Helping set the agenda

Every day I see brilliant organisations struggling to navigate the complex machinery of the Government. Policies get stuck, ideas fail to launch, press releases don’t get picked up; not because they weren’t good, but because the pathway to influence was unclear.

In much the same way that the impact of good civil construction often goes unseen – the impacts of effective advocacy can go by unnoticed despite having an extraordinary impact on the shape of decisions.

Awhi has been the advocacy partner of Civil Contractors New Zealand for more than a year. Alongside President David Howard, Chief Executive Alan Pollard, Communications and Advocacy Manager Fraser May and the wider CCNZ team, we’ve delivered a deliberate campaign of engagement to elevate the significance of the industry in the minds of our political leaders.

From the Prime Minister headlining last year’s national conference to a keynote address from Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop in an election year, I’m proud of the work we do helping civil construction move from having a seat at the table to helping set the agenda.

We believe integrity must be at the core of any lobbying effort. You may have seen recent media reports regarding allegations of a coordinated campaign of lobbying and undisclosed documents about climate change litigation.

As a vocal proponent for increased transparency in lobbying, I’m bothered there are practitioners who put reputations at risk by using tactics such as “untraceable” hardcopy briefings.

At Awhi, we stress-test ideas to develop coherent reasoning that underpins every position we take on your behalf. If you have ever responded to one of CCNZ’s calls for feedback or turned up to a consultation session, thank you for getting involved.

After all, no politician actually wants to hear from a lobbyist; they want to hear from those in the industry doing the work, making the calls, creating the jobs, building the stuff.

Our collective efforts are starting to make a significant difference: we now have a National Infrastructure Plan that has gained cross-party support. This is the kind of bipartisan thinking CCNZ’s recently released 2026 Election Manifesto calls for, as we know good infrastructure always outlasts election cycles.

Right now, many of you will be seeing our politicians shift from governance to campaign mode, which is all part of the natural political cycle. It’s a time when parties are testing the mood of the electorate, shaping their political pitches to voters.

If you’ve been interested in taking a more proactive approach to your advocacy during the election season, here are some simple and effective ways to get involved.

First, get your position clear. Advocacy is never about abstracts. If you want to be effective, know exactly what you stand for and why. Too often organisations default to generic statements like “support increased infrastructure investment” instead of articulating a clear action.

If you want to see increased investment, pin down what that investment looks like, how much, in what, and why? An organisation with a clear, specific position will add to the dialogue, rather than to the noise.

Next, know what you’re asking for. Once you’re clear on where you stand, translate that into something concrete you want a decision-maker to actually do. The trick is in the name: decision-makers need decisions to make.

Do you want them to pursue a policy shift? Are you wanting legislative change? Should the Government increase investment in a certain initiative? The sharper and more actionable your request, the easier it is for politicians to respond.

Third, start engaging. Elections reward preparation and punish passivity. A conversation with your local candidate, hosting a branch event with a sitting Member of Parliament, even utilising The Cost of Stopping tool to illustrate how local and central government decisions impact industry all contribute to more effective advocacy.

It’s a real privilege to be trusted to elevate your voice, not least because all of us benefit from the work you do. Expect to see the collective fruits of our labour, as we continue to advocate for decisions that ensure a vibrant, busy and active civil contracting sector, delivering the infrastructure New Zealand communities need.