Industry experts appointed to e-Spatial
February 2019
Congratulations to the three highly regarded industry leaders recently appointed to key senior roles at e-Spatial....
read moreFebruary 2019
Congratulations to the three highly regarded industry leaders recently appointed to key senior roles at e-Spatial....
read moreDecember 2018
We’re delighted to announce the creation of our advisory services team....
read moreDecember 2018
Peter Affleck has joined our Wellington office in the key role of Team Leader - Building Services....
read moreDecember 2018
We’re delighted to introduce Greg Rozen, recently appointed as Technical Lead - Advisory Services....
read moreDecember 2018
Congratulations to Karen West, our General Manager - People & Communications on her appointment to the Board of Infrastructure New Zealand....
read moreDecember 2018
Digital monitoring to ensure New Zealand’s fleet of 1,100 commercial vessels is fishing sustainably is a game-changer for both the Ministry for...
read moreOctober 2018
Christchurch City Council’s transformative use of spatial technology won a significant award at the New Zealand Spatial Excellence Awards....
read moreOctober 2018
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for two independent directors to join our Board - one as our new Chair....
read moreOctober 2018
We’re delighted to announce the appointment of three senior leaders to key roles....
read moreOctober 2018
The engineering and construction industry was in the spotlight last month with the annual Week of Engineering event....
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It was a great honour to receive an Excellence Award at the recent TVNZ Marketing Awards, for the Best Internal Marketing Strategy for the creati...
read moreJune 2018
Earlier in the year we merged with spatial information specialists e-Spatial....
read moreJune 2018
Harrison Grierson’s Young Professionals Group recently teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to help renovate a home for a local family in need....
read moreJune 2018
Earlier in the year, Harrison Grierson got behind the Diversity Agenda....
read moreJune 2018
The Week of Engineering returns for 2018 from 13-18 August celebrating the work engineers do every day, and showcasing amazing engineering feats....
read moreJune 2018
Our traffic and transportation business unit HGT2 will come under the HG umbrella from Monday 2 July 2018....
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Next week our Newmarket and HGT2 teams move into our new office in Parnell, Auckland....
read moreMarch 2018
An international expert in urban development has been appointed to a newly created senior role at Harrison Grierson....
read moreMarch 2018
The Week of Engineering returns this August to celebrate the work engineers do every day to improve the world we live in....
read moreMarch 2018
In just three months, our Newmarket and HGT2 teams will have a new home in Parnell....
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HG is a participant employer in the LookSee Build New Zealand programme which aims to address NZ's need for engineers....
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HG Senior Urban Designer, Lauren White has been appointed to a chair position on the Auckland Urban Design Panel....
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Congratulations to our 26 employees who have been recognised for their technical excellence and leadership....
read moreNovember 2017
Change of some form is desperately needed, says our General Manager - Infrastructure Steve Finnemore....
read moreNovember 2017
Auckland currently faces some major issues. We have a growing population, a shortage of houses, and significant traffic congestion....
read moreOctober 2017
Our General Manager - Land Development, Richard McIntosh talks resilient infrastructure....
read moreOctober 2017
Auckland Transport and HGT2 (as a key consultant) scooped up the prestigious awards at the Asia Pacific Cycle Congress....
read moreSeptember 2017
Harrison Grierson, along with more than 100 other companies, recently signed an open letter to New Zealand....
read moreNovember 2017
On 14 November 2017, we announced our merging with spatial information specialists, e Spatial....
read moreSeptember 2017
Health and safety is always our top priority....
read moreSeptember 2017
The world of engineering was brought to life across the nation....
read moreSeptember 2017
We take a look at the sectors we work in, and each party's policies...
read moreSeptember 2017
We enjoyed great success at the Innovate NZ Awards of Excellence last month....
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A recent Queenstown appointment creates an immediate presence for HG in the region...
read moreJune 2017
Two new appointments to the Harrison Grierson Board were approved at yesterday’s Annual General Meeting....
read moreJune 2017
New appointment in HG's new Environmental Services unit....
read moreJune 2017
HG now have a presence in Hamilton, and our Newmarket office is set to move back to Parnell....
read moreJune 2017
Discover what the world’s humblest superheroes create every day with the Week of Engineering....
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HG landscape architects scoop up top award....
read moreApril 2017
Congratulations to our 14 team members who have been recognised for their technical leadership and excellence....
read moreApril 2017
We are delighted to announce that Glen Cornelius, our Managing Director, has been made a Fellow of IPENZ....
read moreMarch 2017
We’re the first in NZ to own the high-tech Trimble SX10. It’s a game-changer in survey equipment....
read moreMarch 2017
We recently attended two awards ceremonies as finalists, and have been short-listed for another....
