AROTAHI PEREHITANGA TUAWHĀ / ISSUE 04

In this special edition: We celebrate 150 years of the infrastructure & environments that have shaped Aotearoa New Zealand PAGE 04 PAGE 06 Powering up Powering to Aotearoa the future

Welcome to the 150th anniversary issue of Arotahi magazine. 2020 marks 150 years of WSP in Aotearoa New Zealand. PAGE 08 From the earliest roads and railways that connected communities, to the power stations that created energy for the nation, the airports that have connected Aotearoa to the How earthquakes rest of the world and enabled regional growth, and the buildings that facilitate democracy, health and learning, we’ve been there. shaped our As we started the year our focus was on how we would recognise such a momentous milestone in our history. We had big plans to celebrate with current and former staff, clients and the communities that we have been part infrastructure of for so long. But 2020 hasn’t been a year for best laid plans to play out. There isn’t anyone reading this that hasn’t had to adjust due to the short and longer-term implications of COVID-19. In this issue we explore some of the major milestones that have shaped Aotearoa. Many of the challenges we faced at the time were also huge, PAGE 10 PAGE 12 from forging transport and power networks in difficult terrain to earthquake response and recovery. Reshaping Ahuriri Napier Adapting to First as the Public Works Department, evolving into Ministry of Works, Works Consultancy Services, Opus International, WSP Opus, and now WSP. The history of WSP is in many ways the history of the built environment in Aotearoa. Resilience We continue to leverage this pioneering legacy on behalf of our clients to create adaptive and resilient design solutions which will stand the test of time for the next 150 years. On behalf of the WSP team, I’d like to thank you for your continued collaboration and support. Ngā mihi,

PAGE 14 PAGE 16 Connecting Designing Ian Blair Communities transport Managing Director, in Aotearoa for people WSP in New Zealand not cars

Editor & Writer: Kate Palmer // Designer & Illustrator: Anisha Panchia – Creative Solutions Cover Image: Ministry of Works, Archives New Zealand, R19849452, Christchurch-Lyttelton Tunnel publicity illustration 1963, CH639/55, box 3 © WSP, The Westhaven, 100 Beaumont St, Auckland, New Zealand // wsp.com/nz

PAGE 18 Tō Tātou Whakapapa - Our Whakapapa THE PEOPLE PAGE 20 THAT The history of SHAPED US WSP in Aotearoa PAGE 03 // ISSUE 04 // AROTAHI Powering up Aotearoa

Aotearoa New Zealand has a Harnessing energy Lake Coleridge was the first major Demand and supply least 60% self-sufficient in energy hydro power plant to open and and to attract foreign investment world-leading electricity system from water In the second half of the 1920s is credited with establishing in energy-intensive industries. The that is affordable, secure, reliable demand for supply dramatically In 1903, the rapid growth in the country’s commitment to strategy called for more hydro and renewable. increased, driven by the availability demand for electricity could be renewable hydro energy. Opened in development, intensified oil of electricity and electrical At present around 40% of our foreseen and the government 1915, it was built to supply electricity exploration, and the use of appliances. By the start of WWII primary energy and 85% of our commissioned a series of to Christchurch and high users recently-discovered natural demand had outstripped supply electricity is from renewable investigations and reports. of power from the new station gas reserves, either directly and the need to generate more sources, the third highest level in included tramways, the freezing or to manufacture synthetic The development of hydropower electricity was urgent. the OECD. in Aotearoa was initially fostered works, and the dairies and butter petrol. An investigation carried out by The foundations for this were through a report on national factories. The Christchurch tramway Concurrently, a new debate the Chief Electrical Engineer in hydropower resources by the had already been electrified, being was emerging about how to laid over the last 150 years. 1945 estimated that allowing for a Superintending Engineer of fed by power generated in four provide ample electricity without Investigating, designing, building natural rate of growth, the limits of the Public Works Department. steam turbines, and the switchover unduly harming the environment. and maintaining the dams, hydro-electric capacity in the North The report was based on field to power from Coleridge led to Environmental campaigners were schemes and stations have Island would be reached between investigations and provided a a saving of £2,000 per year in critical of the effect big dams had delivered economic expansion 1959 and 1962. It was around this basis for systematic and prioritised electricity costs. on the landscape and wildlife and and improved living conditions time that investigatory work into hydropower development to meet By 1918, it was widely recognised the last major hydro project to be through nationwide access to thermal power also began and, national needs. that water provided the most completed was the Clyde Dam. renewable electricity. Continuing in 1948, the Commissioner of Because it was directed to finding economical power source for this today our experts look to how Works went to Italy to study the Now, as Aotearoa transitions cheap sources of hydro-electricity large scale development. The we’ll power our future in a way geothermal scheme at Lardarello. towards a 100% renewable near known or expected centres government investigated large electricity future, WSP experts that meets changing needs and While the commitment to hydro of load, it didn’t cover the full schemes in the North Island with continue the tradition of powering resources. power existed, at one stage in the potential of the country. As such, the intention of creating an island- the country. This includes helping 1950s, more money was being some sites were excluded as being wide system and this became the to establish the early wind spent on power development from outside the foreseeable needs foundation of a fully integrated farms, exploration on the steam and coal than on hydro of the country, or the technical electricity system based on hydro potential of hydrogen and projects. In 1963 the geothermal competence of the day. power. ensuring the grid can Wairakei Power Station was withstand the impact of delivering more energy than any increased demand as other station in the North Island. companies move to By the early 1960s most North electric vehicle fleets. Island hydro sites had been developed and the opening of the HDVC Inter-Island link in 1965 helped increase hydro capacity in the South Island. The late 1960s saw the introduction of natural gas from Kapuni and the possibility of exploitation of the Maui gas field. Following the 1970s global energy crisis which saw oil prices increase exponentially, the Government embarked on the ‘Think Big’ growth strategy. This aimed to make New Zealand at See more about our current NZ’s first major hydroelectric and historic Power projects at power station at Lake Coleridge wsp.com/nz/arotahi

