Insights for major project delivery

New Zealanders should expect better value from the way we build and renew public infrastructure. This research brings together best-practice insights and learnings to aid anyone across government involved with very large, complex infrastructure projects so we can better meet these expectations. Large-scale projects are where the stakes are highest, the risks most pronounced and the potential for transformative outcomes greatest.

The insights in this research are based on international research of major projects, which has been backed up by our own reviews of major projects in New Zealand. These insights should be viewed as an integrated system of practices that reinforce each other, as the greatest value will come from implementing them holistically. This means recognising the interconnections between decision-making, governance, risk management, stakeholder engagement, leadership and supply chain integration.

The report is intended for everyone involved in the infrastructure delivery system: from government ministers and officials making investment decisions to the project sponsors and governance boards overseeing delivery and the project directors and their teams managing day-to-day implementation alongside those contractors, consultants, and suppliers that bring these projects to life. It is equally valuable for central government agencies, local authorities and Crown entities as they navigate the complexities of infrastructure delivery.