Source: New Zealand Infrastructure Commission
The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, says the Government’s formal response to the National Infrastructure Plan marks a new phase for New Zealand’s infrastructure system.
“In launching the Plan earlier this year, we said New Zealand needed to do things differently to deliver the infrastructure we need to thrive over the next 30 years,” says Geoff Cooper, Chief Executive of Te Waihanga.
“The Government’s response today, accepting the case for change and confirming the direction of reform, is a step in the right direction in improving performance and getting better value for money from our infrastructure.
Today’s response formally addresses each of the 16 recommendations and 10 priority areas in the Plan. Thirteen of the 16 recommendations are fully supported and the remaining three supported in principle. Action on some of the recommendations is already underway.
“Work with the Treasury is well underway to build a new assurance process for central government infrastructure investment. This will be in place on 1 November,” says Cooper.
As well as the new investor assurance process for central government infrastructure projects, Te Waihanga will be working with Treasury to deliver a new assurance process for asset management in central government.
“The National Infrastructure Plan focuses on lifting New Zealand’s performance in asset management. Much of the infrastructure we will need over the next 30 years already exists,” says Cooper.
“While high-quality asset management doesn’t always hit the headlines, it matters because visibility of asset performance and future investment needs means better decisions.”
Te Waihanga is also supporting work to lift project leadership capability, grow the coverage of the National Infrastructure Pipeline for greater coordination across the sector, and leverage its Forward Guidance as a tool for investment planning.
“We’re encouraged that many organisations have programmes underway to progress the recommendations and priority actions. These include work to reform the resource management system and set up integrated spatial planning and national standards, network infrastructure providers applying new user-based pricing models like volumetric water charging for water and time of use charging on busy roads, and Auckland Council’s decisions to support upzoning and opportunities for housing development around major passenger transport routes.
“These steps will help shape a clearer, more practical and affordable infrastructure system. They come at a time when the need for change is clear, helping us adapt to the needs of our changing population, the growing risks posed by natural hazards, the drive to decarbonise our economy and the opportunities created by new technologies,” says Cooper.
“The approach set out in the National Infrastructure Plan will help to safeguard the infrastructure services that we rely on every day, so they continue to work for future generations.”
Notes:
– Te Waihanga presented the National Infrastructure Plan to the Government in December 2025 and publicly released it in February 2026.
– The Government is required to publish a formal response within 180 days of receiving the National Infrastructure Plan, being June 2026.