PAGE 05 // ISSUE 04 // AROTAHI Powering to the future

With over 80% of our electricity coming from renewable resources, Aotearoa is well ahead of the world. As part of WSP’s 150 anniversary, Rebecca Tjaberings, Director Power, looks at how we sustain this in light of climate change.

This large hydro base brings uptake and a growing population. High or more extreme wind technologies and innovations that minimising the start-up costs of advantages with the ability to store Hotter, drier summers will push up conditions may impact wind will ultimately allow us to meet the thermal generation by running at water in lakes and turn generation electricity consumption to meet the generation if the turbines are 100% renewable goal. minimum loads and using excess energy in other ways, such as on and off when needed to meet need for cooling – during a period unable to operate in the conditions. These include utility scale batteries, generating hydrogen. Hydrogen the demand. Further geothermal, that typically is lower demand. In the high wind areas around which are coupled with wind farms Wellington and the Wairarapa, has the potential to use excess wind and other renewable sources Although we can certainly increase or solar PV, and pumped hydro conditions are already more energy from renewables and, for such as solar will be an essential our renewables to meet the schemes, where water is pumped challenging than other countries. example, we could use wind to part of meeting the country’s increase in demand and to work during times of low electricity cost Other potential impacts on our create hydrogen to be used as an growing power demand, but towards the 2035 target of 100% / demand. Other trends include renewables may be from heavy alternative form of energy for buses. don’t have this same dispatchable renewables, getting rid of the last the use of distributed energy rainfalls resulting in flooding and nature, given that they are more of the thermal generation isn’t so resources (smaller scale wind / solar risks to dam safety, or damage to intermittent (wind, solar) or operate straightforward. We still need a / batteries) that can help optimise infrastructure, as well as a rise of sea best as a steady load (geothermal). cost-effective solution to provide the balance between supply and levels resulting affecting river flows. However, renewable energy requires generation when required without demand, with it being managed at an abundant source and in dry having to overinvest in renewables. In effect, more extreme weather will a local level with reduced reliance impact most forms of renewable on the traditional large-scale hydrological years we use non- Climate change adds to this power and could make it harder to generation and transmission. Use renewables such as gas or coal to challenge, especially as the exact consistently meet demand from of digital data and improvements generate electricity. These plants nature of the change and its impact now demand a higher market price renewable sources. in this area support these changes, on the power generation market such as enabling more advanced due to their irregular use and don’t isn’t fully understood. We know Sustaining a 100% renewable meet our zero carbon goals. weather forecasting or providing a it’s likely to mean an increased generation portfolio in a world of better understanding of demand The reality is that without these frequency and severity of droughts, climate change, coupled with the loads and patterns. non-renewable sources we’d which will reduce river flows and drive to zero carbon emissions is a struggle to provide a secure supply lake storage levels. This will increase topic of much thought and debate. In the short term, until storage of electricity for current needs using our susceptibility to dry years and technologies catch up, getting the Options for providing renewable most efficient use of our thermal our current electricity generation our current dependence on non- energy storage are being and distribution system. Electricity renewables will become more infrastructure is likely to still play a implemented or explored here and role. Consideration may be given demand is expected to double pronounced. Rebecca Tjaberings, globally. It is consideration of these to fast starts of gas plants and / or in the next 30 years due to EV WSP Director - Power

