This summer, we welcomed Joel Cory as a Civil Engineering Intern in our Tauranga office. Trading his usual summer job for real-world engineering experience, he was eager to put his studies into practice. Looking for the right opportunity, Joel applied for the role at Vitruvius – and from day one, he knew he’d made the right choice. 

At Vitruvius, we are continually inspired by the calibre of young engineers coming through. Their fresh perspectives, enthusiasm, and eagerness to learn bring so much value to our team. We love taking on interns, providing them with opportunities to grow, and in turn, gaining new insights from their approach to problem-solving. 

Here’s Joel’s perspective on the internship experience: 

From day one, I was welcomed into a team that is not only highly skilled but also incredibly supportive and collaborative. The friendly and open culture made it easy to ask questions, learn from experienced engineers, and feel like a valued part of the team. No two days were the same during my internship. I was involved in a diverse range of projects – from drafting reports and assisting with stormwater and transport assessments to contributing to business case documentation and shadowing engineers on-site. One of the most exciting aspects was getting out in the field, where I could see engineering in action. The variety of work kept things interesting and provided valuable hands-on experience across different areas of civil engineering. 

One of the biggest takeaways from my time at Vitruvius was seeing how the concepts I had learned at university translated into real-world applications. From working with design standards to understanding the complexities of project management, everything started to make sense in a new way. I also gained a much clearer understanding of how projects progress from initial planning to construction, as well as the relationships between clients, contractors, and consultants. Seeing all the moving parts come together was eye-opening and deepened my appreciation for the industry. 

Looking back on my summer at Vitruvius, I can confidently say this experience has been both rewarding and unforgettable. The variety of work, the incredible people, and the opportunities to learn and grow have made this internship one I’ll always appreciate. The team really seemed to get along both within the office and out, socialising together as friends. A memorable highlight has to be the Christmas party where we went out on a launch in the Tauranga harbour.  

For any future interns considering Vitruvius – if you’re looking for an internship that challenges, supports, and inspires you, this is the place to be! For further details please contact careers@vitruvius.co.nz. 

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Vitruvius is proud to have supported Auckland Transport (AT) in delivering the Wiri Depot upgrade project which went into use in November 2024.

The 550m new depot is the main maintenance and stabling facility for Auckland Transports new Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) trains. The project features 10 brand-new stabling roads built by John Holland between October 2023 – November 2024, where Neil Mason acted as the Engineer to Contract, with Henry Watson managing the day-to-day as the Engineer’s Representative.

The entire depot was built up from scratch, covering a number of disciplines containing earthworks, drainage, track, OLE, lighting, signalling, CSR, E&B.

The depot is a crucial part of infrastructure for AT, serving as the hub for the new fleet for the City Rail Link (CRL). Each train visits the depot at least once a month for maintenance, undergoing minor inspections every 1,000 kilometres. As mileage increases, the inspections become progressively more comprehensive, ensuring the fleet remains in peak condition.

Wiri also marks the starting point of the new Third Main Line to be completed by 2025. This additional line will enable freight trains to operate independently of commuter servicers, reducing congestion and facilitating faster, more efficient train journeys.

It was an incredible project to be a part of, being able to watch the depot being built from the ground up.

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Meet Rowan Schwynn, our new Senior Principal – Transport Planner who joined Vitruvius’s Wellington office in June 2024. Rowan’s career spans over 20 years, and nowadays he specialises in public transport planning.

From an early age, Rowan had a passion for the environment which prompted him to study Resource and Environmental Science at Waikato. Soon after graduating, like many of his contemporaries, he had ‘itchy feet’ and his sense of adventure took him abroad, living and working in the UK, America, and Australia. It was in the UK where he first found his calling in transport, where public transport became the perfect synergy between his passion for sustainability and his growing expertise in transport planning.

Whilst overseas he was involved in many innovative and high-profile transport projects, including England’s national traffic control centre and the new Sydney Metro rail network.  More recently he has worked on bus stop planning and stop design for the new Golden Mile project in Wellington that is about to get underway. Rowan is equally adept working on smaller optimisation opportunities in order to come up with fit-for-purpose solutions that make a small but important difference for public transport users. For example, he advises on bus network planning, intelligent transport systems and bus hub improvements.  Rowan is more than happy to share his experience, including his learnings on how to make a true difference in a constrained budget environment.

