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$144 billion of projects in the National Infrastructure Pipeline

PUBLISHED 1 NOVEMBER 2024

The latest update of the National Infrastructure Pipeline in September includes a total of $143.6 billion of projects.

The Pipeline includes projects currently in construction through to those being scoped and planned for delivery in the future. Almost 70 per cent ($100 billion) of the Pipeline’s total value comes from projects that are funded, part-funded, or have a funding source confirmed.

The Pipeline is managed by the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, and provides a national view of current or planned infrastructure projects, from roads, to water infrastructure, to schools, and more.

The estimated value of projects in the Pipeline changes over time as infrastructure providers complete projects, update their project planning, improve the scope and quality of the information they submit, and as more organisations contribute their project information.

Acting General Manager – Strategy Peter Nunns says, “The latest Pipeline update highlights that $4.6 billion of projects reached completion in the September quarter. There were also adjustments in the value of existing projects and improvements in the quality of the data held in the Pipeline.”

Our projections show that more than $16.4 billion is expected to be spent across all infrastructure sectors in 2024 – the equivalent to around four per cent of our GDP. Transport accounts for the biggest spend with more than $7.4 billion, followed by the social sector at $3.7 billion and water at $2.1 billion.

“The Commission continues to work with the sector to improve the transparency and quality of information available. Ninety-four organisations from central government, local government, and the private sector now contribute project information to the Pipeline. This is a big lift from 12 months ago, when only 72 organisations were contributing data.

“Local government plays an important role in providing infrastructure services so it’s good to see an additional nine councils contributing this quarter, supporting the development of a National Infrastructure Plan.

In September 2024, the Minister for Infrastructure Hon Chris Bishop wrote letters to central and local government infrastructure providers encouraging them to regularly update the Pipeline with their infrastructure project activity and investment intentions. Insights drawn from the Pipeline helps the infrastructure sector prepare for the future informing decision makers across the system, including supporting infrastructure providers and the construction sector to weigh priorities and plan and coordinate project delivery.

"Our National Infrastructure Plan that will consider long-term infrastructure needs and compare these to current investment intentions. The Pipeline is a key input for the Plan as it provides insight into what’s currently planned to maintain, renew, and improve New Zealand’s infrastructure."

Key updates

  • At 30 September, the Pipeline included $143.6 billion worth of infrastructure projects that are in planning or under construction (down 2.7 per cent from June 2024). The reduction in the value was due to $4.6 billion in projects being completed, the value of existing projects being adjusted and improvements in data quality. 

  • $100 billion, almost 70 per cent of total Pipeline value, comes from projects that are funded, part-funded or have a funding source confirmed. 

  • The Pipeline includes 6741 initiatives valued under $100 million. 97% of all the initiatives in the Pipeline are valued under $100 million.  

  • 94 organisations currently contribute to the Pipeline, including 48 councils that represent over 80 per cent of all rates revenue collected. 

  • Projections show a spend of $16.4 billion across 2024 (or around 4 per cent of GDP) and $13.7 billion in 2025. Three-quarters of projected spend from Pipeline projects occurs within 6 years. 

  • The projections also show that the transport sector accounts for the highest spend in 2024 ($7.4 billion), followed by the social sector ($3.7 billion) and water ($2.1 billion). 

  • We continue to work with the infrastructure sector to strengthen the Pipeline and provide a more accurate view of infrastructure investments and project planning across New Zealand. This important work enhances transparency in the sector and bolsters the evidence base that supports decision making, coordination, and planning across the infrastructure system.  

  • The Pipeline is a key component of our development of a National Infrastructure Plan.