7 September 2026
Everyone Agrees It Works. So Why Don’t We Use It More?
I recently attended the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) panel at the CCNZ Conference. Like most discussions on ECI, there was broad agreement on the benefits. Better buildability, improved methodologies, increased efficiency, earlier risk identification and ultimately better project outcomes. Those points were well supported by the local government, design, consulting and contracting representatives on the panel.
What I found more interesting was the discussion around why ECI still isn’t used as often as it could be.
One perspective from local government was that increasing public scrutiny and social media criticism can drive councils towards more rigid procurement processes. While understandable, it can also make organisations less willing to adopt collaborative delivery models, even when they may lead to better outcomes.
For me, the biggest takeaway was that the barrier isn’t proving the value of ECI anymore. Most people in the industry already understand the benefits. The challenge is creating procurement frameworks that allow clients to engage early, maintain transparency and still satisfy governance requirements.
The other point worth remembering is that ECI shouldn’t be viewed as a way of guaranteeing construction work. The real value is in accessing practical delivery expertise early enough to influence outcomes. If the design, methodology, programme or procurement strategy improves because of that involvement, the process has already succeeded.
The industry doesn’t need more debate about whether ECI works.
We need more confidence to use it.
Tim Manawaiti
McKay Wellington Regional Manager
