projects valued $0 to $200,000 Winner: Diggs Ltd for the Reilly Wetland Stage Three project GPIL Projects Valued $200,001 to $750,000 Winner: Downer NZ Nelson - Tāhunanui Beach Contaminated Sawdust Remediation Eliot Sinclair Projects Valued $750,001 to $2m Winner: Taylors Contracting Co Ltd - Mahakipawa Hill Mechanically Stabilised Earth Wall, Culvert and Spillway Hynds Projects Valued over $2m Winner: Simcox Construction - iReX Picton Enabling Works for KiwiRail Tasman District Council Environmental Award Downer NZ Nelson - Kaiteriteri Footpath and Boardwalk Avada Traffic NZ Innovation Award Egypt Limited – Bridge 256 Replacement - Platform Clamp System Nelson City Council Health and Safety Award Tasman Civil Limited - Washington Valley Stormwater Upgrade Connexis Judges Recognition Award Fulton Hogan Nelson - Maitai Dam Aeration System and Treatment Plant Contracts Franklin Smith Young Achiever Award Jack Whittle – Isaac Construction Ltd Humes Pipeline Systems Women in Civil Construction Award Marijke Isley - Simcox Construction Hirepool Supreme Award
