Benefit realisation reviews superseded August 2020

Archive - this information is for reference only and no longer maintained.

This page relates to the 2018-21 National Land Transport Programme.

Introduction

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency conducts benefit realisation reviews (formerly post-implementation reivews) every year on a small sample of completed projects or packages that it has invested in.

The reviews are not drawn from a statistically significant sample of all completed projects, but they do allow Waka Kotahi to compare the planned benefits of a project with the actual outcomes achieved. 

Benefit realisation review scope

Waka Kotahi uses an appropriate monitoring and auditing framework across funded activities in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). Benefit realisation reviews are part of this framework.

Their scope is on reviewing improvement projects and packages from within the following NLTP activity classes:

• Local road, regional and state highway improvements
• Public transport improvements (infrastructure)
• Walking and cycling improvements. 

Purpose of benefit realisation reviews

Benefit realisation reviews aim to:

• assess and explain how well projects and packages have achieved their main expected benefits (such as improved safety, increased capacity to meet traffic volume growth, or improved journey time and reliability) to give an overall assessment of completed projects or packages reviewed
• explain any variation between actual results and expected benefits
• identify lessons learned that can be used to make business improvements. 

Selection of activities for review

A sample of completed projects is selected for benefit realisation reviews each year using a stratified sampling approach. The range of factors considered in selecting completed activities to review include:

• the value of funding
• activity type
• regional spread
• giving preference to reviewing a package of interrelated projects rather than individual projects in isolation. 

Promoting lessons learned

The following processes are used to promote lessons learned from benefit realisation reviews:

• The relevant owners of reviewed projects are consulted to give them opportunity to formally comment on review findings. This includes stating how they plan to address any significant issues or improvement opportunities identified.
• Approved organisations and Waka Kotahi (state highways) are encouraged to undertake benefit realisation reviews themselves, consistent with this policy.
• Waka Kotahi follows up with approved organisations and Waka Kotahi (state highways) on review recommendations.
• Benefit realisation review findings are used to help inform the Waka Kotahi risk assessment of approved organisations and Waka Kotahi (state highways).
• Review findings are reported quarterly, along with recommendations for any actions to be implemented or monitored. Key findings or themes from the reviews are reported quarterly to the Waka Kotahi Board, but there is a provision to escalate significant review findings more frequently if required.
• Review findings are published on the Waka Kotahi website as the reports are finalised.