The roading and transport infrastructure sector in New Zealand is undergoing rapid change, driven by new contracting models, evolving project pipelines, and increasing pressure to deliver faster, smarter, and more sustainably.

At the heart of these changes lies a critical question: how do we maintain quality and resilience while adapting to new demands?

Ventia proudly joined industry leaders at New Zealand’s leading roading conference, Future Roads, contributing to conversations that will shape the future of transport infrastructure. Jonathon Doggett, leading Ventia’s Transport business in New Zealand, provided insights on the Leaders’ Panel: Rethinking Delivery – Risk, Revenue & Regional Reform, alongside experts from NZ Transport Agency, Napier City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, AA New Zealand, and GHD. 

"Future Roads 2025 was a timely pause in what has been an intense year. Hearing from Minister Christopher Bishop on productivity and project pipelines and getting direct insights from the NZTA team on upcoming opportunities and the shift to the IDM contracting model, reminded me how fast our sector is evolving and how important it is that we evolve with it” says Jonathon.

At Ventia, along with looking at innovations, we also believe in getting the basics right and doing them well. In a busy environment, stepping back to reconnect and collaborate is essential. Good relationships, early visibility of issues, and the courage to act before problems escalate remain the foundation of successful delivery.

Partnering with our customers is central to this approach. By working closely with customers, we can anticipate challenges, share insights, and co-create solutions that deliver better outcomes for communities.

Three key focus areas for Ventia emerged from the panel discussion and wider conversations at Future Roads:

Smart closures as a tool to lift safety and accelerate delivery. 

  • By planning smarter, we can reduce disruption, improve safety, and deliver projects faster without compromising quality.

People-powered improvement through Lean thinking.

  • Skilled teams applying Lean principles can cut waste, lift quality, and drive continuous improvement, proving that efficiency starts with people.

Collaborative partnerships for resilience and value. 

  • Collaboration remains the key to balancing cost, service, and long-term resilience. Bad contract practices are often solved by strong relationships and proactive engagement.

Ventia manages operations and maintenance contracts across New Zealand and Australia, supporting critical transport infrastructure and services that keep communities connected. This breadth of capability allows us to bring proven experience, scale, and innovation to every project we deliver.

Future Roads 2025 was more than a conference, it was a reminder that while our sector is progressing rapidly, the fundamentals still matter. Getting back to basics and doing them well is where real progress happens.

Ventia is committed to leading with this approach across Aotearoa, ensuring that as we innovate, we never lose sight of the principles that underpin great delivery.