In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we’re joined by HERA’s leadership team for a wide-ranging kōrero on AI, sustainability and what’s really changing inside engineering right now.

The conversation looks at how quickly AI has moved from curiosity to capability. What felt unclear just a year ago is now shaping real projects, real workflows and real decisions. The team talks through where AI is already adding value, where the limits still are, and why reliable data is the real bottleneck for meaningful adoption across design, fabrication and construction.

We dig into what AI means for engineers themselves. Not just productivity gains, but how roles, skills and career pathways are likely to shift. The message is clear: fundamentals don’t change, but how we work with them does. AI becomes a tool, a collaborator, and eventually part of everyday practice, provided we put the right guardrails around it.

Sustainability is another key thread. The discussion moves beyond intent and into practice, looking at low-carbon and circular design, the tools HERA has delivered, and the challenge of integration across siloed systems. The team is candid about where Construction 4.0 still falls short, and why true system-wide optimisation remains hard but necessary.

There’s also a frank look at ethics, accountability and energy use. From AI’s environmental footprint to the risks of black-box software and proprietary data, the episode raises tough questions about trust, transparency and who benefits as technology accelerates.

If you work in engineering, fabrication or construction and want a grounded view on where AI and sustainability are actually heading, this episode offers an honest take on the opportunities, the risks and the work still ahead.

Connect with the HERA team.

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we’re having a kōrero with Richard Templer, Chief Executive of Engineering New Zealand | Te Ao Rangahau, about how Aotearoa funds its engineering system and why the levy on steel producers plays a bigger role than many realise.

Richard explains how the levy underpins HERA’s research, capability building and industry support, and why this kind of stable investment is essential if we want engineers and manufacturers to thrive. He talks about what happens when funding is uncertain, and how it affects everything from skills development to long-term planning.

We look at how other countries structure their systems. Richard highlights Singapore’s coordinated, well-resourced model, where government and industry invest together, and Australia’s stronger national frameworks, which give their engineering sector more certainty and clearer pathways. He contrasts these with New Zealand’s more piecemeal approach, raising the question of how we expect world-class outcomes without consistent backing.

Richard also touches on what a better funding environment here could unlock — stronger retention, deeper expertise, and the confidence for firms to innovate instead of constantly adjusting to boom-and-bust cycles.

If you work in metals, engineering or construction and want to understand why the levy matters, how it supports you, and what New Zealand could learn from its neighbours, this episode offers a straightforward look at the bigger picture.

🌏 A kōrero on why sustainability is about more than just carbon

When it comes to sustainability, carbon gets most of the attention. But the reality is our planet’s health depends on nine interconnected systems, from oceans and forests to air quality and biodiversity. And many of them have already crossed critical limits.

In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we sit down with Dr Kate Meyer, founder of Planetary Accounting, to unpack what planetary boundaries really mean and how planetary accounting helps us measure and manage our impact across all of them.

We cover:
• What the nine planetary boundaries are and how many we have already exceeded
• How planetary accounting works and why it goes beyond carbon accounting
• What this means for construction, design and material choices
• The surprising trade offs hidden in our sustainability decisions
• What we can learn from the ozone layer, the one boundary we have successfully restored

Listen in if you want to understand the bigger picture of sustainability and how tools like planetary accounting can help the built environment move from less harm to regenerative impact.

🎧 Find other episodes here: https://hera.org.nz/category/podcast/

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