8:00

Registration and Coffee

8:45

Mihi Whakatau

Turanga Tata, HIWA Representative

8:55

Welcome from the Conference MC

Angela Young, Group Marketing + Indigenous Director, Tonkin + Taylor

9:00

Opening Remarks 

Nick Leggett, Chief Executive, Infrastructure New Zealand

UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGE

9:10

Risky Neglect – New Zealand’s National Disaster Risk Governance

Over the last 20 or so years, New Zealand has racked up disaster losses of well over $100 billion, from earthquakes, a pandemic, the leaky homes fiasco, and storms, floods and landslides. This has contributed to marked increases of inflation and the national debt, in addition to the high direct costs to public infrastructure, businesses and individuals. In each of the big events, we see a tendency for unrecognised exposure and vulnerability, with the build-up of latent risk finally revealed by the hazard event.

Current efforts to address disaster risk are typically reactive, ad hoc, and hazard- or sector-focused. To reduce the costs of disasters in future will require a major upgrade of our national risk governance, including through high-profile political leadership, closer attention to the root causes of risk, a focus on risk as the key quantifiable factor to be managed, and the creation of a coherent national programme, with greater resources, to systematically monitor, assess and reduce all types of risk.

Reid Basher, Former Senior Advisor to the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction

9:50

Minister for Infrastructure Address

Hon Chris Bishop, Minister for Infrastructure

10:30

MORNING BREAK

ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE

11:00

Minister of Climate Change Address 

Hon Simon Watts, Minister of Climate Change

11:10

Panel Discussion: Towards an Adaptation and Resilience Plan for New Zealand

As climate impacts intensify, New Zealand needs a cohesive adaptation framework to build resilience. This panel features Members from the Finance and Expenditure Committee and the Coalition Government. They will share key findings, recommendations, and insights on addressing climate risks across housing, financial, and insurance markets. With climate change posing long-term challenges, cross-party agreements are essential for progress. Join us to explore how collaboration can shape a consistent, future-focused adaptation framework for a more resilient Aotearoa. 

Stuart Smith, MP for the Electorate of Kaikōura, Chief Government Whip, NZ Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

Simon Court MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Infrastructure and the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Member - Environment Committee, and ACT Spokesperson for Climate Change, Energy and Resources

Hon Kieran McAnulty, Shadow Leader of the House, Opposition Spokesperson for Housing, Infrastructure and Public Investment

Chlöe Swarbrick, Green Party Co-Leader. MP for Auckland Central, and Member - Finance and Expenditure Committee

Facilitated by: Angela Young, Group Marketing + Indigenous Director, Tonkin + Taylor

11:50

Climate Change Commission Address

In this session, Jo Hendy, founding Chief Executive of the Climate Change Commission  will share the Commission’s plans for 2025 and their adaptation work programme. 

Jo Hendy, Chief Executive, Climate Change Commission

12.20

Aotearoa Futures: Socio-Cultural Adaptation for Resilience
Dr Alayna Rā and Dr Rowan Dixon will speak to examples from across Aotearoa where public, private and iwi organisations are proactively exploring resilient future infrastructure solutions. They will discuss infrastructure resilience through the lens of responsive design and the lessons we can learn from Te Ao Tūroa, our longstanding universe and environment. Futures-conscious infrastructure investment and the long-term viability of an asset to withstand changing climatic, and associated social, conditions will be central to this kōrero.

Dr Alayna Rā, Director Social Investment, WSP

Dr Rowan Dixon, Associate Director - Strategic Advisory - Climate Change, Resilience and Sustainability, WSP

Sponsored by:

1:00

LUNCH BREAK

CONCURRENT STREAM A

 SUPPORTING SECTOR LEVEL RESILIENCE

2:00

Panel discussion: Resilient Roads Ahead - The Role of Local Government and Community in Strategic Transport Infrastructure
2025 will be a defining year for Aotearoa; in strategy, decision making and connection between the community and local government.

Vanessa Browne, Interim Group General Manager Te Toki Transport Services, New Zealand Transport Agency | Waka Kotahi

Murray Burt, Director of Infrastructure and Place, Auckland Transport

Bruce Hinson, National Operations Manager for Transport New Zealand, Ventia

Steve Murrin, Marlborough Roads Manager, New Zealand Transport Agency | Waka Kotahi

Facilitated by: Amy Shattock, Principal Communications and Engagement Consultant, Stantec

Sponsored by:

