SMALL NATION, BIG IMPACT: NEW ZEALAND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS COMPETE ON GLOBAL STAGE
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – 6:00 AM, Monday 15 December 2025 – Āpōpō Infrastructure Asset Management Professionals has nominated two New Zealand infrastructure projects to compete against major global projects at the 2026 International Federation of Municipal Engineering (IFME) Awards – proving that world-class impact isn’t about size.
Āpōpō has nominated:
- Huarahi Tūhono – Route 52 Upgrade by Tararua Alliance (A collaboration of Tararua District Council and Downer NZ), in the Construction Project category
- AMDS Multimodal Network Model by WSP New Zealand (in collaboration with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency), in the Development Project (non-construction) category
Both projects earned their place after winning their respective categories at the 2025 Āpōpō Awards.
Punching Above Our Weight
While many IFME Award entries represent large-scale, high-budget projects, New Zealand’s nominations showcase something different.
These projects were selected to represent Aotearoa as they demonstrate that impact isn’t just about scale – it’s about resilience, sustainability, and creative, future-focused solutions that deliver outcomes fit for the communities they serve.
Huarahi Tūhono – Route 52 Upgrade
Winner of both the 2025 Āpōpō Community and the prestigious Supreme Asset Management Excellence Award, this rural roading project restored lifeline access for remote communities, improved safety, and created local jobs. The 26km upgrade of Tararua District’s Route 52 was delivered in partnership with iwi and local communities, using local materials and workforce.
Despite its modest scale compared to global megaprojects, this initiative has proven its resilience, withstanding 10 major storms and three cyclones, including Cyclone Gabrielle. The route ensures vital connectivity for rural and coastal communities and secures access to Napier port for farming and forestry sectors.
“The Route 52 upgrade from Weber to Wimbledon has protected a lifeline route for coastal and rural communities and generated lasting broader outcomes for the community. This is an area that gets regularly hammered by severe weather. The solution is functional over fancy, and a lot of the hard work is invisible – the value is in the work next to the road and under the road, in the drainage solutions that work with the natural environment. The key lesson from this rural roading project is to listen to the locals who have generational land knowledge, and to take a patient, iterative approach,” said Hamish Featonby, Group Manager Operations – Tararua District Council.
“This project has already proven its immense and lasting impact for the communities it serves; it is more than an engineering achievement – it’s a lifeline,” said Āpōpō Chief Executive, Murray Pugh.
AMDS Multimodal Network Model
Winner of the 2025 Āpōpō Award for Innovation, the AMDS Network Model marks a transformative leap for New Zealand’s transport sector, delivering the nation’s first comprehensive, multimodal digital representation of transport infrastructure. Developed collaboratively by WSP, NZ Transport Agency, and all 70 Transport Controlling Authorities – and released in October 2025 – the project overcame fragmented, inconsistent asset data by creating a unified, authoritative dataset that is now the single source of truth for planning and asset management.
The model provides a blueprint for smarter, greener, and more resilient mobility – enabling advanced scenario testing for growth, environmental challenges, and changing travel patterns. This helps decision-makers plan with clarity, confidence, and efficiency, while driving better investment decisions, improving public outcomes, and offering a scalable template for infrastructure transformation worldwide.
“The AMDS Network Model stands as a testament to New Zealand’s commitment to open, collaborative and authoritative infrastructure data, setting a new global benchmark and unlocking value for communities across the country and beyond,” said John Kreft, WSP New Zealand.
“The AMDS Network Model is a prime example of a creative solution to a real world challenge – adaptable, scalable, and globally relevant – it places New Zealand at the forefront of global innovation,” said Murray.
Global Recognition
The IFME Awards celebrate municipal projects that deliver outstanding community outcomes, improved service standards, and positive societal impacts. Entries are assessed against global objectives, including alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), innovation and creativity in municipal engineering, environmental benefits, transferability to other regions, and successful project completion.
Winners will be announced at the IFME World Congress in Helsinki, Finland, June 9-11, 2026.
Āpōpō Awards 2026
Submissions are now open for the 2026 Āpōpō Awards and Scholarships. Entries close 13 February 2026.
