Testing our thinking

Last year we asked for feedback on a discussion document, Testing our thinking, that described what we expected a National Infrastructure Plan will cover and the problem it’s trying to solve, as well as the approach we proposed to take to develop it.

The document provided stakeholders an early opportunity to engage and shape the development of the Plan, identify additional challenges and opportunities, and build a shared understanding of priorities and trade-offs.

 

Discussion document feedback

The feedback period for the discussion document ran from 5 November to 10 December 2024. 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. The consultation was structured around 17 targeted questions to capture perspectives on infrastructure priorities, challenges, and opportunities.

Key themes

While responses reflected a range of perspectives, several key themes emerged as systemic challenges across infrastructure planning, funding and financing, delivery, and governance.

• 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 received 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 right 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 received 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.

Discussion document

The discussion document set out what we expected the National Infrastructure Plan will cover and the problem it’s trying to solve, as well as the approach we proposed to take to develop it. Feedback closed on 10 December 2024