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We're pleased to introduce three new senior staff in our Christchurch and Tauranga offices...
read moreFebruary 2017
On 1 February 2017, we merged with traffic and transportation engineering specialists, T2, creating a new business unit called HGT2...
read moreJanuary 2017
Harrison Grierson recently made health and safety history, with the highest score ever recorded in New Zealand for SiteWise certification...
read moreDecember 2016
Located in the heart of Tauranga’s CBD, our new office in Spring Street is modern, bright and spacious....
read moreDecember 2016
Rachel Ducker, a big picture thinker and highly experienced senior planner, has been appointed Planning Manager in our Christchurch office....
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Our structural engineers have used the latest technology in two world first applications....
read moreSeptember 2016
When the recent Havelock North water contamination issue hit the headlines, Iain Rabbitts became an authoritative voice on the matter...
read moreSeptember 2016
In August 2011, Margaret created history at Harrison Grierson when she became our first independent director. Her appointment as our Chairman in...
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Harrison Grierson has appointed Clare Tolan to General Manager - Survey. This completes our General Manager appointments...
read moreAugust 2016
Congratulations to our Chairman, Margaret Devlin, on her appointment as Chairman of Watercare Services Limited, effective from November 2016...
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Our Water & Wastewater manager, Iain Rabbitts, says it was only a matter of time before contaminated water caused widespread sickness...
read moreJune 2016
Harrison Grierson recently won two awards - including the coveted supreme award, at the New Zealand Planning Institute’s 2016 Awards....
read moreJune 2016
We recently appointed a top specialist infrastructure manager and engineer to the newly created key role of Business Development Lead....
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Congratulations to our 10 staff members whose promotions have just been announced....
read moreMarch 2016
Harrison Grierson independent director, Elena Trout, has been elected President of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ)....
read moreMarch 2016
We’re pleased to introduce three new key people and an important internal appointment....
read moreMarch 2016
Cantabrians have much to be positive about, says Glen Hughes, our southern regional manager. “We can be optimistic about our future, despite"...
read moreJanuary 2016
An international water expert has been appointed to a key role in our Auckland office....
read moreDecember 2015
The 30 year Infrastructure Plan was published by Treasury’s National Infrastructure Unit in October. It identifies big challenges for NZ....
read moreDecember 2015
Warren joined HG earlier this year from the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) as our Civil and Infrastructure Services Manager....
read moreDecember 2015
Our exclusive capabilities in modelling and retrofitting existing buildings are in high demand. We’re using state of the art structural analysis...
read moreSeptember 2015
Quad 7 will be a striking new landmark and an important gateway building when it’s completed next year....
read moreJune 2015
Recently proposed changes to the earthquake prone building policy means there are some important points to remember...
read moreJune 2015
We’ve had a few new appointments to our wider team and would like to introduce you to who they are, their roles are and a bit about them....
read moreApril 2015
Two of our senior managers were appointed Technical Directors on April 1, and 12 other staff members...
read moreMarch 2015
Our structural team is offering state of the art structural modelling techniques, with the potential to save clients millions of dollars....
read moreMarch 2015
This year, Harrison Grierson celebrates 130 years in business....
read moreMarch 2015
Harrison Grierson was proud to be finalists in this week’s Australian Financial Review Client Choice Awards 2015 in three separate categories...
read moreDecember 2014
Our water team is riding a wave of success. In the last few months, it’s received four prestigious...
read moreDecember 2014
Two experienced business leaders joined the Harrison Grierson Board in June....
read moreDecember 2014
Our Wellington, Christchurch and Manukau teams have moved to fantastic new premises this year…...
read moreDecember 2014
Kawakawa Bay is a small coastal settlement on the south-east coast of Auckland. Until the installation...
read moreDecember 2014
Adelphi House is a seven-storey heritage building built in 1928. Located in Wellington’s Courtenay Place Heritage Area, it was designed...
read moreMarch 2014
Today’s launch of a new visual identity for Harrison Grierson symbolises two years of significant positive...
read moreDecember 2013
Design work on Stages 2 and 3 of Mount Isa’s $33 million sewerage upgrade has been commissioned, with work...
read moreDecember 2013
Our Water & Waste team is enjoying three major successes...
read moreSeptember 2013
Harrison Grierson has just released its fifth Sustainability Report, outlining our sustainability practices as a company...
read moreJune 2013
A state of the art $10 million upgrade to the 70-year-old Kerepehi water treatment plant on the Hauraki Plains...
read moreJune 2013
An explosion of work on the Christchurch rebuild has seen staff numbers grow by over 200% in 12 months for...
read moreJune 2013
An expert in Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) has jointly won a major New Zealand...
read moreMay 2013
Harrison Grierson structural engineers have recently completed the complex seismic rehabilitation design of...
read moreApril 2013
Harrison Grierson continues its role as professional advisor and design consultant on the Lakes residential project...
read moreApril 2013
When Australasian engineering and design company, Harrison Grierson, appointed Dave Needham as its Tauranga...
read moreSeptember 2017
With uncertainty about who will form our Government after the 23 September elections, we take a look at several of the key sectors we work in and each political party’s policies.
