The Building Nations 2024 event took place on 28 and 29 August 2024 at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland. This premier event brought together around 700 public and private sector decision-makers to discuss best practices in infrastructure development.
The focus was on reshaping New Zealand’s infrastructure delivery system, emphasizing external partnerships, innovative collaborations with local government and Iwi, and the use of private capital.
Building Nations event will be held on 6 and 7 August 2025 at Tākina Events in Wellington – visit “buildingnations.org.nz” for more details.
The event also featured the Building Nations Impact Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions to the infrastructure sector.
BUILDING NATIONS – 2024 IMPACT AWARDS WINNERS
- INFRASTRUCTURE DECARBONISATION AWARD:
Lodestone Energy for Lodestone Solar Farms Phase 1: Kohirā
- SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD:
The Kind Foundation for Papa Hou
- EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATION AWARD:
Beca for Waimarie – Lincoln University
- OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND CONTRIBUTION TO INFRASTRUCTURE AWARD:
David Carter, Beca
The Strategic Significance of Building Nations 2024
The Building Nations 2024 summit in Auckland marked a pivotal shift in how New Zealand approaches its national development. Beyond being a networking event, it served as the primary forum for aligning the public and private sectors on a new path forward for the country’s physical and economic landscape.
The importance of this event can be broken down into four key areas:
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Breaking the “Boom and Bust” Cycle
For decades, New Zealand’s infrastructure has suffered from short-term planning and inconsistent funding. The 2024 event was critical because it focused on long-term bipartisan commitment. Leaders discussed moving away from “three-year election cycles” toward 30-year strategies, giving the construction industry the confidence to invest in specialized machinery and a skilled workforce.
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A New Funding Frontier
With the government facing significant budget constraints, the summit was the stage for a major policy shift: the move toward private capital and user-pays models. This event socialized the idea that the state cannot fund every bridge, tunnel, and hospital alone. By bringing international investors to the table, the summit explored how global wealth could be used to build local New Zealand assets.
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Strengthening Iwi and Local Partnerships
A core theme of the event was the evolution of the Crown-Iwi relationship in infrastructure. The discussions moved past simple consultation, focusing instead on Iwi as meaningful co-investors and partners. This ensures that major projects are not just technically sound but also culturally integrated and beneficial to local communities over the long term.
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Setting the Standard for Excellence
The introduction of the Building Nations Impact Awards added a layer of accountability and inspiration to the sector. By celebrating winners in categories like Decarbonisation and Social Impact, the event redefined “success.” It sent a clear message: the infrastructure of the future must be sustainable, technologically advanced, and socially responsible.
Why It Matters for the Average New Zealander
While the summit involved high-level decision-makers, the outcomes directly impact daily life. The strategies discussed in August 2024 aim to reduce traffic congestion, improve the resilience of the power grid against climate change, and ensure that new housing developments are supported by modern water and transport systems.
In essence, Building Nations 2024 was the moment the industry stopped looking at what was broken and started designing the tools to fix it.