AROTAHI // ISSUE 04 // PAGE 06 PAGE 07 // ISSUE 04 // AROTAHI Being one of the most seismically And we’re doing it. Aotearoa is a Engineers can design buildings that active countries in the world, world leader in seismic engineering can withstand substantial shaking, Aotearoa needs to be at the because we’ve learnt from events but the reality is that if a fault line leading edge of protecting and constantly seek to improve. rips through a building, there is people, infrastructure and the Acknowledging that any loss of life little prospect of it remaining safe. How earthquakes economy from the impact of is awful, we can also acknowledge We can’t eliminate all the risks that earthquakes. As part of WSP’s improvements. The Christchurch come from random seismic events and Napier earthquakes were 150 anniversary, Senior Engineer and another Napier, Christchurch, similarly sized but Christchurch Murray Triggs looks at how Kaikōura will strike again in the had a significant reduction in future. earthquakes have shaped our fatalities, something that can infrastructure and continue to largely be attributed to the huge However, with smart science, challenge what we know. improvements in buildings’ seismic innovative engineering and resistance. Where Napier’s fatalities pragmatic policies, we can reduce shaped our occurred in multiple buildings, the the loss of life and the cost. Despite the devastating tragic loss of life in Christchurch earthquakes in Christchurch and predominantly occurred in two Kaikōura happening so close buildings. together, there is no evidence the frequency of earthquakes has Christchurch taught us new lessons changed. GNS measures about and, lest we become complacent, 15,000 earthquakes per year and Mother Nature tested us with of these 150 can be felt, about one the Kaikōura earthquake and infrastructure every three days. However, because highlighted new vulnerabilities. our recent large earthquakes have been close to major population centres, the impact has been Frequency of shaking greater. Every building has a natural This is a real issue. Fatalities frequency. If you give it a strong resulting from earthquakes are enough shove, it will naturally rock predominantly caused by building back and forward with a frequency. failures and tsunamis. Globally A short building may have a period there has been an increase in of 0.2 seconds, but a tall building earthquake fatalities, not because may be at over 2 seconds per sway. of increased seismicity, but because If the frequency of the earthquake’s of urbanisation. And the risk is shaking coincides with the growing. building’s own frequency, it will experience much more extensive By 2025 more than 5,500 million damage. people will live in cities; more than the entire 1990 global rural Typically, short, sharp shaking and urban population. This puts abates near the quake. The an increased concentration of Kaikōura earthquake resulted in people in harm’s way – and is a strong frequency shakes of 0.8-1.2 huge expense in repairing critical seconds that lasted for an unusually infrastructure. long time and particularly affected Wellington buildings in the five to Earthquakes have cost Aotearoa ten storey range. The earthquake close to $50 billion during the was stronger and longer than the last decade, with the Government design standards these buildings spending around $20 billion were designed to. following Christchurch and $2 billion on Kaikōura. These same buildings wouldn’t have been vulnerable with a The challenge for engineers is major earthquake close to the to ensure our infrastructure can centre. Conversely, the one and withstand the impact of seismic two storey, unreinforced masonry activity, reducing the risk of buildings that were untouched fatalities and providing resiliency. by the Kaikōura quake would be Ultimately good design is the more likely to be damaged and Murray Triggs, difference between earthquake potentially cause loss of life in a WSP Project Director survival and disaster. closer quake. Geotechnics & Tunnels

See more stories on our work in Christchurch at wsp.com/nz/resilient-christchurch

PAGE 09 // ISSUE 04 // AROTAHI Reshaping Ahuriri Napier From then to now One of our more recent projects in Ahuriri, the award-winning Rugged and stunningly In all, 356 people were killed and It also resulted in a significant As most of Ahuriri Napier’s Kuaka Gateway, acknowledged the impact the earthquake had on the beautiful, Aotearoa has been 400 required hospital care for change in emphasis within the rebuilding took place in the 1930s landscape. shaped by powerful forces that injuries. Many of the deaths were PWD. Where previously public when Art Deco was fashionable, still cause dramatic impact. caused by collapsed masonry buildings had been the almost Ahuriri architecture is regarded Crucial to success was ensuring The earthquakes, eruptions, buildings, fallen parapets and exclusive concern of the architects, today as being one of the finest minimal impact to the surrounding landslides, floods and storms ornamental features. after the earthquake the role of collections in the world. Ahuriri Estuary and Westshore engineers in structural design that have formed our landscape While utterly devastating, the In fact, Ahuriri and Hastings Wildlife Reserve, a wetland of became increasingly important. demand respect, and custodians work carried out by the Public became the only cities in the world national and ecological significance. of the built environment are Works Department (PWD) was This knowledge reshaped Ahuriri to be built during the Depression. The project provided an and presented new design consistently challenged to design a major factor in preventing the Reconstruction occurred in a opportunity to honour the ecology, challenges. There are few buildings in recognition of this. situation from becoming worse as climate of remarkable co-operation. history and aspirations of the in Hawke’s Bay taller than five the organisation’s resources were Local architects, including J. people of Te-Matau-a Māui, the On February 3 1931, New Zealand storeys and verandas above shop directed towards reconstructing Louis Hay, Finch & Westerholm, region known today as Hawke’s Bay. experienced its worst civil disaster the region. This included restoring fronts — a distinctive feature of New E.A. Williams and Natusch & WSP designers wanted the pou when a devastating earthquake water supplies, replacing sewers, Zealand cities — were no longer Sons as well as the Public Works, artwork to represent the people struck. and repairing and inspecting to be supported from below by collaborated to redesign the city of the place, referencing the five In minutes the 7.8 earthquake houses before they could be posts but instead were suspended centre. Young graduates, recruited historic pā sites once located had changed everything, from the reoccupied. Local survey plans and from above. Projecting ornamental from the Auckland School of around the Ahuriri Estuary. The topography to architecture and land titles had been destroyed, so features were also prohibited. Architecture, brought fresh ideas existing lagoon is a tiny fraction of lifestyle. It deformed the surface of all properties were resurveyed, and Due to the failure of traditional with them. what was there pre-earthquake the land in the surrounding area, interim titles were issued. load-bearing masonry buildings Thomas Mair, the second when the lagoon had five islands in pushing up a long dome running of brick and plaster during the The earthquake prompted a Government Architect who led the it and yacht races used to happen. northeast-southwest that was 17 km earthquake, modern construction thorough review of New Zealand Architectural Division of the Public wide and over 90 km long. methods were adopted that building codes, which were found Works Department from 1922 to employed reinforced concrete for Find out more about Kuaka Gateway at Sea water draining from Ahuriri to be totally inadequate and in 1935 1942, designed the iconic Former all new buildings. wsp.com/nz/kuaka-gateway Lagoon created more than 2,000 earthquake design standards for Ministry of Works building and post hectares of new land – now the site buildings were introduced for the office in Ahuriri. His tenure also of Hawke’s Bay Airport. first time. included the building of Rotorua’s Blue Baths.

