14 Feb 2025
Engineering New Zealand is deeply concerned about the decline in engineering roles in New Zealand as the pipeline of work all but dries up.
“Government’s halting of work on infrastructure projects has had a devastating impact on the engineering profession,” says Engineering New Zealand Chief Executive Dr Richard Templer.
“Engineers across Aotearoa are struggling – with far too many losing their jobs and leaving for opportunities overseas where demand is immediate. We are worried that we will see another brain drain like what was experienced in the early 2000’s. It took years to rebuild the specialist engineering skills that were lost. It’s simple – we can’t afford to lose more engineers.”
The risk to New Zealand’s development and growth is significant. The engineering profession is critical to the delivery of our essential infrastructure and to our wider economic development. Previous governments have identified New Zealand’s infrastructure deficit as well over 100 billion, and without engineers this need cannot be met.
The loss of engineers during the current work slowdown will also exacerbate the looming long-term skills shortage.
“It is very frustrating seeing the loss of engineers in the short term, when we know that over the long-term New Zealand is facing a shortfall of about 2,300 new engineers every year. Without enough engineers we can’t build the new roads, hospitals, schools and water facilities our country so desperately needs,” says Templer.
“We know that the Government’s Fast Track Approvals regime started this month as an important step towards streamlining infrastructure work. Although this is welcome, we remain concerned about losing crucial engineering skills and workforce. By the time infrastructure work once again ramps up, our country may well find itself without the engineers it needs.”
Engineering New Zealand is calling for the Government to urgently free up funds for delivery and firm up the infrastructure pipeline.
“We have asked Ministers to include targets for infrastructure delivery in Government quarterly action plans. New Zealand cannot afford to wait – we need to get major project design and procurement underway as soon as possible. The funds for infrastructure projects need to be prioritised and released,” says Templer
“New Zealand also needs a clear, committed infrastructure pipeline that outlives each political term. Engineers need to know what is happening, and when. Otherwise, we will keep losing our engineers and will pay the price. An engineering skills crisis is evident – the time to act is now.”
This Government has high hopes for productivity and growth – but engineers are needed to help deliver major projects so that New Zealanders enjoy prosperous lives.
Further reporting
- Andrew Dickens: The Government needs to act fast to save our engineers from leaving the country – NewstalkZB (18 February 2025)
- Richard Templer: Why engineers are flocking to Australia – NewstalkZB (17 February 2025)
- New Zealand faces engineering crisis as job losses mount – B2BNEWS (17 February 2025)
- Engineering New Zealand's Richard Templer on why engineers are leaving New Zealand – The Platform New Zealand (17 February 2025)
- 'Devastating': Hundreds of engineers leaving NZ due to infrastructure delays, CEO claims – RNZ (16 February 2025)
- Engineering New Zealand calls for release of infrastructure funds amid job shortage – NewstalkZB (16 February 2025)
