The end of the year is fast approaching, however it seems like things are winding up, not down. By our reckoning there are around ten infrastructure-related actions still to be delivered by the end of the year from the Coalition Government’s Q4 Action Plan. Consequently, we can expect the legislative programme to progress right up to when Parliament rises on 19 December.
Policy Development
As Nick has mentioned, we recently teamed up with Infrastructure New Zealand member Aurecon to produce a substantial report on the topic of asset recycling. The research piece looked at the different types of asset recycling and included examples from New Zealand and overseas. Given our infrastructure deficit, Infrastructure New Zealand thinks this needs to be a tool in the toolkit for both Central and Local government. Two panel discussion events were held in conjunction with the release of the report in Auckland and Wellington, and these sessions generated some excellent discussion on the possible next steps and opportunities. We expect this will be the start of a conversation, so it was good to see the issue picked up in the media.
In the past month, Infrastructure New Zealand has released three more policy positions. Alongside the Asset Recycling position paper, which was released alongside the asset recycling report, we released a new position on Climate Adaptation and an updated version of our Simplifying Capital Funds paper.
Our Climate Adaptation position details recommendations on improving New Zealand’s recovery and resilience planning system. We discuss the need to progress a national adaptation framework, establish a single entity to coordinate our recovery and resilience planning, and for national resilience standards and improved data quality to underpin better risk assessment.
You can read the policy position papers here.
Infrastructure New Zealand will also soon be submitting on the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission | Te Waihanga’s National Infrastructure Plan Discussion Document. If you would like to have input into Infrastructure New Zealand’s submission, please email martina.moroney@infrastructure.org.nz.
Legislation
The work on the sizeable phase 2 amendments to the Resource Management Act (RMA) is continuing. The Fast-track Approvals Bill has been reported back from the Select Committee and had its Second Reading. We are now just waiting for the Committee of the Whole House stage and Third Reading ahead of the enactment of this legislation, which will accelerate the delivery of a large number of significant infrastructure projects.
The next significant Resource Management Amendment Bill number two has been promised to be introduced by the end of the year. A six-month select committee process has been signalled and we can expect that submissions on the Bill will close early in the new year. Infrastructure New Zealand has appreciated the engagement by the Government to date. We have participated in a number of Ministry for the Environment and Infrastructure Commission workshops, as they have worked hard to shape up the amendment proposals that cover issues such as:
- A new National Policy Statement for infrastructure and other national direction and national environmental standards (electricity and telecommunications).
- A targeted review of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement.
- Provisions to support the Government’s Going for Growth Housing Plan.
- Heritage building management.
- National Direction on natural hazards.
- Climate change adaptation.
We are pleased to see the key role that infrastructure plays in our country being reflected in a number of proposed amendments which recognise the long-term nature of our assets including:
– Increasing the default duration of consents for renewable energy and long-lived infrastructure to 35 years and the lapse periods being extended to 10 years.
– Extending certain coastal permits for port companies by 20 years and allowing them to also have requiring authority status.
– Simplified alternative tests and reduced assessment and information requirements for designations.
Cabinet decisions around the wholesale replacement of the RMA as a phase three of the resource management reforms have been released with ten core principles specified, including the establishment of two Acts with clear and distinct purposes – one to manage environmental effects arising from activities and another to enable urban development and infrastructure. We are expecting these bills to be introduced in mid-2025. You can read more here.
We are also awaiting the release of the expert panel report on the review of the Public Works Act, and the Government’s decisions around this. The expert panel was tasked with providing practical recommendations to modernise the Act so that it is clearer, more efficient, and more effective. Amendments to this legislation are just as important for accelerating infrastructure projects as the RMA changes.
Engagement and Events
Infrastructure New Zealand and member GHD hosted the launch event in Wellington for the updated PPP framework mentioned in Nick’s column. At the event, Simon Court (Parliamentary Under Secretary to the Minsiter for Infrastructure and RMA Reform) thanked the Infrastructure New Zealand Funding and Finance Working Group for their report on the revised PPP models and for providing a range of perspectives from across the sector on the future procurement processes. The Infrastructure New Zealand report had been a key ingredient in the Government’s revised position. Notably, the report contained forewords by the Prime Minister, Minister Bishop, Simon Court and Hon Barbara Edmonds (Labour Infrastructure spokesperson) in a positive show of bipartisan support.
Infrastructure New Zealand held its annual Senior Leaders’ Retreat in Waitākere at the end of October. With a focus on building a vision for Aotearoa and how infrastructure can help deliver on this. Guest speakers included Sir Bob Harvey (former Waitākere Mayor), Katherine Rich (Business NZ), Helmut Modlik (CEO Ngāti Toa), Professor Stephen Noakes (University of Auckland Politics and International Relations Lecturer), and Christina Leung (Deputy CEO NZIER). A panel discussion on Becoming match fit for investment in New Zealand with Natalie McClew (PwC), Clara Cutajar (PwC Australia Partner Global Capital and Infrastructure Leader), Sam Stubbs (MD Simplicity) and Neil Paviour-Smith (CEO Forsyth Barr) provided fascinating insights into the settings needed to become more attractive for both international and local infrastructure investment.
Earlier this month, the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission – Te Waihanga asked Infrastructure New Zealand to co-host their planned series workshops on the National Infrastructure Plan around the country. This was an opportunity to team up with the Commission and reinforce the importance of this work in strengthening the pipeline and cementing in a more bipartisan approach. We would like to make special mention of The Infrastructure Collective (TIC) Auckland network team who developed the pipeline activity attendees had a lot of fun playing, and Frank Faessen in particular, who facilitated this portion of the workshops.
Infrastructure New Zealand partnered with Holcim and the Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) to present a paper and participate in a panel discussion at the recent international FIB Low Carbon Concrete Conference in Christchurch. INZ also attended the recent ISC Connect conference in Sydney and participated in a panel discussion on unlocking the value of connected infrastructure. Between the FIB and the ISC conferences, it is positive to see that the private sector is still driving an environmental and sustainability agenda in absence of a strong Government lead in New Zealand.
Infrastructure New Zealand also presented at the Te Tai Tokerau Northland Workforce Development Forum meeting at the end of this month. As we develop further work in the diversity, equity, inclusivity and belonging space, alongside work to develop a more detailed social procurement position, this engagement was a good opportunity to deepen our ties in Northland and contribute to the infrastructure workforce conversation in the region.
Media
Infrastructure New Zealand’s proactive media releases this month have focused on our asset recycling report, climate adaptation policy position, proposed changes to the Overseas Investment Act and the PPP Framework release. We have also provided media and public commentary on the RMA reforms, the Public Works Act Review and the proposed regulation tip line.
Welcoming New Members
Nau mai haere mai, welcome, to our new Infrastructure New Zealand members. We’re so glad to have you on board and look forward to continuing to engage with you.
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