Government reveals new infrastructure proposal

Monday, 2 December 2024

New rules will make it easier for the private sector to pitch infrastructure ideas to Government — currently treated like a “hot potato” by the public service.

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop unveiled the new proposal at Future Proofing New Zealand: The 2050 Infrastructure Forum, an event organised by The Post and Infrastructure New Zealand, and hosted by Chapman Tripp.

Bishop and parliamentary under-secretary Simon Court released the new guidelines for “market-led proposals” which would allow private sector players to bring an unsolicited idea to Government.

Bishop said the new framework would establish a single channel and a clear, consistent and transparent process. New Zealand has never experienced a “successful” market-led proposal, despite numerous examples across international jurisdictions, he added.

“There is no government monopoly on good ideas, so it’s imperative we have a clear framework for assessing ideas and engagement from the private sector,” he said.

The ministers cited Auckland’s doomed light rail project as an example of failure.

Court said there was no obvious process to review a Canadian and Superfund proposal for the project, which the Government scrapped in January.

The invite-only event in Auckland on Monday afternoon examined the political will to agree and stick to a long-term plan for infrastructure.

Bishop, regional development minister Shane Jones and Labour leader Chris Hipkins also spoke to the audience of industry representatives on the future of bipartisan agreement in infrastructure planning and delivery.