2026 Auckland Awards winners announced

“This year’s finalists are a fantastic reflection of the strength and diversity of Auckland’s engineering community,” says Engineering New Zealand Auckland Branch Chair Steven Wang.

“From innovative infrastructure and sustainability projects to emerging leaders and technical excellence, the entries showcase the creativity, expertise and impact engineers are delivering across the region and beyond, and we’re incredibly proud to recognise their achievements.”

The following awards were presented on the night:

Student Leadership Award sponsored by Oxcon

Awarded to an undergraduate engineering student or group of students, the Student Leadership Award recognises exceptional leadership, collaboration and impact within the engineering community. This year’s winner, South Pacific Indigenous Engineering Students (SPIES) – University of Auckland, highly impressed the judges with their strong focus on community, wellbeing, and leadership, as well as their integration of academic achievement with cultural identity and professional development.

Finalists: Manuel Simon – Unitec, Rayyan Hassan – Unitec

Emerging Leader Award sponsored by Grada Recruitment

This award honours a young engineer who has shown outstanding leadership qualities, career excellence, and community contribution. The winner, Michelle Delves from Air New Zealand, is a values-driven leader and mentor who has demonstrated rapid technical growth alongside meaningful community impact.

Finalists: Emily Collings – Geologix, Simon Ferris – Ghella

Luminary Award sponsored by Steel & Tube

The Luminary Award recognises an Auckland Branch member who has actively and positively promoted Engineering New Zealand and the engineering profession. Matt Mules from Oxcon received the award in recognition of a distinguished 20-year career characterised by his committed advocacy for the profession and its people and his sustained contribution, integrity, and service to the wider engineering community.

Finalists: Dave Brierley – Dave Brierley Consulting, Rob Holland – Nelligan Consulting

Arthur Mead Awards

The Arthur Mead Awards acknowledge significant contributions to environmental sustainability and improvement involving Members of the Engineering New Zealand Auckland Branch. The awards are divided into two categories – projects below $10 million, and projects above $10 million, with each recognising two sub-categories – best in class for infrastructure and best in class for property and buildings – as well as an overall winner.

Arthur Mead Awards for projects below $10 million sponsored by Holyoake

Best in class for Property and Buildings: Ayrburn Hospitality Precinct – CKL

This multi-layer, nature-based solution has delivered measurable water quality improvements and ecological restoration to Lake Hayes. The judges were impressed by the depth of the project’s collaboration with stakeholders, bringing them together into a genuine partnership to restore a treasured regional asset.

Finalists: Auckland Airport Temporary Ramp – GHD

Best in class for Infrastructure and overall winner: UNDP Samoa – E-Alia Electric Ferries – McKay

This project delivered Samoa's first solar and battery-powered ferry service, connecting remote outer-island communities to essential services, employment, education and healthcare. The judges were struck by the deliberate simplicity of the design which prioritised local manufacture, local operation, and local maintenance, resulting in a fit-for-purpose solution that is scalable across the Pacific.

Finalists: Karanga Plaza Jump Platform and Harbour Pool – McConnell Dowell, Queen Street Wastewater Diversion – McConnell Dowell, Tinwald Corridor Improvements – GHD

Arthur Mead Awards for projects above $10 million sponsored by Roskill

Best in class for Property and Buildings: 137 Great North Road – Ascent Structures

This impressive seismic transformation of 137 Great North Road represents a low-carbon, high-performance benchmark for adaptive reuse in urban Auckland. The judges were impressed by the project’s timber-first philosophy which kept seismic mass low and pushed sustainability credentials to Green Star 6 Design, as well as the rigour of the solution across every stage – from foundation design through to construction sequencing.

Finalists: Air New Zealand Hangar 4 – NZ Strong, NZ Blood national offices and laboratories redevelopment – GHD, Simplicity Living’s Te Reiputa – Mitchell Vranjes and Structure Design

Best in class for Infrastructure and overall winner: Central Interceptor – Ghella and Abergeldie

New Zealand’s largest ever wastewater project is recognised for the quality of its evidence base, including strong quantitative data backing up every environmental, sustainability and community outcome claimed by the project. Significant and tangible innovation was also involved in delivering this future-proofing piece of infrastructure for Tāmaki Makaurau that will provide cleaner harbours, rivers and beaches for generations to come.

Finalists: Auckland road network flood recovery – Auckland Transport, Hibiscus Coast water pump station – Watercare, Point Chevalier to Westmere improvements – Auckland Transport, Queen Salote International Wharf upgrade – Tonga – McConnell Dowell

Notes to reporters

Engineering New Zealand is New Zealand's professional body for engineers, with over 23,000 members. We represent – and regulate – our members. We also act as the Registration Authority for Chartered Professional Engineers.

The Auckland Branch is one of 17 branches throughout New Zealand and one in the UK. Run by volunteers, the branches help connect members at a local level, across all disciplines and career stages. Branches also hold events, from networking to site visits and technical talks.

For more information about the Auckland Branch awards and the winning projects, please contact the Engineering New Zealand Communications team at media@engineeringnz.org or 021 211 8100 or reach out to Auckland Branch Chair Steven Wang at auckland.chair@engineeringnz.org or 021 166 4411.