Latest news with #NickLeggett
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Wellington water loss drops but warning investment in new pipes needed
[s The change was largely driven by patching pipes not replacing them, Wellington Water's chairperson says. A burst water pipe in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER New figures show daily water loss across the Wellington region's pipes has dropped by 11 million litres per day, with Wellington Water's chair attributing the change to increased investment in repairs. The Wellington region had been plagued by leaks in recent years with 41 percent of its water being lost across public and private pipes. In the 2024/25 financial year the amount of water not making it to taps had dropped to 37 percent -- which equated to 11 million litres per day. Wellington Water estimated that in total around 4 billion litres of water was saved over the past year. The water company's chairperson Nick Leggett told Morning Report the organisation had been focused on water loss after water supply dropped to low levels in the Summer 2023/24. During that time the water shortage risk saw residents cut back their usage and flock to buy 200 litre tanks sold by councils, with demand causing a queue at Wellington City Council's tip shop. "Councils gave us extra money and this is the result." Leggett said that it was still not good enough given the change was largely driven by patching pipes not replacing them. He said that it was all around a good saving for the Wellington region, but that the issue of water loss won't go away untill investment was made in the increased renewal of pipes. "What we have got to do is get onto the really big job over many, many years of replacing these pipes and the new water organisation will be geared up and own the assets so it will be able to fund that." In a statement Wellington Water committee chair Campbell Barry said to see public leaks drop from over 1700 in January 2024 to under 300 as of June 2025 was a massive turnaround.
Scoop
21-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Canada's Emphasis On Infrastructure Delivery Provides Us Lessons
Canada delivers a new hospital or healthcare facility every six months. 'That's not a dream; that's consistent delivery over a couple of decades and a lesson New Zealand needs to learn,' says Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive Nick Leggett. Toronto's health infrastructure delivery is one of the standout takeaways from Infrastructure New Zealand's just-released report, Building Strong Foundations: Canadian System Design and Infrastructure Delivery, following a high-level industry delegation to Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal in May. 'Canada isn't perfect when it comes to delivering infrastructure, but unlike New Zealand they've stopped chasing perfection,' says Leggett. 'Instead, they prioritise consistent delivery, ongoing improvements and progress, and the benefits of infrastructure across the lifetime of the asset. It's a mindset shift New Zealand must embrace.' 'Canada has shown what's possible when you maintain a credible and enduring pipeline of infrastructure projects. This consistency allows their industry to plan, invest and retain a skilled workforce – something New Zealand continues to struggle with due to the stop-start nature of our infrastructure planning.' 'After years of inconsistent investment and political priorities, our own infrastructure sector is struggling. Firms that have experienced a downturn in activity can't just switch capacity on like a tap.' 'While there are positive signals from the Government with $6 billion worth of upcoming projects, we need a more certain long-term pipeline of work to support capability and capacity within the infrastructure workforce.' 'Canada is also far better at selecting the procurement model that best fits the project. It's less ideological, more pragmatic – focused on what works.' 'Having a proper pipeline, like in healthcare, means Canadian providers can streamline delivery and gain efficiencies. Their approach focuses on de-risking early, collaborating across sectors and celebrating what infrastructure delivers for people – not just how much it costs.' 'In Canada, infrastructure is seen as nation-building – not just a line item. It's about growing the economy, building climate resilience and improving lives,' says Leggett. 'It's time we told this story in New Zealand.' Key insights from the report include: Canada completes a new hospital every six months – with a focus on people, outcomes and speed. Delivery models are flexible and pragmatic, not ideological. Lifecycle value and performance matter more than lowest upfront cost. Political consistency, institutional maturity, and Indigenous partnerships underpin delivery success. The delegation's findings call for New Zealand to develop a national infrastructure vision, reform procurement culture, and create a dedicated delivery agency to build capability and investor confidence. 'New Zealand can't afford to keep doing things the same way if we want to get better value from our infrastructure spend. This report is a blueprint for bolder infrastructure leadership,' says Leggett. 'So, let's stop talking and arguing, and instead focus on delivering the infrastructure New Zealanders need – consistently, and for the long term.' Building Strong Foundations: Canadian System Design and Infrastructure Delivery - Summary Report is available at Note: Full report here. Infrastructure New Zealand is Aotearoa's peak membership organisation for the infrastructure sector. We promote best practice in national infrastructure development through research, advocacy, and public and private sector collaboration. We promote public and media discussion on issues of importance to the infrastructure sector. Our membership is comprised of around 140 organisations, including government agencies, consultants, contractors, financiers, utilities, and academics. These organisations employ approximately 150,000 people in infrastructure-related roles and are united in their commitment to creating a better New Zealand through outstanding infrastructure.