With Rowan now on board with Vitruvius, we are proud to be able to offer a full suite of public transport advisory services that can help projects of all sizes, including:

• Strategic transport planning (including business cases)
• Public transport network design and optimisation
• Scheduling and timetabling
• Public transport infrastructure design

Rowan’s skills add to the core transport capability in the business, including transport planning and strategy, design and delivery.  Team members have experience in all of the components of the transport lifecycle, including business cases, performance frameworks, procurement design, traffic engineering (civil and digital design), project management, Engineer to Contract and lessons learned reviews.  We even have road pricing and tolling experience, which is highly relevant in the current financially constrained market.

Transport planning is the science of understanding how people and goods move through spaces and how these movements shape—and are shaped by—the environments in which they occur. In essence, transport planning forms a critical link in how we interact and access the world around us. Whether you’re driving on a road, catching a train, taking a bus or boarding a plane, you’ve benefited from the work of a transport planner.

At the core of Rowan’s approach are three key strengths: critical thinking, adaptability, and a commitment to continual learning. Good transport planning, as Rowan puts it, is the foundation of successful transport projects – projects that enable cities to grow, economies to thrive, and enabling meaningful connections between people and their surroundings.. As a passionate advocate and frequent user of public transport, Rowan’s deep commitment to this field is both professional and personal.

Rowan Schwynn,  Senior Principal -Transport Planner

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We would like to congratulate KiwiRail on the reopening of the important Dublin Street / Auckland Street intersection as well as the road and rail level crossing located to the west of this intersection in Picton. The crossing and intersection had been previously closed for over 12 months to enable access changes that had been previously required by the former IREX project.  Following the Government’s decision on IREX earlier this year, both the crossing and intersection was identified as needing to be reinstated as soon as possible.

Vitruvius is proud to have played a crucial role in helping KiwiRail reopen the crossing and intersection.  We delivered a complete end to end design and support package for KiwiRail for the crossing. This included leading the detailed road / rail designs, civil design inputs, project management, construction supervision as well as contract administration to 3910.  Our project work also included collaborating closely with Marlborough District Council, Marlborough Roads and NZTA.

For the community, the reopening of the crossing and intersection has already improved traffic and people movements for the Picton Ferry Terminal as well as for local residents. Local businesses, which had been struggling during the closure, have also welcomed the reopening of these important transport connections.

KiwiRail Project Manager Doug Carter recently told Stuff.co.nz that the reopening of the intersection marked the near-completion of KiwiRail’s efforts to wind down the ferry project. He expressed satisfaction at seeing the “closed” signs removed, noting that the crew had worked long and hard to complete the project ahead of schedule.

The outcome of the Dublin Street project is a fantastic example of our team’s expertise and capability as well as demonstrating our commitment to always ensuring success for our clients.

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We are proud to put the spotlight on Karly Shields, a dedicated mum and Chartered Professional Civil Engineer based remotely in Tairāwhiti, Gisborne. Karly has been a valued member of the Vitruvius team for three years and in early 2024 she returned to her hometown of Gisborne with her young family.

Karly moved away from the region for university in Christchurch and after completing her Civil Engineering degree, she worked in Wellington, London and Tauranga before the opportunity to move into the homestead she grew up in presented itself. Vitruvius were fully supportive of the move and welcomed the opportunity to connect into one of the most remote regions in the North Island.

Gisborne has had its fair share of challenges over the last couple of years including the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023 followed by a further extreme rain event in June 2023. This was the perfect opportunity for Vitruvius to provide local support and considering three other team members in the Tauranga office (including myself) are from Gisborne, there was a particularly keen interest in seeing the region bounce back and flourish.

One of the challenges for Gisborne is its ability to attract skilled engineers, mostly due to its remoteness. Karly being a Chartered Professional Engineer specialising in Three Water Infrastructure Design brings much needed skills with experience in not only engineering design, but leading, procuring and providing contract administration and construction supervision on projects.

