New Zealand (NZ) experiences approximately one magnitude 7+ and ten magnitude 6+ earthquakes as well as cyclones each decade. Some of the events have caused loss of life, economic damage and severe disruption to the transport network. The recently released new NZ National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM 2022) will result in a further increase of the ground motion parameters for the design of the transport network in some NZ regions. Research and standards development projects initiated by the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (WK) and the NZ Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) in recent years have helped to substantially improve the reliability of the geotechnical design for the NZ transport infrastructure. A brief summary of the NZ regulatory and geotechnical design framework is given. The key challenges of the geotechnical design for transportation projects in NZ are discussed.