Downer Preferred Contractor for NZ State Highway contracts

19/12/2025 12:50 NZDT, GENERALP

DOWNER SELECTED AS PREFERRED CONTRACTOR FOR NEW ZEALAND STATE HIGHWAY CONTRACTS

Downer EDI Limited (Downer) today announced it had been selected as the preferred contractor to deliver road network maintenance on state highways across four NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) contracts.

Under the contracts, which are scheduled to commence in May 2026, and subject to finalising contract terms, Downer will provide maintenance and operations services to state highway networks in Central Waikato (10 years), Taranaki (three years), Tairawhiti (three years) and Coastal Otago (10 years).

Downer estimates total revenue from the Taranaki and Tairawhiti contracts and the initial five years of work on the Central Waikato and Coastal Otago contracts to be approximately NZD$870 million and will be finalised during the negotiation phase.

Scope of works will include routine and non-routine inspections of the network, pavement and surfacing renewals, drainage maintenance and renewals, environmental maintenance, traffic services maintenance and renewals, structure maintenance and renewals, and emergency response.

The Chief Executive Officer of Downer, Peter Tompkins, said the NZTA state highway contracts confirm Downer’s position as a leading road services business in New Zealand.

“Downer maintains more than 50,000km of urban and rural networks across New Zealand and Australia,” Mr Tompkins said.

“These state highway contracts extend Downer’s long-standing relationship with NZTA. We are proud of this partnership and the outcomes we have achieved together – maximising value from network assets, while providing safe, reliable and accessible journeys for road users, and keeping New Zealand people and economies moving.”

Authorised for release by Downer’s Chief Executive Officer, Peter Tompkins