Central Interceptor wins Project Award at the Water New Zealand Excellence Awards 2026

The Central Interceptor has taken out the Project Award at the Water New Zealand Excellence Awards 2026, adding another major achievement to the project’s growing list of industry recognition.

Delivered by the Ghella Abergeldie Joint Venture (GAJV) for Watercare, the Central Interceptor is New Zealand’s largest wastewater infrastructure project and a significant investment in Auckland’s future.

Completed over a seven-year construction programme, the project comprises 16.2 km of main tunnel with a 4.5 m internal diameter, constructed at depths ranging from 15 m to 110 m. The wider network includes two link sewers totalling 4.3 km, 18 shafts reaching depths of up to 75 m, 17 construction sites across Auckland, and a major pump station with a transfer capacity of 7 m³ of wastewater per second.

The scale and technical complexity of the project required extensive collaboration across multiple sites, disciplines and teams. The Central Interceptor will significantly reduce wet-weather wastewater overflows and help improve the health of Auckland’s waterways, including the Waitematā Harbour.

The Water New Zealand Excellence Awards recognise excellence and impact across the water sector, making this latest award a significant recognition of the people, collaboration and technical expertise behind the delivery of Central Interceptor.