The Government has tabled a 30-year National Infrastructure Plan in Parliament, outlining reforms aimed at lifting the efficiency, funding and long-term management of New Zealand’s infrastructure.
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says the plan, prepared by the independent New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, sets out how the country can improve the way it plans, funds, maintains and delivers infrastructure over the next three decades.
“New Zealand’s future prosperity depends on high quality infrastructure. It is central to our quality of life and to the Government’s ‘Going for Growth’ agenda,” Bishop says.
The plan identifies four themes for change and 10 priority actions for the decade ahead. It follows consultation on a draft released last year.
Bishop says New Zealand spends heavily on infrastructure — about 5.8% of GDP annually over the past 20 years, one of the highest rates in the OECD — yet ranks near the bottom for efficiency and fourth to last for asset management.
“Many central government agencies do not properly understand what they own or have long-term investment plans. The assurance system for new projects and long-term investments is fragmented and inconsistent,” he says.
The Government has already begun reforms, including strengthening the Investment Management System, developing long-term investment plans, and launching a public sector asset management improvement programme.
Other initiatives include establishing National Infrastructure Funding and Financing to connect private capital with public projects, publishing funding and financing principles, updating public-private partnership guidance, and improving transparency of the National Infrastructure Pipeline.
Among the priorities highlighted in the plan are lifting hospital investment to meet the needs of an ageing population, accelerating water renewals, implementing time-of-use charging and fleetwide road user charges, sequencing major land transport projects, strengthening flood resilience, reforming resource management laws, upzoning around key transport corridors, and taking a more predictable approach to electrification.
Bishop says legislation enabling time-of-use charging has already been passed, work is under way to transition to electronic road user charges, and housing and planning reforms are focused on enabling transport-oriented development around major projects such as the City Rail Link.
The plan also recommends long-term system changes, including legislative requirements for long-term investment and asset management plans, a consolidated assurance function for Ministers, and stronger links between infrastructure planning and fiscal strategy.
The Government will publish a formal response to the plan in June 2026.
Bishop says he intends to engage with other political parties and will seek time for a special parliamentary debate on the plan.
“Infrastructure lasts for generations. Where we can build durable consensus, we should,” he says.
“Fixing the basics and building the future of New Zealand infrastructure is central to lifting living standards and driving our prosperity.”
*Click here to read the National Infrastructure Plan
