About

Future Roads is New Zealand's largest roading industry conference, first held at Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton in November 2022. The 2024 event attracted over 330 delegates.

The annual conference is designed to engage transport teams from local and central government, including NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, and is supported by the engineering and infrastructure services community. 

Conference content is curated under the guidance of an advisory panel, with key subject areas including leadership and government strategy, procurement, network future-proofing, technology, materials, and smart traffic signal technologies and control centres.  

The large exhibition hall features technology displays, equipment providers, and two presentation stages, with exhibitors eager to share their knowledge and expertise. 

Future Roads is proud to have the support of industry associations sich as Infrastructure New Zealand, UDINZ, Civil Contractors New Zealand, Signals NZ User Group (SNUG), Aggregate & Quarry Association (AQA), Transporting NZ, REAAA, and IPWEA.

 

CONFERENCE CONTENT

Leadership and government strategy

  • NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi direction and overall government policy around roading
  • government funding and financing options
  • iwi investment and partnering in roading
  • network design
  • regulation

Procurement

  • contract models
  • social procurement
  • standards and consistency
  • sustainability responsibilities – contractor or owner
  • the role of consultants and contractors
  • understanding and overcoming constraints in procurement processes

Network future-proofing

  • designing your roading network to withstand changes in climate
  • water-proofing and drainage considerations
  • re-sealing techniques
  • the question around managed retreat

Technology

  • future technologies around road construction and maintenance
  • international developments in roading technology
  • asphalt and bitumen plant technology
  • pavement design technologies
  • research and development

Materials

  • near sourcing
  • aggregate supply and specification
  • the supply of bitumen and asphalt
  • recycled materials

Smart Traffic Signal Technologies and Control Centres

  • developments in new signals technologies
  • wireless systems around cameras and radars
  • traffic monitoring and use of data

Organisers

Freeman

Freeman is an information services provider to the New Zealand corporate community, established in 2002.

Specialising in online subscription news and information services for specific business sectors, Freeman publishes a range of reports and maps, and organises industry events.

Its publications include Energy News, Inside Resources, and Capital Letter. Inside Resources covers the extractives sector and includes the production of roading aggregates, concrete, and cement.

Freeman also owns and runs various events such as the New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards, Downstream, Oceania Renewable Power Summit, and the Energy Trader Forum. 

In addition, Freeman publishes large, detailed industry maps, providing an in-depth picture of the different sectors the company collaborates with. Popular maps include the Roading Map and Quarries Map.

As a niche industry information and events organisation, Freeman is dedicated to lowering its own emissions profile and assisting other organisations on the path towards a lower carbon future.