The Special Conditions podcast artwork
News

The Special Conditions

by Hamish Bolland and Sam Holden, Chapman Tripp
Share this ranking Claiming needs an RSS feed. Contact us.

Chart positions today · Canada

Not on the Canada charts we track today.

If you like The Special Conditions, try…

Latest episodes

  • 23. Olympic infrastructure projects: don’t gold plate them

    October 7, 2026 · 25 min

    How do Olympic venues keep opening on time when so many major projects run late? This episode examines the answer: fixed deadlines, tight scope control, fast decision-making and collaborative delivery models. We also look at Brisbane’s…

  • 22. AI in legal practice: Risk, change and what comes next

    September 23, 2026 · 27 min

    AI is evolving rapidly, and the conversation has already moved well beyond generative tools. Terms like “vibe coding” are entering the mainstream, while the prospect of superintelligent systems is no longer confined to science fiction. In…

  • 21. The Election Survey and Conference

    September 17, 2026 · 29 min

    Hamish and Sam debrief after The Chapman Tripp and Deloitte Election Conference, hosted by BusinessNZ, which brought together senior politicians from across the political spectrum. They discuss the key themes at the conference and explore…

  • 20. Litigation funding: Financing construction disputes

    September 10, 2026 · 28 min

    In this episode, Hamish and Sam are joined by Jacob Kerkin from Omni Bridgeway to discuss litigation funding and its role in construction and infrastructure disputes. They explore what litigation funding involves, the types of cases that…

  • 19. Is New Zealand building for tomorrow or settling for today?

    September 2, 2026 · 24 min

    In this episode, Hamish and Sam are joined by Quinton Blackburn, Senior Principal in Project Delivery at Beca, to discuss short-term thinking in New Zealand's construction and infrastructure sector. They explore why short-termism persists…

Show 7 more episodesShow fewer episodes
  • 18. Building Nations 2026: Our reflections

    August 26, 2026 · 24 min

    Systems is the buzz word of this week's podcast. Following the Building Nations conference, Hamish and Sam dig into key learnings from industry leaders and politicians on the conference floor – including views on how to prioritise value…

  • 17. The data centre opportunity: Insights from the NZ DC Leaders Summit

    August 20, 2026 · 29 min

    Fresh from the New Zealand Data Centre Leaders Summit, Hamish and Sam are exploring one of the most significant infrastructure opportunities shaping our economic future. With global data centre power consumption skyrocketing – driven by…

  • 16. Cracks in the foundations: When projects experience insolvency

    August 13, 2026 · 24 min

    Construction is the sector most exposed to insolvency in New Zealand, accounting for roughly a quarter of all corporate insolvencies, and the current cycle is the worst in over a decade.  In this episode, insolvency and restructuring…

  • 15. The Building Amendment Bill: Will it deliver?

    August 6, 2026 · 29 min

    The Building Amendment Bill proposes to speed up development, cut costs and strengthen consumer protections. But will it deliver? In this episode, we explore the key changes, whether the reforms could achieve their objectives, and what it…

  • 14. AI and privilege – Is your chatbot conversation discoverable?

    July 29, 2026 · 21 min

    This week, we look at what happens when project teams turn to AI tools before seeking advice from their lawyer, and whether those interactions are covered by privilege. The risks can be major.

  • 13. RMA reform: What’s changed and what comes next

    July 22, 2026 · 17 min

    In this episode, Sam is joined by Rebecca Tompkins, Special Counsel in Chapman Tripp’s Environment & Planning team, to discuss the reform of the Resource Management Act and the two new Bills – the Natural Environment Bill and the Planning…

  • 12. Limitation periods – When is a construction claim too late?

    July 16, 2026 · 35 min

    This week we unpack limitation periods in construction disputes - and when a claim is simply too late. We discuss contractual limitation periods, warranties, theLimitation Act 2010, the Building Act’s 10-year longstop, and recent cases…

Full episode archive on Apple Podcasts →

About the show

The Special Conditions is a podcast about the legal and commercial issues shaping New Zealand’s construction and infrastructure sector. Hosted by Hamish Bolland and Sam Holden, the series explores the challenges, trends, and developments affecting principals, contractors, consultants, and funders across the industry.