Latest news with #Leggett
Scoop
21-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Canada's Emphasis On Infrastructure Delivery Provides Us Lessons
Canada delivers a new hospital or healthcare facility every six months. 'That's not a dream; that's consistent delivery over a couple of decades and a lesson New Zealand needs to learn,' says Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive Nick Leggett. Toronto's health infrastructure delivery is one of the standout takeaways from Infrastructure New Zealand's just-released report, Building Strong Foundations: Canadian System Design and Infrastructure Delivery, following a high-level industry delegation to Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal in May. 'Canada isn't perfect when it comes to delivering infrastructure, but unlike New Zealand they've stopped chasing perfection,' says Leggett. 'Instead, they prioritise consistent delivery, ongoing improvements and progress, and the benefits of infrastructure across the lifetime of the asset. It's a mindset shift New Zealand must embrace.' 'Canada has shown what's possible when you maintain a credible and enduring pipeline of infrastructure projects. This consistency allows their industry to plan, invest and retain a skilled workforce – something New Zealand continues to struggle with due to the stop-start nature of our infrastructure planning.' 'After years of inconsistent investment and political priorities, our own infrastructure sector is struggling. Firms that have experienced a downturn in activity can't just switch capacity on like a tap.' 'While there are positive signals from the Government with $6 billion worth of upcoming projects, we need a more certain long-term pipeline of work to support capability and capacity within the infrastructure workforce.' 'Canada is also far better at selecting the procurement model that best fits the project. It's less ideological, more pragmatic – focused on what works.' 'Having a proper pipeline, like in healthcare, means Canadian providers can streamline delivery and gain efficiencies. Their approach focuses on de-risking early, collaborating across sectors and celebrating what infrastructure delivers for people – not just how much it costs.' 'In Canada, infrastructure is seen as nation-building – not just a line item. It's about growing the economy, building climate resilience and improving lives,' says Leggett. 'It's time we told this story in New Zealand.' Key insights from the report include: Canada completes a new hospital every six months – with a focus on people, outcomes and speed. Delivery models are flexible and pragmatic, not ideological. Lifecycle value and performance matter more than lowest upfront cost. Political consistency, institutional maturity, and Indigenous partnerships underpin delivery success. The delegation's findings call for New Zealand to develop a national infrastructure vision, reform procurement culture, and create a dedicated delivery agency to build capability and investor confidence. 'New Zealand can't afford to keep doing things the same way if we want to get better value from our infrastructure spend. This report is a blueprint for bolder infrastructure leadership,' says Leggett. 'So, let's stop talking and arguing, and instead focus on delivering the infrastructure New Zealanders need – consistently, and for the long term.' Building Strong Foundations: Canadian System Design and Infrastructure Delivery - Summary Report is available at Note: Full report here. Infrastructure New Zealand is Aotearoa's peak membership organisation for the infrastructure sector. We promote best practice in national infrastructure development through research, advocacy, and public and private sector collaboration. We promote public and media discussion on issues of importance to the infrastructure sector. Our membership is comprised of around 140 organisations, including government agencies, consultants, contractors, financiers, utilities, and academics. These organisations employ approximately 150,000 people in infrastructure-related roles and are united in their commitment to creating a better New Zealand through outstanding infrastructure.
Global News
25-06-2025
- Health
- Global News
Nova Scotia won't buy air conditioners for low-income people with health issues
A Nova Scotia woman on income assistance who succeeded in forcing the province to pay for her air conditioner says she's sad other low-income people won't get the same relief. Last October Julie Leggett from New Glasgow, N.S., won an appeal to receive provincial funding for an air conditioner because of a chronic health condition. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy But the decision by the income assistance appeal board didn't force the province to cover the cost of air conditioners for other low-income people with health issues. Leggett raised her concerns during the November provincial election campaign, arguing government policy should be changed to help people cope during heat waves. Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston, whose party won the election, had said on the campaign trail that he would look into adding air conditioners to a list of special needs covered by the social assistance program. Story continues below advertisement But a spokesperson for the Department of Social Development said on Tuesday that the government was not planning on changing the policy. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2025.
Scoop
24-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
National Infrastructure Plan A Chance For Generational Change
'This is a once-in-a-generation chance to make big changes to our infrastructure system - let's grab it and not miss this opportunity,' says Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive Nick Leggett in response to the release of the draft National Infrastructure Plan. 'The draft Plan is a clear-eyed assessment of the infrastructure challenges facing New Zealand, our historic underperformance and provides a solid pathway for improvement, particularly from our government agencies.' 'It rightly recognises that Aotearoa spends a lot on infrastructure, among the top 10 percent of OECD countries as a share of GDP, but we get one of the lowest returns. That's simply not a sustainable situation when we look at the future demographic, geographic and resilience challenges confronting us.' 'The Plan, at its heart, prioritises getting better outcomes from every infrastructure dollar, and includes a call to action when it comes to improving how we manage the assets we already have,' Leggett says. 'It reinforces the message that we need to do much better on the basics and provides an opportunity to make the changes required.' 'The reality is if we don't face up to this now there will be real pain for our future generations. It's important that both the sector, our businesses and communities participate in this consultation because the issues identified, and the changes recommended, will impact us all.' Infrastructure New Zealand particularly supports the emphasis on: The prioritisation of asset management to protect existing infrastructure and ensure it delivers what New Zealanders expect from it. Reducing regulatory hurdles and simplifying planning to make it easier for infrastructure providers. Building confidence within the infrastructure sector through a steady project pipeline that allows providers to invest in workforce capability and capacity. 'What the infrastructure sector needs over the long-term is policy and political stability to plan, deliver and manage infrastructure efficiently,' Leggett says. 'Investors, councils and contractors alike need consistent signals from Government as well as opposition political parties. Policy certainty builds confidence, which leads to effective planning, more efficient procurement and better value for money.' 'We are encouraged that the draft Plan also presents a New Zealand-specific framework for infrastructure planning that takes into account the country's unique characteristics.' 'New Zealand needs solutions that are tailored to our context – our small widely-dispersed population, our terrain and our exposure to natural hazards,' says Leggett. 'We also need a shared national vision to guide investment decisions and create a long-term infrastructure pipeline that endures across election cycles.' Just this week Infrastructure New Zealand released a report looking at how foreign direct investment is already helping us deliver world-leading mobile tower infrastructure quickly, innovatively and at scale. 'The experience of Connexa shows that if we are open new ways of doing things, including greater use of private funding and financing and developing a solid forward pipeline, we do have the ability to deliver critical infrastructure that supports our communities and economy.'