Over the past few months, Karly has been actively building relationships with the Gisborne District Council (GDC) which has resulted in her leading and delivering a number of three waters projects in the area.

We are proud to put the spotlight on Karly Shields, a dedicated mum and Civil Engineer based remotely in Tairāwhiti, Gisborne. Karly has been a valued member of the Vitruvius team for three years and in early 2024 she returned to her hometown of Gisborne with her young family. 

Over the past few months, Karly has been actively nurturing relationships with the Gisborne District Council (GDC) which has resulted in her leading and delivering a number of three waters projects in the area. This isolated region has had its fair share of challenges over the last couple of years including the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023 followed by a further extreme rain event in June 2023.  

While our work hasn’t been directly related to the repair and resilience clean-up work, Karly’s local presence and support have been crucial for the GDC. Our pipeline of work is expected to increase into FY25.  

Here are some of the key projects Karly has been leading;

• FY25 Water Main Renewals Karly is handling the preliminary and detailed design for the renewal of 7 separate sections of Asbestos Cement watermains throughout Gisborne. The total length of renewals and realignment is approximately 1.5 km
• Shelley Road Stormwater Karly is conducting assessments, optioneering and preliminary designs to address significant flooding issues on Shelley Road. Stage 1 of this project has received funding for construction with Vitruvius currently preparing for the detailed design and MSQA support.
• Graham Road Stormwater Upgrade Peer Review The GDC has sought Vitruvius’ expertise to peer review a $2M stormwater upgrade project. Karly and team are evaluation the cost effectiveness of the proposed solutions and considering alternative options.

Vitruvius is a relationship-based company and Karly’s proactive approach to building strong relationships and delivering well has laid a solid foundation for Vitruvius in the region. We are committed to strengthening our presence in Gisborne and the broader East Coast region, and our building our track record and reputation with other council organisations over the next few years.

Karly Shields, Civil Engineer

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Earlier this year, KiwiRail’s Future Rail team brought Vitruvius on board to spearhead the Digital Integration workstream for their ETCS Level 2 Programme in Wellington. This will be the first ETCS Level 2 installation in New Zealand, which promises to significantly increase the capacity of services in the metro area by removing lineside signals and reducing train headway.

We clinched this role thanks to several key factors:

• Our proven track record in working with KiwiRail’s Digital Engineering team and understanding of their digital requirements
• Our knowledge of the Wellington Metro Area through working in the Wellington Region for over 15 years
• Our relationship-based model – ensuring we work within the clients organisation and tailoration of numerous rail features, turnout Point of Switch (POS), track alignment change, level crossing, platform, axle counter – just to name a few..) in order to carry out the detailed design of the system.

The integration project in itself is significant in scale. The ETCS Programme covers the entire Wellington Electrified Area (WEA) – approximately 105km of rail corridor. The programme is still in the early stages of procurement, however, the Vitruvius scope of work requires early involvement focussed on de-risking the design, estimation and construction phases of the works by developing a digital twin of the rail corridor. The ETCS System will require sthe installation of lineside infrastructure throughout the network in the form of new Combined Services Route (CSR) ducting, balises and cabling, as well as radio network upgrades to facilitate Global System for Mobile Communications-Rail (GSM-R) communication.  This means needing to access nearly every part of the corridor during the physical works. Ensuring we have a detailed representation of KiwiRail’s existing infrastructure ready for interrogation prior to the design commencing will ensure that key risks are identified and mitigated early, and that scope can be detailed thoroughly, ensuring there are no surprises once the build commences.  

Furthermore, ETCS L2 system requires a detailed understanding of the exact location of numerous rail features (turnout Point of Switch (POS), track alignment change, level crossing, platform, axle counter – just to name a few..) in order to carry out the detailed design of the system. The integration project we are embarking on is endeavouring to digitise all of this information and ensure it can be used by the successful supplier for the system design. 

The digital twin project will firstly focus on the installation of a master survey control network for the WEA, before ‘filling in the blanks’ of areas where we do not currently possess point cloud survey data. Once we have the entire WEA scanned, the focus will turn to the extraction of the key model features, including the required asset data.   

