Feedback sought by the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, on developing an enduring National Infrastructure Plan unveiled a recurring theme from respondents — the need to reduce the impact of short-term political cycles on infrastructure decision-making, to ensure long-term, strategic, and effective planning.
In late 2024, the Commission sought stakeholder feedback on the discussion document Testing our thinking: Developing an enduring National Infrastructure Plan.
The purpose of the discussion document was to:
• engage with stakeholders early in the development process,
• identify additional challenges and opportunities that should be considered in the Plan, and
• foster an open dialogue to build a shared understanding of infrastructure priorities and trade-offs.
More than 100 responses were received from a broad range of stakeholders, including central government, local government, private sector, peak bodies, NGOs, research organisations and others.
Key themes identified in the feedback
Consultation was structured around 17 targeted questions to capture perspectives on infrastructure priorities, challenges and opportunities.
While responses reflected a range of perspectives, several key themes emerged as systemic challenges across infrastructure planning, funding and financing, delivery, and governance. They were:
• Strategic infrastructure planning:
A recurring theme with respondents was the need to reduce the impact of short-term political cycles on infrastructure decision-making to ensure long-term, strategic, and effective infrastructure planning.
• Resilience and adapting to climate change: Some of the feedback called for a focus on preparing infrastructure to better adapt to climate risks and ensure greater resilience.
• Workforce and capability: Some respondents stated that there is a need to address the ongoing, long-term concern regarding the availability of the correct skills and capability to deliver infrastructure projects, particularly in engineering, construction, and digital infrastructure.
• Funding and financing: There were calls for stable, long-term funding and financing mechanisms, including alternative funding/financing models.
• Asset management: Some of the feedback focused on prioritising better use and maintenance of existing infrastructure before committing to new developments.
• Transparency and accountability: Some respondents called for clearer governance structures and more transparent decision-making processes.
• Regulatory and institutional frameworks: Some respondents highlighted the need to reform complex regulatory processes, such as those under the Resource Management Act (RMA), to streamline project delivery.
• Data, technology, and innovation: Some of the feedback called for improving infrastructure planning through better use of digital tools, data collection, and standardisation.
• Collaboration and coordination: Some respondents stated the need for stronger integration across central and local government, iwi, and private sector stakeholders.
Next steps
Feedback received on the discussion document will help to inform the development of the Plan.
The Commission will share its thinking by presenting at events around the country, hosting workshops and webinars, and sharing updates through its web site, newsletter and on social media.
The Minister for Infrastructure will be presented with the draft National Infrastructure Plan mid-year. At that time, the Commission will also publish the draft Plan on its web site and seek further feedback. The final National Infrastructure Plan will be presented to the Government in December 2025 for its response.
• The National Infrastructure Plan
The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, is currently developing a National Infrastructure Plan that will help guide decision-making by central and local government, and give the infrastructure industry more confidence to invest in the people, technology and equipment they need to build more efficiently.
The National Infrastructure Plan isn’t about identifying a multi-decade list of projects. Instead, it’s an opportunity to give the Commission greater certainty about what it should maintain, plan and deliver.
The Plan will build on work for Rautaki Hanganga o Aotearoa, the New Zealand Infrastructure Strategy, which made recommendations and set objectives for improving New Zealand’s infrastructure system.
To develop the Plan, the Commission is undertaking an infrastructure needs analysis, collecting data on current investment intentions, reviewing unfunded infrastructure investment proposals that are submitted to it through the Infrastructure Priorities Programme, and analysing a proposed approach for infrastructure investment.