AROTAHI // ISSUE 04 // PAGE 10 The lifeline studies characterised resilience through a framework of high-medium-low risks. However, TRIANGLE OF because this didn’t factor in the accessibility required by society, RESILIENCE CONCEPT the framework couldn’t be related to asset management, emergency response planning and other EVENT Time for recovery needs. That moment came during Adapting to our research into the systematic Normal management of resilience risks LEVEL OF Extent in 2000-2005. This allowed us of loss of SERVICE to develop the resilience metrics service of ‘availability state’ (degree of RESILIENCE availability or non-availability of the Reduced (smaller the area, transport link) and ‘outage state’ greater the resilience) (how long the availability is likely to be impaired), using the triangle of TIME resilience concept. Interestingly, we used the Kaikōura coast transport corridor in the Resilience South Island and the Wellington city network as pilot studies. We of vulnerability in earthquakes, were required or access, reinforced applied this to several transport tsunami and storms, the first thing the need to consider resilience as a networks and this enabled asset of its kind in New Zealand. region-wide system. We developed a business case for Waka Kotahi NZ owners and emergency response Key insights from the Canterbury Transport Agency that considered planners to understand the issues earthquakes were incorporated the Wellington transport network and incorporate into their resilience as well as the impact of the and led to us recommending response planning. Kaikōura earthquake on Wellington. strengthening alternative routes Following Kaikōura roads were In 2008, on my return from rather than just the primary route. a New Zealand Society for closed not just from damage, but Earthquake Engineering also due to damage or collapse It’s challenging to juggle the reconnaissance mission to learn risk from adjacent buildings. With consideration of multiple from the devastating magnitude 8 this in mind we extended the dimensions of availability and Wenchuan Earthquake in China, I assessment to include resilience outage, differing needs in LIHP was thrust into the transport ‘war impacts on access associated with and HILP events, functionality room’ during the simulated Project building damage. and response and recovery across a spatially distributed Phoenix earthquake exercise. It Lessons from a variety of storm and interconnected network. shocked me that some of the state and modest earthquake events However, using GIS and this Our ability to provide access to highway corridors were planned to as well as the more devastating Road networks are key lifelines multi-dimensional approach we communities comes under strain in be opened in a mere six days, when earthquakes reinforced the need to for communities and are vital were able to develop a unique the event of natural hazards such as I had just observed similar highways consider different level of hazards. for response and recovery after and robust programme of long- earthquakes and storms. Hazards being cut off for over six months in major incidents. As part of WSP’s For example, a modest event – term resilience enhancement continually test vulnerabilities, China. 150 anniversary Pathmanathan Low Impact, High Probability actions for Wellington. These challenge our thinking and force us Brabhaharan (Brabha), WSP By 2012 we had begun (LIHP), where society is almost include emergency response to adapt. Technical Director Geotechnical, characterising the resilience of fully functional - requires a level of planning, enhanced preventative looks at the evolution of thinking It’s an ongoing process, especially the highways in the Wellington access approaching normal levels. resilience enhancement measures, region, integrating this with the on resilient transport in Aotearoa. with new technologies and However, a major event – High communication, strengthening of threats emerging. I look back at local authority transport networks Impact, Low Probability (HILP) critical sections, introduction of new the Wellington lifeline studies into one regional network – would see the socio-economy connections and measures that carried out in the early 1990s, resilience map. Insights from grind to a halt and priority access need to be integrated into future which identified risks to roads this work allowed us to promote required for emergency response, transportation projects. I have no and other critical lifelines, but the importance of resilience for supply of essentials and recovery doubt that we’ll need to continue to lacked a systematic approach that the proposed Transmission Gully from the event. These have quite adapt our thinking as we continue didn’t address the impact on the expressway and, building on the different resilience needs and both on the path to greater resilience. network. By the late 1990s, when lessons from the 2008 Wenchuan need to be planned for. we investigated the resilience of earthquake, develop concepts to enhance resilience. This led to an Lessons from my reconnaissance Pathmanathan Wellington’s transport networks, assessment of the critical resilience following the 2016 Kumamoto Brabhaharan (Brabha), we’d adopted a network-wide issues for Wellington’s transport earthquake in Japan, where major WSP Technical Director approach using a geospatial network that incorporated GIS and highway routes were closed for Geotechnical platform (GIS). assessed risks against the degree many weeks and alternative routes