The potential for what this data can be used for from an asset management perspective are significant and extends beyond the scope of the ETCS Programme. It is a really exciting time for the Wellington Metro and we are privileged to be involved. 

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At Vitruvius Holly oversees construction supervision for some of our key projects, collaborates with clients on new projects, and supports the design teams by integrating constructability into their designs. As a successful female leader, her transition from site-based roles has equipped her with a deep understanding of contract management from both contractor and client perspectives. Holly’s proactive approach in mitigating potential risks and issues has significantly contributed to the successful execution of Vitruvius projects.

Despite being one of the few females in the construction industry, Holly’s confidence, ability to build quick relationships and solid technical knowledge have earned her a well-respected reputation.  Holly actively mentors’ graduates on site health and safety, quality assurance, and career opportunities. Her leadership by example and dedication to sharing knowledge inspire those around her.

Holly quickly made a significant impact on Vitruvius, not only in her delivery role but also by leading the Tauranga office social committee and continually promoting our wellbeing initiatives.  Aligned to her social interests, Holly led the ‘Mount Challenge’ across the Tauranga team, motivating, pushing and pulling the team up the Mount 38 times in 50 days (the equivalent height of climbing Mt Everest) all while strong arming our team, friends and family to make donations to the three local Surf Life Saving Clubs.  When we are not Mount climbing, Holly has organised team Pilates or social activities,

Holly aspires to become a leading Engineering Representative/Contract Administrator, leveraging her expertise to enhance project management and construction processes. Holly has been involved and led a number of land development and water infrastructure projects during the construction phase including New Zealand Housing Foundation’s Omokoroa Development, Kayelene Place Biofiltration pond, Minden Road development, and various stormwater upgrade projects for Tauaranga City Council.

Holly’s journey and contributions are a testament to her dedication and self-leadership, a truly valued member of the Vitruvius team.

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Our growth in Auckland continues at pace with numerous new team members joining us this year, bringing additional expertise in road and transport engineering, civil engineering modelling, project controls and scheduling, rail engineering and design management.

Among these new starters are two well-regarded professionals in the industry:

Paul Nicholls joins the team as Service Leader – Rail Engineering. Paul holds an impressive CV as a civil engineer with a long track record working in the rail industry in Australia and New Zealand. He is particularly strong in project and design management leadership having gained excellent experience in complex rail projects in Australia. As a natural team leader, Paul will take ownership to lead the growth of our rail services further in Auckland.  This was a key driver when establishing the Auckland office in 2022 by having local presence to enable stronger client relationships.

Albert Ho joins us as our Service Leader for Civil & Water Engineering. Albert holds significant experience in the water sector and is well respected within his field having worked with many clients in the Auckland region. The Water Service, whilst a newer service offering for Vitruvius, is growing at a rapid pace as we continue our client relationship-focused approach to solving problems. Albert’s style of building relationships through credible delivery fits that ethos perfectly.

We are fortunate to have the benefit of these two leaders adding to our strong team in Auckland and accelerating our growth moving forward.

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Summer internships at Vitruvius are not about fetching coffee; they’re about hands-on learning, a supportive environment, and breaking down barriers. Our 3 Summer Interns in 2023/2024 share their experiences that transformed their summer into a memorable journey of growth. These have been summarised into three key themes.

Fun filled learning and inclusive Culture

What resonated profoundly in the feedback from our interns was the company culture at Vitruvius. From their first day, they weren’t perceived as interns; they were embraced as integral members of our work family. The warm atmosphere meant they felt genuinely cared for and received help and advice from our entire team, (including our Directors!) which really helped break down the barriers and reinforced our commitment to an inclusive and supportive work environment. The icing on the cake? At this time of year the interns were invited to our annual Christmas Party which was a night away in Taupo, featuring white water rafting, dinner and a spot of karaoke!

“The positive and close-knit culture at Vitruvius was a real stand out for me. It felt like more than just a workplace; it felt like a family where everyone genuinely supports each other.”

