Āpōpō Welcomes ‘Built To Last’ Report As Mandate To Strengthen Aotearoa’s Infrastructure Asset Management System

Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington – Āpōpō - Infrastructure Asset Management Professionals, Aotearoa New Zealand’s lead association for asset management professionals, welcomes the Built to Last report released by the Helen Clark Foundation and WSP as a timely and compelling call to invest in the long-term resilience of the nation’s infrastructure.

The report’s emphasis on sustainability, stewardship, equity, and system reform aligns directly with Āpōpō’s purpose: to enhance the capability of asset management professionals for Aotearoa New Zealand through education, accreditation, guidance, and thought leadership.

Supporting a Future-Ready Workforce

Āpōpō strongly endorses all seven recommendations made in the report - particularly Recommendation 4: Increase Asset Management Workforce Capability. With 99% of infrastructure already in place (Te Waihanga 2024), and future investment expected to prioritise maintenance and renewal, effective asset management is more critical than ever. Skilled knowledgeable professionals are needed now and in the future to take responsibility for delivering that effective asset management. New Zealand does not have sufficient capability in asset management to ensure we are realising all the economic, environmental, social and cultural value from our past current and future investments in infrastructure.

"Meeting these challenges requires more than money - it requires a shift to long-term, integrated thinking to deliver the competency and capacity in asset management that we require," says Murray Pugh, Āpōpō Chief Executive. "Asset management must be recognised as an essential discipline that safeguards intergenerational wellbeing, and this must be supported by formal education and certification pathways to ensure credible practitioners are added to the profession."

Āpōpō is already leading this shift. Through nationally recognised learning pathways, credentials, and technical guidance, the organisation is upskilling professionals across central and local government, the private sector, and community organisations. Its Professional Practice Accreditation Scheme - aligned with the Global Certification Scheme (GCS) of the World Partners in Asset Management – (WPiAM), offers recognition for practitioners at two levels: Asset Management Associate (AMA) and Asset Management Chartered Professional (AMCP).

Underpinned by Āpōpō’s Competency Framework, which integrates international standards (GFMAM) and ISO, the Pou Herenga model of culturally grounded practice, this scheme is building a skilled, knowledgeable, and ethical asset management workforce for the future.

Strengthening Organisations and System Leadership

Āpōpō is preparing an Organisational Accreditation programme to help lift asset management maturity at a system level. The initiative will recognise public and private infrastructure asset owning organisations for demonstrating excellence in asset governance, planning, continuous improvement, stakeholder engagement, and value realisation.

Additionally, Āpōpō co-convenes with Te Waihanga – New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, the Central Government Asset Management Community of Practice. This collaboration provides a platform for asset owning agencies to share challenges and coordinate efforts for better outcomes.

Embedding Long-Termism and Te ao Māori Values

The HCF and WSP report highlights the tension between short-term political cycles and the long-term nature of infrastructure decisions. Āpōpō advocates for systems thinking, where infrastructure planning and asset management are grounded in wellbeing, resilience, and intergenerational equity.

Āpōpō’s work draws on global frameworks and adapts them to Aotearoa’s unique context. Te ao Māori principles are woven throughout guidance and professional standards (such as the next generation authoritative Āpōpō Guide and the Infrastructure Valuation and Depreciation Guidelines), reinforcing stewardship and interconnectedness for delivering value that benefits all communities.

The 2024 Āpōpō Supreme Award for Asset Management Excellence went to Nelson City Council for its Kaupapa Māori Asset Management Framework - an iwi-led, values-driven approach that exemplifies the future of asset management in Aotearoa. Built to Last recognises this project as a national exemplar.

Professionalising the System

Āpōpō calls on central government to take immediate action to support the professionalisation of the sector:

1. Recognise Āpōpō’s accreditation schemes within the public sector capability framework.
2. Invest in professional development and an education-to-employment talent pipeline.
3. Support organisational accreditation to lift asset management maturity and embed continuous improvement.
4. Partner with professional bodies to co-develop national guidance, build communities of practice, and align with public value.

Building a Resilient Future

Built to Last affirms what asset management professionals have long known: our infrastructure future depends on people, capability, and culture.

“We thank the Helen Clark Foundation and WSP for their leadership in advancing this critical conversation,” says Murray Pugh. “The time to act is now - together, we can support competent and capable asset management professionals to deliver enduring public value from our infrastructure assets.”

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