AROTAHI // ISSUE 04 // PAGE 12 PAGE 13 // ISSUE 04 // AROTAHI A community’s transport system and network is its life blood, providing the Connecting means of moving its people, goods, freight and commodities. For 150 years, WSP has been closely involved in the development and maintenance of the transport infrastructure that supports this. From the establishment of the first rail links, our involvement has included development of the national highway network, Communities design and construction of road and rail bridges and tunnels, development of ports and harbours and construction of international and regional airports. Today our role continues, in Aotearoa as we plan the infrastructure that will support the transport modes of tomorrow.

Where it began In 1870 Julius Vogel, Colonial Building railways and roads in a terrain and earthquakes posed a Treasurer, unveiled the most mountainous, geologically unstable high risk of landslide. Surveying ambitious public works and and swampy country was a difficult was carried out in dense, virgin assisted-immigration programme in challenge. New Zealand lacked forest in uninhabited areas. These New Zealand’s history. It was to be capital and labour but, compared factors, together with the wish to funded by massive borrowing in the to Britain and Europe, land was build quickly and cheaply, led to London money markets, reaching relatively cheap. Rather than the adoption of a narrow 3 ft 6 in £10m by 1876 and £21m by 1881 build the most direct routes with (1,067-mm) gauge as the national (equivalent to $1.5bn and $3.5bn expensive earthworks, tunnels and standard. respectively in 2020). stone bridges, it made sense to Progress was made quickly. Within build longer, winding routes around This would be spent on assisted two years the Department had obstacles, to erect wooden trestle (government-subsidised) opened 960km of roads and within bridges, and to tolerate tight curves immigration and on building or 10 years 2,112 km of railway was open and steep gradients. improving infrastructure, including for traffic. the telegraph network, roads, public Conditions made for dangerous From the 1870s to 1920s railways buildings and port facilities. Its construction, particularly in isolated opened the country for settlement, centerpiece was a promise to build areas where bringing in supplies linked communities and made more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of was difficult. Heavy rainfall led to transportation of goods for export a railway in nine years. flooding, which regularly washed feasible proposition. away early bridges and the humidity The undertaking was massive. caused wood to rot. Unstable

Roads vs railway Then to now While railway construction Transport connections bring followed by public transport. The dominated public works policy, economic vitality for the benefit of Index also showed that leading there was a strong preference communities and the environment. cities had a blueprint to reduce their for roads. Traction engines were Cities and towns of the future must Greenhouse Gas emissions and, as deemed a more viable transport support happy and productive such, planning the infrastructure to model for farm produce, wool and communities with good transport support the transition to low carbon – increasingly – dairy. This drove the links. transport is a priority. requirement for metalled roads as The 2018 WSP Global Cities Index, Solutions to supporting this, such as rapid and reliable transport was looked at how cities are preparing infrastructure for cycling and other essential. This plus the increased use for a future shaped by the major micro mobility options, connecting of motor vehicles from the 1920s urban transitions of our day: people to public transport hubs, onwards, created a demand for urbanization; density and growth; and the electrification of public and safer, more reliable roading. digital disruption; emerging private vehicles, present their own mobility; evolving utilities models challenges and is something WSP and a changing climate. experts are helping clients develop. The issues that demand cities’ attention the most are housing, See more about the Global Cities both the cost and availability, Index at wsp.com/nz/cities-index

PAGE 15 // ISSUE 04 // AROTAHI Imagine a city where the car is no longer king and everything a community needs is within easy access. Risto Jounila, WSP Technical Director Transport, explains how we can achieve it through developing human- oriented transport routes.

