From Weber in Tararua to Helsinki, Finland, the Huarahi Tūhono – Weber to Wimbledon – Route 52 Upgrade has taken out a global Silver Award at the International Federation of Municipal Engineering (IFME) Awards.

The award was announced in Helsinki on Wednesday 9 June, recognising the project as runner-up in the Construction category, one of only two global award categories. The project was nominated by IFME member Āpōpō, the lead association for infrastructure asset management professionals in Aotearoa New Zealand and was the only New Zealand entry in the category for comparison with projects of every scale and scope entered from all corners of the globe.

The IFME Awards celebrate municipal construction and development projects from around the world that deliver outstanding community outcomes, climate resilience, and innovation in public works. There are currently 20 IFME member countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Finland, France, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Norway, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the USA.

Tararua District Mayor Scott Gilmore says the international recognition is something the national and local roading sector can be proud of: “Congratulations to the project team at Tararua Alliance, local iwi, Alabaster Contracting, HES Earthmoving, and everyone who worked on this critical route for our district. Over three years, the project created work equivalent to 230 jobs.”

The project upgraded a key stretch of Route 52 between Weber and Wimbledon, improving safety and resilience while supporting local employment and helping stimulate the regional economy following COVID-19. As part of the IFME Awards criteria, the project demonstrated alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.  The project had earlier been judged as the Supreme winner in the 2025 Āpōpō Asset Management Excellence Awards.

“This was a significant project for our district, delivering both infrastructure improvements and meaningful socio-economic outcomes,” Mayor Gilmore says.

“The collaborative, iterative approach is what set Route 52 apart from projects with much larger budgets and resources. The fact that global civil engineering experts have recognised what our local team has achieved makes me incredibly proud. This is how we do things in Tararua.”

The award was accepted on behalf of Tararua District Council by Āpōpō Chief Executive Murray Pugh. “Interest from around the world in how we go about achieving amazing outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand has been significantly amplified by the Tararua Alliance’s global award.  The world is awakening to the criticality of serving communities through infrastructure and this award-winning project is an exemplar being celebrated at a global level we are all very proud of,” says Pugh.

International Federation of Municipal Engineering President Ville Alatyppö (left) and Scott Grayson, IFME Secretary General (right) with Murray Pugh, Āpōpō Chief Executive accepting the Tararua Alliance’s Silver Award at the IFME Awards announcement, Helsinki City Hall 9 June 2026.