The two new Picton ferries have been sunk. Light rail in Auckland and Wellington buried. Councils have been flung back for now on their own limited resources to deal with failing pipes. And the electricity grid needs major changes. We spend little and get poor value for what we do spend. We like quick fixes and number 8 wire and find it hard to do long-term planning. So can we do infrastructure better than this?

Max Rashbrooke chairs a Fabians panel comprising: Barbara Edmonds, the Labour spokesperson on infrastructure; Thomas Nash, chair of the Transport Committee for the Greater Wellington Regional Council – and a member of the Greens; and Graeme Sharman, head of government strategy and engagement for consultants WSP.

Venue: level 2, 57 Willis Street (via the lifts at the back of Unity Books)