Designing Imagine. Your home is in a place In the city centre, urban diversity The beauty in urban capacity is in that is safe and attractive. You and creates a resilient and vibrant the fact that it serves both – land use your family can walk and cycle to society. This diversity calls for planning and transport planning. schools, shops, cafés and jobs. In less proximity and connectivity, or As a result of this thinking Helsinki’s than a block, you can get a haircut ‘reachability’. The methodology for growth will transform many of the or go to the dentist. There are a measuring urban capacity considers motorway-like thoroughfares into transport for variety of places you can meet up the possibilities for people to boulevards with adjacent mixed with friends and it’s easy to move interact. People, jobs, properties and use development that support around your neighbourhood. If you services within a neighbourhood public transport and increase need to travel further there are (area within walking distance the attractiveness of walking and options that don’t require a car. of a given location, 700 m) are cycling. people This city has frequent, comfortable measured and define this urban The densification of a city has to and safe transport facilities capacity. happen in a way that is attractive and services are available on Planners recognise that as the for everybody – people/residents, neighbourhood roads: bike lanes, urban structure becomes denser, businesses and services. However, trams, buses, ride shares. You the need for mobility increases, the journey to urban boulevards can also drive a car to and from whereas the space available for has been challenging and there not cars your home, but you don’t have to traffic doesn’t. A dense urban was significant opposition. Key to own a car. For one city this vision structure needs an efficient success was educating stakeholders became reality through a bold new transport system, capable of moving and authorities about the positive approach to urban growth. maximum of people and materials effects of transforming motorways to a ‘less efficient’ transport corridor Helsinki has transformed its thinking in limited space. and executing a broad range of around assessing land use and Urban capacity is highest in areas interactive methods during the movement concepts, leading to the that are densely built up, where process to ensure that citizens were development of the ‘urban capacity’ mixed land use creates high closely involved. methodology. levels of activity within a highly People behave according to the Traditionally traffic engineers connected street network. Features environment and opportunities that measure traffic capacity (vehicle and that diminish urban capacity are available. Sustainable modes of people throughput) and end up include highways and massive transport will be the most attractive with car-centric solutions (because shopping centres because they limit choice if street space is prioritised ‘the transport model told you so’). neighbourhood interactions and for active and public transport. Meanwhile, architects measure accessibility. My challenge is to not let the car residential capacity (quality of living) When done well urban capacity has dictate how our environment looks. when planning land use and tend a positive impact on traffic. While We know what attractive and safe to accept their solution as a given, the number of trips per person neighbourhoods look like, so why because the reasoning for it is doesn’t change, the modes do not make it happen? based on years of this thinking. Both (because the trip generators are groups have developed their own near each other). A neighbourhood tools to measure the performance with good urban capacity provides of any given solution for many many services within walking decades but don’t speak the same distance and mean walking language when approaching and cycling trips are the most planning. This is why cars continue convenient way of moving. High to dominate. urban capacity also calls for effective public transport services.

Risto Jounila, WSP Technical Director Transport

PAGE 17 // ISSUE 04 // AROTAHI Bob Semple government’s infrastructure For example, had the Nelson investment. He reshaped the PWD aerodrome been constructed using Unconventional agitator Bob by resuming its original function the depression methods of hand Semple was one of the more as the development arm of the shovels and wheelbarrows, it would colourful personalities of the Public government by phasing out its have cost $350,000 and taken Works Department. He arrived in focus on relief work from the Great three years to complete. Using New Zealand under an assumed Depression. earthmoving equipment and other name from Australia, where he He had a genuine enthusiasm machinery meant the job was done was blacklisted following a failed in 16 months, for $70,000. miner’s strike in 1903. Here, he was for public works and a total jailed in 1913 for supporting the commitment to their efficient Semple was also a prolific user of construction. His belief that society ‘unparliamentary language’ during THE general strike and again in 1916 after fighting conscription for overseas could be transformed by improving his time as an MP and was fond service during WWI. the physical condition and of insulting colleagues by calling environment of New Zealanders or comparing them to Australian PEOPLE A staunch unionist, Semple was gave public works an idealistic animals such as kookaburras, never far from politics and stood for rationale. kangaroos and dingoes. Wellington City Council and later the 1925 general election. In 1935 He recognised that during the Ironically, given his criticism of THAT depression the professional staff compulsory military training that when Labour won office he was chosen by Michael Savage as the had been expected to use archaic led to his prison sentence, Semple Minister of Public Works. methods and determined they is largely remembered for the WWII should have all the plant and ‘Bob Semple tank’. The tank was SHAPED US Anecdotes from this period show machinery necessary to undertake made from corrugated iron and Semple in an amusing light with work. The mechanisation of the a tractor base. Although it had one staffer recollecting, “Bob had department in the late 1930s is seen numerous design flaws and other a habit of potting off rabbits, hares, as one of the great achievements practical problems and was never hawkes and other game from the of the Semple ministry. This caused put into production, it continues to From the earliest days of the Public Works Department through to the present day, our people have always fast-moving ministerial car on his a dramatic reduction in the time be regarded with affection by many trips around the country.” been future-focused and challenged the status quo. Here we look at three iconic characters from WSP that taken to complete major projects New Zealanders. have shaped Aotearoa over the last 150 years. He was seen by many as the and their cost. public face of the first Labour

