Āpōpō Celebrates National Leaders in Infrastructure Asset Management Excellence

Wellington, 19 May 2025 – Aotearoa’s top asset management professionals and projects were honoured at the 2025 Āpōpō Asset Management Excellence Awards, held last Thursday evening in Ōtautahi Christchurch as part of Āpōpō’s annual Congress conference.

The awards recognise outstanding achievement and delivery across New Zealand’s infrastructure asset management sector, with five category winners selected for their exceptional contributions to sustainable, community-driven, and future-focused infrastructure.

2025 Supreme Asset Management Excellence Award Winners – Huarahi Tūhono Route 52 Upgrade Project

2025 Category Winners

Sustainability Award (sponsored by Morphum Environmental):

Project Reclaim – Excellence in collaboration – Waitaki District Council, in collaboration with Morrison Low, Waste Management New Zealand, Fulton Hogan, Tonkin + Taylor & GHC Consulting.

A shining example of environmental collaboration in waste and resource recovery.

Community Award:

Huarahi Tūhono – Route 52 Upgrade Project – Tararua District Council, in collaboration with Tararua Alliance and Downer.

A transformational project connecting communities and enabling long-term economic regeneration.

Improvement Award:

Measuring Quality of Corrections’ Health Assets – Ara Poutama Aotearoa – Department of Corrections & KPMG.

Driving better outcomes through smart measurement and asset performance insights.

Leadership Award (sponsored by Waugh Infrastructure):

Peacocke Network Infrastructure – Strategic Northern Connections – Hamilton City Council, in collaboration with Southern Links Tangata Whenua Working Group, Gray Matter Ltd, Bloxam Burnett & Oliver, Edwards White Architects & HEB Construction.

Exemplifying strong leadership in stakeholder engagement, urban design, and infrastructure planning.

Innovation Award:

AMDS Multimodal Network Model – WSP New Zealand in collaboration with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

Setting a new standard for integrated data and network modelling across modes.

Supreme Asset Management Excellence Award

From this impressive field, the Supreme Asset Management Excellence Award 2025 was awarded to the Huarahi Tūhono – Route 52 Upgrade Project, recognising its extraordinary impact on rural connectivity, resilience, and community outcomes.

Huarahi Tūhono – Route 52 Upgrade Project

The Tararua team also became this year’s kaitiaki (guardians) of Kōmata o Te Rangi – a carved taurapa symbolising the pinnacle of achievement in asset management. This prestigious taonga has previously been held by standout projects delivered by Piritahi with Kāinga Ora (twice) and WSP (twice).

“The Huarahi Tūhono – Route 52 Upgrade Project is a landmark example of rural infrastructure resilience and economic regeneration,” said the judging panel. “Through effective community consultation, early iwi engagement, and local sourcing of materials, the project delivered lasting value to both the district and the national roading network.”

Kōmata o Te Rangi, Āpōpō Supreme Asset Management Excellence Award

Āpōpō CEO Murray Pugh added,

“These awards celebrate the best of what asset management can achieve for people, communities, and the environment. The calibre of entries this year reinforces Āpōpō’s commitment to elevating asset management as a critical profession shaping the future of Aotearoa. Congratulations to our 2025 award recipients.”