Diverse Learning Across Teams:

Our interns had the opportunity to work across many teams within the business – from transport and civil to waters and survey. The breadth of projects exposed them to the internal project management processes, including valuable insights into project initiation and the diverse processes undertaken throughout the project execution. They learnt skills such as the intricacies of stormwater design, asset management, and construction management. From bus bay design and active traffic plans, they built a diverse skill set, far beyond what they initially expected.

“From day one, I was given real responsibilities and trusted to take ownership. It felt like I was truly a part of the team, and not just an Intern”

Expectations Exceeded:

Expecting typical intern tasks, our interns were pleasantly surprised. They found themselves engaged in substantive and impactful work right from the start. The stereotype of typical intern tasks (like fetching coffees) where surpassed, instead they were sent to work completing on-site soakage testing, completing hands-on contributions to design projects and even doing independent site expectations towards the end.

“Before I got there I was expecting I might get a lot of basic intern jobs but that was the complete opposite. I was able to work on projects that aligned with my interests while also being exposed to various new disciplines. The second day I was there I was out on site doing soakage testing and then back in the office to do the calculations”

If you are in your third year of Civil Engineering studies and interested in taking on a Summer Internship at either one of our Auckland, Tauranga or Wellington offices please get in touch with Kim Brown.

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With increasing pressure on budgets and uncertainty around a number of our large-scale projects and programmes of work we need to look internally for our savings. Projects are costing too much, taking too long and not delivering good value. Productivity in NZ is well behind other OECD countries and its time to ask why and then implement improvements. We are not learning from our mistakes.

As Albert Einstein once said, “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the first sign of madness. So, what can we do? A structured approach to reviewing existing projects and how we work is essential. 41South have recently joined the Vitruvius team and bring over 15 years of review experience, reviewing over 300 projects and provide the following insights into the benefits of review and learning from our experiences.

Here is the process we follow –

1. Review to Improvement Cycle

It is essential that we consider the complete Review to Improvement Cycle. We tend to do the first 3 steps well, complete a review, produce a report and capture key improvement opportunities (note not lessons learned) but really struggle with the next steps –  – categorise the report, analyse for key themes and making a plan to implement improvements. This means we are learning at a project and personal level but not organisation or industry.

2. Its about much more than a Report

We are often looking for the magic bullet, the report that will fix all our problems. This does not exist. Reviews are as much about pulling teams together, hearing the perspective of others and getting closure as we move to our next project or phase of project. Don’t leave your review to the end of the project!! Do at key stages especially early in the project lifecycle.

3. The different types of Review

Ideally you want a suite of different types of review and contract monitoring. These can include third party reviews using an experienced review team to assess how things are going (an external review) or internal reviews that capture views of the team. Ideally you want both but essential that you have clear process to respond to review findings. One of the biggest frustrations expressed at review workshops is “what’s the point” nothing is ever done with the findings.

4. Better use of Data

Reviews are often used as a tool to find fault or hammer a failing project. We should be supporting projects and need to ensure we are using available data and reporting effectively. Project reporting should be considered a key part of the review cycle.

5. Give everyone a voice (and close out)

It is essential that we give everybody a voice to raise improvement opportunities. Those who feel part of the process and have been listened to will be far more likely to accept and adopt change. Remember, this has a flip side, if a concern is raised and nothing is done, this can be even more frustrating. Ensure the review process includes a feedback loop to close out.

6. Centralise findings

Now we are into the hard stuff! Before you get into reviewing, consider the audience for review findings, how these will be captured and who has the authority, capability and time to affect change. Ideally this should be done at an organisational level and use a combination of good technology and experienced resource.

7. Implement Improvements

We often refer to reviews as “the starting blocks” for change. We still have the race to run! With our findings centralised, who is responsible for confirming and implementing improvements. Important to consider improvements at a number of different levels;

1. Process Improvements – changes to process, contract conditions or project management practice
2. Reinforcement – just need to do it, alert or advise teams and organisation to reinforce good practice or highlighting not so good
3. Key Themes and organisational development – what we are seeing across review and projects. There may be a needs for upskilling at an organisational level.

For more information contact Peter Martineau, Principal Advisor

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