Irish Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
What will €175,000 buy you in France, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Longford?
Ireland: Longford 1 Midara Gardens, Ardnacassa, Longford Inspired by American ranch-style homes, this 1972-built, four-bedroom, two-bathroom system-built bungalow features prefabricated components and is in need of modernisation. It has a D1 Ber rating and extends to 112sq m (1,205sq ft). It is within a few minutes' walk of shops and has easy access to the Dublin Road. Price: €175,000 Agent: Sherry FitzGerald Quinn France, Brittany, Côtes-d'Armor, Gausson France: Brittany While semidetached, this smartly appointed four-bedroom, two-bathroom, semi-longère in Gausson offers great privacy and comes with a terrace and back garden. There's an open-plan living area and bedroom on the ground floor, and three further bedrooms and a study on the first floor. It measures 124sq metres (1334sq ft) and is a 13-minute drive to Loudèac and 25 minutes from Saint-Brieuc. Price: €179,500. Agent: Leggett READ MORE Portugal, Algarve, Silves Portugal: Silves This merchant house has been converted into a series of apartments and studios, retaining its lovely original features and adding stylish contemporary ones such as hand-painted tiles in jewel colours in the bathrooms and stone steps. Located in the heart of the town, just steps from the Roman bridge, this studio space measures about 45sq m (484sq ft). Price: €180,000. Agent: Sea to Sky Italy, Tuscany, Lucca, Pietrasanta Italy: Pietras anta About a kilometre east of Pietrasanta, the Tuscan town known as Little Athens on account of its collection of artists' studios and galleries, this four-bedroom, two-bathroom semidetached house of 150sq m (1614sq ft) can be found. In need of modernisation, laid out over three floors with a small outdoor terrace, it is only 3km from the ritzy resort of Marina di Pietrasanta on the Versilia coast, a view you can see when the haze lifts. Price: €190,000 Agent: Fondocasa Greece, Dodecanese, Nisiros, Nikia Greece: Nikia Near Porta, the central square of the inland town of Nikia on the island of Nisiros is a sympathetically renovated two-bedroom, one bathroom house that extends to 80sq m (861sq ft). Directly accessible on foot only, it has a courtyard on each side of the house and is set out on a sloping site over two floors with the bedrooms on the cooler, lower floor and the kitchen and livingroom on the higher level. Price: €195,000 Agent: Phos Properties
Scoop
07-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Manawatū Tararua Highway Should Open As A Toll Road
Press Release – Infrastructure New Zealand New infrastructure such as the Manawat Tararua Highway comes with significant ongoing costs. Choosing not to use tolling doesnt make those costs disappear, it simply shifts the burden onto all New Zealand road users, including those who … The opening of Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway is a significant milestone for the lower North Island, with safety and travel times both set to improve. However, the decision not to toll the route is disappointing, says Infrastructure New Zealand. 'Not tolling the Manawatū Tararua Highway is a missed opportunity to help fund the ongoing maintenance and future resilience of this critical transport route through a 'user pays' approach,' says Chief Executive Nick Leggett. 'Tolling a new highway isn't about penalising the users of that road or the communities in the area. It's about being honest about the ongoing costs required to ensure the responsible management of the asset and ensuring that those who benefit from the road are making a direct contribution to its delivery and maintenance.' 'New Zealand's problem is that nobody thinks about maintaining a new road when it's nice and new, other than those who are responsible for building it. Those people don't control the money, though.' 'New infrastructure such as the Manawatū Tararua Highway comes with significant ongoing costs. Choosing not to use tolling doesn't make those costs disappear, it simply shifts the burden onto all New Zealand road users, including those who will never use the road,' Leggett says. 'If we want high-quality, modern infrastructure that is well maintained and resilient, we need to be smarter in how we manage and fund it. Having an annual amount of money generated from the road, means that New Zealanders can transparently follow that the money goes back into maintaining the road which generates it.' 'Tolling is one of the few tools we have that can directly link use with funding. It also helps protect the sustainability of the National Land Transport Fund so further investments can be made in critical transport projects into the future.' 'We need to be more inventive with how we fund and maintain infrastructure. Nothing should get off the ground without pricing road usage properly,' Leggett says. 'If New Zealand wants better infrastructure, it's going to need to do things differently at every stage of design, build and operations. That includes funding through tolls.'