Julius Vogel Not all his ideas were supported. Anno Domini 2000, or, Woman’s Vogel advised setting aside land Destiny is regarded as New Undoubtedly the most influential for debt repayment, but this was Zealand’s first science fiction novel, Max Smith He barely tolerated any interest He also spoke out against the figure in the history of the Public from head office in Wellington in MOWs plan to abandon Twizel largely ignored. Had this approach was uncanny in its predictions and Another larger-than-life personality, Works Department (PWD) was been taken it may have lessened well ahead of its time. various aspects of the development, when the project was completed. the politician responsible for Max Smith was a controversial the severity of the 1880s depression. and his pragmatic attitude towards His daughter told the Otago Daily establishing it in 1870, Julius Vogel. In his fictional Y2K, men and figure, well-respected by his staff what he felt was good for the newly Since the 1860s he had argued women ‘take part in the affairs but at odds with authority. Times that her father was in no Vogel is credited as a bold visionary, for higher education for girls and born town of Twizel meant he was doubt that the workforce should of the world on terms of equality, A civil engineer by trade, Smith sometimes referred to by locals as particularly his plan to revive New in 1887 he introduced the first each member of either sex enjoying be kept intact for future projects Zealand’s faltering economy. In women’s suffrage bill in parliament. went to Twizel to put into practice ‘God’. outside the region and that Twizel the position to which he or she the National government “Think setting up the PWD he initiated Although unsuccessful it was only is entitled by reason of his or her The Otago Daily Times reports that should be retained. an ambitious 10-year programme six years before women were given Big” policy, including a series qualifications.’ Women take leading during the project, prefabricated “It was a new town with all-new of public works and large-scale the vote here, the first country in of dams and canals across the roles in areas such as science, toilet blocks, water supplies, boat infrastructure and people wanted assisted immigration, funded by the world to do so. Mackenzie Basin. business and particularly politics, in harbours and ramps, trees and to remain living there for all sorts of extensive borrowing on the London Some things worked however. His a world in which every 18-year-old Smith was responsible for the concrete fireplaces suddenly reasons. Many of these workers and money market. policy to encourage immigration man and woman is eligible to vote upper Waitaki development appeared at key spots, often their families had known no other The success of this policy depended doubled the population of New and stand for election. scheme. At the time it was the without planning consents. lifestyle and Max felt a duty of care largest development of its kind with on the rapid and cheap acquisition Zealand in the 1870s. Along with Women hold the most powerful Smith was notoriously dismissed for them to be able to purchase of Māori land by the Crown, a policy roads and railway, public works workers operating around the clock, from the Ministry of Works for their homes and remain there if political positions in that world. shifting mountains of earth, pouring that is completely at odds with the laid telegraph cables to improve The president of the United States misuse of public funds after they wished.’’ way we would approach things international communication and thousands of tonnes of concrete, is a woman, and an Irish woman is he authorised the spending of His legacy is wide-reaching. From today. trade. fabricating steel and installing $130,000 to build a rowing venue. prime minister of a federated British complex electrical systems. the Lakes Aviemore and Benmore However, Vogel and his supporters He also advocated setting aside Empire. Lake Ruataniwha was formed by recreational, camping and boating were certain that Māori and settlers intact old growth forest and When he took over as project damming the Ohau River and the facilities to the huge canal-based Interestingly, in 2000, New engineer in 1970, he had a vision for would be reconciled after the New replanting cut forests. Zealand’s Head of State, Governor rowing course wasn’t part of the power scheme wending its way Zealand Wars once Māori – and the Upper Waitaki and Mackenzie hydro scheme. While head office from Lake Tekapo to Lake Benmore Vogel was also much more than General, Prime Minister, Chief areas: he wanted to create a their land – were fully integrated a politician. Prior to standing for Justice and Attorney General were was aware of the project the final with its five power stations, the into the European economy. resource that could be used by New straw was the financial contribution last commissioned in 1985. The representation in public office he all women, as was the CEO of Zealanders with small pay-packets started the Otago Daily Times, and Telecom. to ensure the regatta control construction town of Twizel survives or older folk living on little more building was constructed in time for as a result of his determination to once he left politics he penned a than their pension. novel about life in the year 2000. the official opening of the lake as a prevent its being bulldozed. public facility.

