August 2026: WSP has taken delivery of a new towable coring rig for testing the strength of newly constructed roads. The rig, from UK manufacturer Xcalibre, replaces an older unit that had been in service since 1975.

WSP team leader for testing services Zac Francis says taking core samples is a vital part of road engineering and construction. It helps ensure materials meet national standards and project specifications.

The new rig can collect samples from all road layers, including base course, sub-base, and asphalt. It can take samples using wet and dry coring methods and can accurately reach the right part of the road thanks to a side-shift drilling feature. Core samples are taken back to the WSP laboratory and tested for strength, density, and air voids to check the road meets specifications and will perform as expected during its design life.

Zac says core sampling also provides a useful comparison between laboratory results and real-world performance.

"Materials produced and tested in the lab are assessed under ideal conditions, but on a construction site factors such as weather, equipment and workmanship can all affect the final result. By testing samples taken directly from the road, we can see if the required standards have been achieved in practice."

WSP's new towable coring rig for testing the strength of newly constructed roads. Photo: WSP.

August 2026: Research by Motu Economic and Public Policy Research has shed new light on the economic impact of Auckland's region-specific Covid-19 lockdowns, finding the restrictions had a substantial but relatively short-lived effect on business activity.

Researcher Richard Fabling analysed the impact of the lockdowns on firm sales revenue and expenses using a matched difference-in-difference dataset covering almost all private sector firms in New Zealand. The study compared Auckland businesses with a control group of firms in Christchurch to estimate the effect of the restrictions.

The analysis assumes a best-case scenario in which Covid-19 itself had no effect on Auckland's regional economy in the absence of lockdowns. Under that assumption, the initial reduction in sales for Auckland firms was similar in magnitude to the impact experienced by the businesses most affected by the Canterbury earthquakes, although the disruption was shorter in duration and closely matched the lockdown period.

The research also found that, while the initial nationwide lockdown appeared to have a greater overall impact, Auckland firms adapted relatively well to subsequent regional restrictions. The study was completed while Richard Fabling was Chief Researcher at the New Zealand Royal Commission on Covid-19 Lessons Learned.

Photo: Motu.