Help Shape the Future of Infrastructure Engagement in Aotearoa

The Engagement Institute is pleased to share an important opportunity for engagement and infrastructure professionals across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Infrastructure New Zealand has launched the I2S Next Generation Engagement Research Programme — a major initiative exploring how social factors influence infrastructure planning and delivery. The aim: build a stronger evidence base so projects land better with communities and decision-makers.

For our network, this work goes straight to the core of good engagement practice — understanding what drives project acceptance, strengthening trust and social licence, reducing delays caused by community opposition, and improving long-term outcomes.

Why Your Voice Matters

In Australia, community and stakeholder opposition has been identified as a leading cause of infrastructure project delays for seven consecutive years. The Australian National University’s Institute for Infrastructure in Society (I2S) has been investigating these social dynamics for nearly a decade, drawing on insights from 7,000+ community members and 150+ project proponents.

Now, through a partnership between Infrastructure New Zealand and I2S / Next Generation Engagement, this research is being extended into the New Zealand context — and your lived experience on the ground is essential.

Whether you work in central or local government, transport, water, energy, planning, or consulting, your insights will help shape a clearer picture of what influences project success and public trust across Aotearoa.

How to Get Involved

You are invited to take part in a short survey, and we recommend exploring the background material first for context:

👉 Watch the webinar 
👉 View the webinar slides 
👉 Complete the survey

The survey has been extended and is now open until COB 23 December.

Led by Recognised Experts

This programme is guided by sector leaders Professor Sara Bice and Kirsty O’Connell, co-founders of I2S and the Next Generation Engagement Program. Their combined expertise spans social licence, social impact, and communication and engagement for major infrastructure projects across Australia, New Zealand and internationally.

As the home of engagement professionals, the Engagement Institute strongly encourages our Aotearoa-based community to take part. If you work at the intersection of infrastructure and community, your voice belongs in this evidence base.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey — and share it across your networks to strengthen the dataset and its impact.