AROTAHI // ISSUE 04 // PAGE 18 PAGE 19 // ISSUE 04 // AROTAHI 1904 1947 1966 Public Works Department recognises Public Works Department Auckland International Airport opens potential for electricity in Waitaki Valley becomes Ministry of Works (MoW)

1965 Cook Strait HVDC cable integrates 1908 power supply 1879 North Island 1940 between the The South Main trunk Unveiling of 1950 South Island and Island’s main railway opens the Semple NZ’s first North Island trunk line, from tank, a tractor motorway opens Christchurch to adapted to in Wellington Invercargill, is From the earliest roads and serve as an completed railways that connected armoured communities, to the power stations 1914 fighting vehicle that created energy for the nation, NZ’s first major the airports that have connected hydroelectric 1965 Aotearoa to the rest of the world 1953 Newmarket power station Construction and enabled regional growth, Viaduct opens opens at Lake begins on the and the buildings that facilitate 1870 Coleridge Port of Tauranga democracy, health and learning, Creation of the we’ve been there. Here we take a Public Works look at the events and milestones Department that shaped WSP and Aotearoa. (PWD) by Sir 1939 - 1945 1964 Julius Vogel WWII, PWD Marsden Point focuses on 1955 Oil Refinery massive defence Wellington water opens 1914 - 1918 construction supply design WWI half of all programme and construction engineers enlist, Pioneering Aotearoa 1870-1913 severe labour The War Years 1914-1945 shortage Post-War Aotearoa 1946-1969 1964 Lyttelton Tunnel 1957 opens Scott Base 1937 established Mohaka Railway 1923 Viaduct opens - 1963 Otira Tunnel the tallest World’s first opens - linking viaduct in power station to Canterbury and Australasia develop from a the West Coast 1959 wet steam field Auckland opens in Wairakei Harbour Bridge opens

1959 Rongotai (Wellington) Airport opens

1934 1935 Waitaki Dam opens - first Chipseal developed by major dam in the South Island PWD engineer, Fred Hansen

PAGE 21 // ISSUE 04 // AROTAHI 1990 1996 2019 2020 2021 The District Court and Central WDSC sold to Kinta Kellas of WSP Opus WSP turns 150 Waikato Police Station open in Wellington Malaysia and rebrands to Opus becomes in Aotearoa Expressway International Consultants (1997) WSP to open

2001 Britomart Development 100 begins in Auckland 1971 Warkworth 1970 1970 Satellite Station 1989 2007 Natural Gas Ministry Ohaaki completed WSP enters NZ Network of Works Geothermal market commissioned turns 100 Power Station 2019 completed Signing of The 2009 Link Alliance for 2024 Auckland’s City City Rail Link Waikato 1972 Rail Link opens to the Expressway Auckland public Rapid Transit 1988 project Plans unveiled MoWD becomes commences Works and (and shelved) 2018 Development Custom lighting Services 2009 designed and 2024 Corporation West Winds installed for Te Ahu a Turanga: Wind Farm the Auckland Manawatu opens in Harbour Bridge Tararua Highway Wellington opens 1972 Manapouri 1988 Dunedin’s Power Station 2015 completed ‘Octagon’ 2018 renovated into Margaret Mahy WSP Opus Playground opens modern day involved in design 2030 plaza to bring joy back of Scott Base Dunedin Hospital to Christchurch Redevelopment after the 2011 Redevelopment 1974 earthquake completed MoW becomes Ministry of Works and 2017 2018 Development 1981 Following Award-winning Huntly Thermal the Kaikōura Kuaka Gateway 2032 Power Station earthquake 2016, opens in Napier Scott Base opens State Highway 1 Redevelopment reopens completed 1977 Beehive 2017 building opens, 2017 Waterview structural design 1978 WSP acquires Tunnel opens in done by MoWD NZ’s longest Opus opening Auckland railway tunnel, up a global Pioneering Aotearoa: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ. Kaimai Tunnel, network of Ref: 1/2-001815-G. WA-32685-F. 1/2-000703-G. The War Years: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ. opens expertise to NZ Ref: 1/2-013703-G. WA-48339. WA-01630-G. WA-48342. Archives New Zealand. Ref: ABKK 24414 W4352 566. AAQT 6539 W3537 Box 180/B13999 Post-War Aotearoa: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ. Ref: WA-29840-F. WA-51638. WA-47260-F. WA-50544. WA-49122. 2017 WA-64768-G. WA-65241-F. WA-73682-G. 1977 Leading-edge Justice Archives New Zealand. Ref: ABWN 23196/1/21a. AAQT 6539 W3537 86 / A88456. R19849452 CH639/55 box 3. Construction of the and Emergency Services AAQT 6539 W3537 68 / A81046. Clyde Dam begins Precinct opens in Christchurch Powering & Connecting Aotearoa: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ. Ref: 1/4-027440-F. Archives New Zealand. Ref: AAQT 6539 W3537 118 / A98705. Drawer 48, D37.359. Powering & Connecting Aotearoa 1970-1989 Dunedin City Council Archives. Dunedin Octagon 1988. Lloyd Homer, GNS Science. Ohaaki Geothermal Power Station. A New Era 1990-2020 A New Era: West Winds Wind Farm, Wellington, Flickr - nzgabriel. Scott Base, Antarctica © Fiona Shanhun. Future 2021 - Auckland Harbour Bridge © Ewan Cafe. Auckland Harbour Bridge © Richard Barclay.

AROTAHI // ISSUE 04 // PAGE 22 PAGE 23 // ISSUE 04 // AROTAHI Me hoki whakamuri, kia anga whakamua. Embrace the past, so we can move boldly into the future.

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