2:30

Panel discussion: Telecommunication Resilience

As New Zealand experiences increasing environmental and technological challenges, building resilient telecommunication infrastructure is more critical than ever. This session will explore how greater resilience can be embedded into future assets and the wider network to ensure robust, reliable connectivity across the country. Panellists will discuss the evolving risks to network stability, strategies for mitigating vulnerabilities, and the importance of future-proofing telecommunications infrastructure. The session will also highlight the vital role of the regulator in enabling resilience through effective policy, regulatory settings, and industry collaboration, ensuring New Zealand’s telco networks are prepared for the challenges ahead

Craig Young, Chief Executive Officer, TUANZ

Julian Kersey, Chief Corporate & Regulatory Officer, Chorus

Paul Brislen, Chief Executive Officer, New Zealand Telecommunications Forum (TCF)

Andy Burgess, General Manager - Infrastructure Regulation, Commerce Commission | Te Komihana Tauhokohoko 

Facilitated by: Angela Young, Group Marketing + Indigenous Director, Tonkin + Taylor

3:00

Energy Security

Wholesale electricity prices continue to surge, highlighting the growing pressure on New Zealand’s energy and electricity sector. This session will cover the key risks and challenges faced in the New Zealand market. We will hear about factors contributing to energy insecurity and how these concerns will be addressed, particularly as we head into winter 2025. 

Karen Boyes, Executive Director, Major Electricity Users' Group

CONCURRENT STREAM B

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE

2:00

Welcome from Stream MC

Frank Faessen, Associate, TSA Riley, and Co-Chair, Auckland Chapter, The Infrastructure Collective (TIC)

2:00

The Future of Our Infrastructure in a Hazard-Prone Nation

New Zealand is one of the most hazard-exposed countries in the world, with our infrastructure being at risk to a unique set of issues, spanning climate change, geopolitical tensions, economic shifts, and technology. In the session we will hear from Lisa Roberts, co-Chair of the New Zealand Lifelines Council (NZLC), about how New Zealand’s lifelines infrastructure owners and government agencies are working collaboratively at national and regional levels to address infrastructure system interdependencies and improve infrastructure resilience.

Lisa Roberts, Co-Chair, New Zealand Lifelines Council (NZLC), and Director, Infrastructure Decisions Limited

2:30

Critical Infrastructure Learnings from Australia: Lessons for New Zealand
As climate risks and disasters intensify and our infrastructure ages, ensuring the resilience of critical infrastructure comes at a cost—but who should bear it? Facilitated  by James Russell, Chris Perks and Sean O'Meara will explore how Australia has approached the funding, financing, and governance of infrastructure resilience, drawing lessons for New Zealand. What has worked, what hasn’t, and what are the implications for New Zealand? Join us for a discussion on balancing investment, risk, and responsibility in building a more resilient future.

Chris Perks, Sector Director - Transport + Delivery Partners, Tonkin + Taylor

Sean O'Meara, Regional Director - Project & Infrastructure Advisory, ANZ, BDO

Facilitated by: James Russell, Sector Director - Financial + Insurance,  Tonkin + Taylor 

Sponsored by:

3:00

Building Resilience in an Interconnected Infrastructure Network

New Zealand’s infrastructure networks are deeply interconnected. Disruptions in one sector can have cascading effects across industries, such as energy, transport, telecommunications, and water services. In the face of climate change, ensuring these critical systems are resilient is more crucial than ever. This session will explore ways of strengthening resilience in an increasingly complex landscape and how collaboration, risk management, and regulatory reforms can help mitigate vulnerabilities.

Peter Nunns, Acting General Manager – Strategy, New Zealand Infrastructure Commission | Te Waihanga

3:30

AFTERNOON BREAK

THE WAY FORWARD

4:00

Who Pays?

As the effects of climate change continue to worsen, New Zealand faces a tough question regarding who pays. Our current funding settings may not be enough to support communities and infrastructure at risk. This session will explore the retreat funding settings needed to support and improve resilience and effectively manage retreats in the face of the effects of climate change and other natural hazards. 

Jonathan Boston ONZM, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy - Wellington School of Business and Government | Ōrauariki, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

4:30

Insuring New Zealand’s Future

Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and severe, as seen by Cyclone Gabrielle, the Auckland Anniversary floods, and the Los Angeles fires. As these risks mount, so do the challenges in insuring infrastructure. During this session, we will examine the role of adaptation policy, proactive partnerships, and bipartisan cooperation in creating a more sustainable and widely applicable approach to risk management. Experts will explore how insurers, governments, and communities can work together to build a future where New Zealand is insurable and resilient despite growing natural risks. 

Hon Kris Faafoi, Chief Executive, Insurance Council of New Zealand

5:00

Closing Remarks

Nick Leggett, Chief Executive, Infrastructure New Zealand

5:10

Post Event Networking