RNZ News
19-07-2025
- General
- RNZ News
$25,000 spent making Wellington bridge more comfortable for dogs
Teddy, a dog. Photo: SHANON STEVENS / SUPPLIED Paw-friendly panels have been added to a new water pipe bridge in Wellington, making it more comfortable for dogs to walk across. Greater Wellington Regional Council completed a new water pipe bridge in the Kaitoke Regional Park late last year. Nick Leggett, chair of Wellington Water - which manages water pipe bridges for the council - said the bridge formed part of a popular walkway loop, and the park was visited by 350,000 people last year. He said the bridge combined "a critical piece of infrastructure with something that people can use and enjoy". But feedback from the community found the bridge walkway's grate design was both uncomfortable and offputting to dogs, who disliked being able to see below and needed more grip. "The feedback was really positive, but it's just that point where you've got [50] percent of the water supply for the Wellington region coming under this bridge but you've also got 350,000 people who use that park, and it's important that both are catered for. "But we can combine critical infrastructure with critical walking infrastructure." Cr Ros Connelly and her dog Cuba, and Wellington Water chair Nick Leggett with his dog Teddy. Photo: SHANON STEVENS / SUPPLIED Work began in 2022 to replace the existing pipe bridge due to age, leaks and a lack of seismic loading resilience. Leggett said the total budget for the bridge was $41 million and the panels cost $25,000. "Within that wider budget that's pretty small, but it is still significant - and it's significant for the people [who] will get the benefit of walking across the bridge with their dogs." Leggett and his dog Teddy, a black Cavoodle, tested the bridge on Friday, along with Greater Wellington regional councillor Ros Connelly and her dog, Cuba. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
24-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
National Infrastructure Plan A Chance For Generational Change
'This is a once-in-a-generation chance to make big changes to our infrastructure system - let's grab it and not miss this opportunity,' says Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive Nick Leggett in response to the release of the draft National Infrastructure Plan. 'The draft Plan is a clear-eyed assessment of the infrastructure challenges facing New Zealand, our historic underperformance and provides a solid pathway for improvement, particularly from our government agencies.' 'It rightly recognises that Aotearoa spends a lot on infrastructure, among the top 10 percent of OECD countries as a share of GDP, but we get one of the lowest returns. That's simply not a sustainable situation when we look at the future demographic, geographic and resilience challenges confronting us.' 'The Plan, at its heart, prioritises getting better outcomes from every infrastructure dollar, and includes a call to action when it comes to improving how we manage the assets we already have,' Leggett says. 'It reinforces the message that we need to do much better on the basics and provides an opportunity to make the changes required.' 'The reality is if we don't face up to this now there will be real pain for our future generations. It's important that both the sector, our businesses and communities participate in this consultation because the issues identified, and the changes recommended, will impact us all.' Infrastructure New Zealand particularly supports the emphasis on: The prioritisation of asset management to protect existing infrastructure and ensure it delivers what New Zealanders expect from it. Reducing regulatory hurdles and simplifying planning to make it easier for infrastructure providers. Building confidence within the infrastructure sector through a steady project pipeline that allows providers to invest in workforce capability and capacity. 'What the infrastructure sector needs over the long-term is policy and political stability to plan, deliver and manage infrastructure efficiently,' Leggett says. 'Investors, councils and contractors alike need consistent signals from Government as well as opposition political parties. Policy certainty builds confidence, which leads to effective planning, more efficient procurement and better value for money.' 'We are encouraged that the draft Plan also presents a New Zealand-specific framework for infrastructure planning that takes into account the country's unique characteristics.' 'New Zealand needs solutions that are tailored to our context – our small widely-dispersed population, our terrain and our exposure to natural hazards,' says Leggett. 'We also need a shared national vision to guide investment decisions and create a long-term infrastructure pipeline that endures across election cycles.' Just this week Infrastructure New Zealand released a report looking at how foreign direct investment is already helping us deliver world-leading mobile tower infrastructure quickly, innovatively and at scale. 'The experience of Connexa shows that if we are open new ways of doing things, including greater use of private funding and financing and developing a solid forward pipeline, we do have the ability to deliver critical infrastructure that supports our communities and economy.'
Scoop
24-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
How Foreign Direct Investment Is Helping Deliver World Leading Infrastructure In NZ
Foreign direct investment is helping deliver world-class mobile telecommunications infrastructure for New Zealanders, and the approach could unlock major gains across the rest of our infrastructure sector, says a new report by Infrastructure New Zealand and Connexa. 'We constantly talk about reaching an infrastructure nirvana with modern assets providing world-class services and economic and social opportunities for Kiwis,' says Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive Nick Leggett. 'The good news is there are people already doing it using innovative delivery methods, components and pipeline certainty.' 'Connexa is a compelling example of how foreign direct investment, enabled by long-term thinking and a committed pipeline, can deliver nation-building infrastructure vital to the lives of New Zealanders. We just have to learn from them; the public good opportunity is huge.' 'Infrastructure development is sometimes thought about in old-fashioned terms, with slow-moving projects and eye-wateringly long timeframes,' says Connexa Chief Executive Rob Berrill. 'But with the right people and partners in place, critical community infrastructure can be delivered at pace and to a world-class standard.' 'Having a start-up mindset, combined with a committed pipeline of projects and experienced investors with a long-term vision, has enabled Connexa to deliver infrastructure in new and better ways.' 'The benefit of being a new company is that we started with a blank canvas and have been able to define our own culture, the way we work, and the kind of people we want to help take us on that journey.' Connexa is New Zealand's largest mobile tower infrastructure company (TowerCo). In February, Spark sold its remaining holding in the company to Canadian global investment group La Caisse, who along with Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan are now co-controlling shareholders, each with a 50% equity stake in Connexa. Titled Delivering Next Generation Infrastructure, the report outlines how Connexa has grown rapidly since 2022 to manage more than 2,500 tower sites, with another 800 new mobile towers planned over the next eight years. The report delivers seven insights that underpin Connexa's success, from the international investment model, forward pipeline and modular design to new approaches to workforce culture and delivery. 'The Connexa experience shows that if we want the best possible infrastructure for our people to earn, learn and lead productive lives we must be open to the benefits of foreign direct investment and willing to embark on new ways of funding, planning and delivering projects,' says Leggett. 'We now must learn to adapt this model to other sectors of our economy - and the wider way we plan, fund, procure and build the infrastructure we need.' Delivering Next Generation Infrastructure: How global investment and local innovation are shaping Aotearoa's digital future – the Connexa story is available here.
