The Special Conditions

AI is evolving rapidly, and the conversation has already moved well beyond generative tools. Terms like “vibe coding” are entering the mainstream, while the prospect of superintelligent systems is no longer confined to science fiction.

In this episode, Hamish is joined by Chapman Tripp’s Chief Digital Officer, Sean Bishop, to explore what is changing, what these developments mean in practice, and how increasingly capable AI may shape the way we work and live.

Hamish and Sam debrief after The Chapman Tripp and Deloitte Election Conference, hosted by BusinessNZ, which brought together senior politicians from across the political spectrum.

They discuss the key themes at the conference and explore results from the accompanying Election Survey capturing priorities for New Zealand's future. Key topics include infrastructure and energy, tax policy, superannuation and the ongoing economic challenges – revealing where New Zealand's political and business communities align, and where they diverge.

In this episode, Hamish and Sam are joined by Jacob Kerkin from Omni Bridgeway to discuss litigation funding and its role in construction and infrastructure disputes. They explore what litigation funding involves, the types of cases that can be funded, and the future of litigation funding as a dispute resolution tool in New Zealand.

In this episode, Hamish and Sam are joined by Quinton Blackburn, Senior Principal in Project Delivery at Beca, to discuss short-term thinking in New Zealand's construction and infrastructure sector.

They explore why short-termism persists despite its costs, the barriers to achieving genuine value for money, and how procurement and project delivery can be structured differently.

Systems is the buzz word of this week's podcast.

Following the Building Nations conference, Hamish and Sam dig into key learnings from industry leaders and politicians on the conference floor – including views on how to prioritise value over cost, and the case for building bipartisan systems, not just a bipartisan pipeline.

Fresh from the New Zealand Data Centre Leaders Summit, Hamish and Sam are exploring one of the most significant infrastructure opportunities shaping our economic future.

With global data centre power consumption skyrocketing – driven by generative AI and forecast to double by 2030 – New Zealand finds itself uniquely positioned. But as the global constraint shifts from capital and land to power grid capacity, what does this mean for New Zealand's development pipeline?

In this episode, they unpack why New Zealand is attractive for data centres, explore the asset class spectrum and different procurement models, and discuss project bankability. They also tackle some of the constraints that developers need to overcome including social licence and navigating the consenting process.

Construction is the sector most exposed to insolvency in New Zealand, accounting for roughly a quarter of all corporate insolvencies, and the current cycle is the worst in over a decade. 

In this episode, insolvency and restructuring Partner Janko Marcetic joins the podcast to unpack what actually happens when a principal or contractor goes bust on a major project, from early warning signs through to termination and dealing with insolvency practitioners.

The Building Amendment Bill proposes to speed up development, cut costs and strengthen consumer protections. But will it deliver? In this episode, we explore the key changes, whether the reforms could achieve their objectives, and what it could mean for the construction industry.

This week, we look at what happens when project teams turn to AI tools before seeking advice from their lawyer, and whether those interactions are covered by privilege. The risks can be major.

In this episode, Sam is joined by Rebecca Tompkins, Special Counsel in Chapman Tripp’s Environment & Planning team, to discuss the reform of the Resource Management Act and the two new Bills – the Natural Environment Bill and the Planning Bill. They cover the key changes following the select committee report, what happens next, and what the reforms could mean for infrastructure projects in New Zealand.