WATER
There have been two contrasting statements on water quality from the Government and opposition parties.
National Party
National has announced $44 million in further funding from its Freshwater Improvement Fund (including for the Waimea Dam), and funding for two irrigation schemes.
The Government has gazetted its updated National Policy Statement, and Regional Councils have until 31 March 2018 to set preliminary regional targets for freshwater quality.
Regional Councils’ implementation of the NPS will largely inform what happens in each region in terms of investment in river and lake clean-up and will have an impact on larger infrastructure projects as well.
Opposition parties
The Labour and Green Parties are both campaigning on introducing a charge on all commercial uses of water. The details will be worked through following nationwide consultation. The Labour Party has indicated its preferred price would be in the region of 1-2c per 1000 litres of water, raising $100 million across the agricultural sector.
The Green Party has indicated that a different regime might apply to hydro generators, while Labour has excluded hydro altogether.
Labour’s policy excludes water takes from municipal water supplies.
Both parties recognise iwi interests and Treaty claims over water would need to be resolved before a charge could be introduced. In reality this raises extremely complex legal issues which will take many years to be resolved. The likelihood of the policy coming to full fruition in the first term of a Labour/Green Government is therefore low.
The lack of detail on the policy has alarmed the rural sector – particularly Federated Farmers, Horticulture New Zealand and Irrigation New Zealand. The overall implications for water infrastructure are: • Charges on all irrigation schemes, affecting the viability of new and existing projects;
• Greater restrictions on dairy intensification, possibly via a new National Policy Statement.
• Funding for dams and other projects directed to Regional Councils via the royalty scheme, rather than through the Freshwater Improvement Fund.
• No direct impact on urban water.
New Zealand First
New Zealand First does not support the water charges proposed by Labour and the Greens. Should Labour form a government with New Zealand First following the election, they may need to revise some or all elements of the policy.
NZ First is focused on the rural sector and winning votes in regional New Zealand, indicating this would be a priority for them in any coalition negotiations with the Labour Party.
TRANSPORT
National Party
The National Party has recently released its full Transport policy. You can expect more of the same – there are unlikely to be any surprises or significant new projects which have not been previously signalled.
In Auckland, the Government is pleased with the impact of the Waterview Tunnel, which in their minds has alleviated some of the immediate pressure to invest in rail to the Airport. National continues to resist calls to include a rail connection to the North Shore in the second harbour crossing. Ministers are aware of challenges with the City Rail Link and will pay close attention to the project.
Funding has been announced for the electrification of rail to Pukekohe, and a third main line from Wiri to Westfield. In general, however, the Government has muted enthusiasm for rail and particularly light rail.
National opposes the introduction of regional fuel taxes – mainly for political reasons rather than any philosophical or economic justification. Privately their position is that there is “plenty of money in the kitty” so no need to bother with unpopular new taxes.
In Wellington, Government funding for transport projects is contingent on Let’s Get Welly Moving and local government decisions. The Prime Minister has repeatedly expressed willingness to invest in Wellington but the Government will not step in over the Council’s leadership.
Opposition parties
Labour has released their transport policy, which includes:
• A light rail network from the CBD to the central suburbs, airport, and West Auckland within the next 10 years.
• A new Bus Rapid Transit line from Howick to the airport.
• New cross-town bus priority routes including New Lynn-Flat Bush, Point Chevalier-Botany, Silverdale-Whangaparaoa, and Howick-Glenfield.
• Regional fuel taxes to fund the acceleration of these projects.
The Green Party has not yet released its full transport policy. Their 2014 policy involved scrapping proposed projects such as the East West Link, and using the funding for public transport projects.
The Greens have set a target for 25 per cent of freight to be moved by rail within 10 years; and will electrify rail between Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga. There is no signal from the Labour or Green parties about the intended process to get procurement of these projects up and running to the timelines they have indicated.
BUILDING AND HOUSING
In early August, the Government released the latest National Construction Pipeline Report. Residential, commercial and infrastructure building activity is forecast to continue to boom for the next three years at least. The report projects 100,000 homes will be built over the next three years. It also shows new construction spreading to the regions rather than just the main centres.
No political party, other than the ACT Party, has yet released policy on Resource Management Act reform. National has campaigned on RMA reform for the last two elections, but passed a watered down version of the RMA Amendment Bill last year. It is doubtful whether National will be able to pass further reform without achieving an outright majority in Parliament.
The Government considers its Housing Infrastructure Fund a success and this is likely to be enhanced in the next term of government, providing opportunities in local infrastructure projects.