Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about the Infrastructure Priorities Programme (IPP) and how it works.
The Infrastructure Priorities Programme (IPP) is an independent and standardised process to identify proposals and projects that are nationally important, will meet New Zealand’s strategic objectives, represent good value for money and can be delivered. The IPP is administered by the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga.
The IPP is a part of the development of the Commission’s National Infrastructure Plan. Proposals and projects assessed as meeting the criteria under the IPP will be published and included within the National Infrastructure Plan, sending a strong signal to decision-makers and the public that these are infrastructure priorities.
By making a submission through the IPP you will receive an independent review of your proposal and targeted advice. There is no cost for submitting a proposal.
We recommended an approach like the IPP in the New Zealand Infrastructure Strategy in 2022. When developing that recommendation, we looked to Infrastructure Australia to understand lessons learnt over previous iterations of their Infrastructure Priority List, which has been operational for over a decade.
We then spent two years developing the Assessment Framework by drawing upon international best practice, engaging external reviewers, and testing the preliminary framework using existing projects.
While New Zealand spends a significant amount on infrastructure, we are comparatively weak at translating those dollars into higher-quality infrastructure.
Compared with other OECD countries, New Zealand makes limited use of cost-benefit analysis to inform decision-making. New Zealand is one of two OECD countries where cost-benefit analysis does not play a decisive role in public infrastructure decision-making processes. While New Zealand has well-established guidance on preparing business cases for new public investments, compliance with these requirements lags. For example, in recent years only half of infrastructure investments reviewed by the Treasury’s Capital Panel for the annual Budget complied with Treasury’s guidance that all investments need a business case. Even fewer projects assess value for money. In 2024, only 25% of bids completed included cost-benefit analysis.
One of the Commission’s roles is to improve planning and decision-making. The IPP will contribute to this. The IPP is also designed to ensure that current processes for project assurance (for example, Treasury’s Better Business Cases model) are being used.
We know that when decisions are made before the right information is available, they’re more likely to lead to problems like cost overruns. In Australia, only one in three major infrastructure projects are announced before their business cases have been completed, but these projects account for 79% of the total value of cost overruns.
One way of combating this problem is to give an independent view on what projects are high quality and ready to invest in, and which aren’t.
Being part of the IPP signals to decision-makers and the public that your proposal is a priority for New Zealand. This means it offers good value for money and is set up to be successfully delivered. Endorsed proposals will be included in the Commission’s National Infrastructure Plan. Endorsement may also be used to inform decision-making by government.
Whether your proposal is endorsed or not, you will receive independent and targeted advice from our assessors on how it could be improved.
Anyone can submit a project or proposal for any part of New Zealand. This could include central government agencies, Crown entities, state-owned enterprises, mixed-ownership model companies, local government, council-controlled organisations, iwi/hapū/Māori groups, community housing providers, charitable organisations, community groups, individuals, and the private sector.
A proposal doesn’t have to be a built piece of infrastructure. It could be a solution to avoid the need for building new infrastructure, like a congestion charge to reduce the number of cars on the road.
Proposals can be submitted at three different stages:
- Stage 1: Proposals that highlight a problem or opportunity that’s worth solving.
- Stage 2: Proposals that look at a few different solutions to a problem or opportunity.
- Stage 3: Proposals that have a preferred solution and are getting ready to be delivered.
Submitters shouldn’t need to collect any additional information beyond what would normally be included as part of good project planning.
If you are unsure whether your proposal is eligible for the IPP, please get in touch or take a look at our Assessment Criteria section.
Projects or proposals will be assessed on whether they are nationally important. Those that address problems that are valued at over $50 million are more likely to fall into this category, and we encourage potential applicants to consider this in deciding whether to submit to the IPP.
This $50 million guide refers to the cost of the problem, not the solution. There are low-cost solutions to significant problems, and solutions to infrastructure are not always physical projects but ways of using existing infrastructure more effectively, such as pricing tools like congestion charging.
Submissions to the IPP will be undertaken in rounds.
The third round of applications for the Infrastructure Priorities Programme opens on 11 September and closes on 15 December.
The second application round took place between 10 February and 17 April 2025. Our response to proposals submitted in the second round will be publicly released in 2025.
These projects are the result of the first application round. Over time as more projects are submitted and assessed over future application rounds the list is likely to grow.
While the next steps are up to project owners and decision-makers, both can have confidence that the project has been independently assessed.
We use a Green, Amber, Red rating system for each criteria (strategic alignment, value for money, and deliverability). Green indicates that a proposal could progress to the next stage in that area; Amber is proceed with caution; Red is don’t proceed. Any proposals that received a red rating for any one of the criteria are not endorsed.
No. However, being part of the IPP signals to decision-makers and the public that your proposal is a priority for New Zealand.
The IPP is not a formal part of existing funding processes and is not mandatory for those seeking funding.
It may be useful for projects that are seeking some form of endorsement or support, whether that is for funding or simply public backing and confidence that they have been robustly and independently assessed.
All projects that are endorsed through the IPP will be included in the National Infrastructure Plan. The IPP can be looked at as a menu for decision-makers to select projects. Just like you wouldn’t order all the things off the menu if you go out to dinner, you wouldn’t expect to fund all the projects of the IPP, at least not immediately.
Together with insights from the National Infrastructure Pipeline for short- to medium-term projects and our needs analysis work, the projects identified in the IPP could be used to bridge our infrastructure gap.
To submit a proposal, you will need to have an account for our online Information Supply Platform. If you or your organisation don’t have an account, it’s easy to create one. Once you have created an account you can submit your proposal. Please provide all the information requested on the form. See our submission guide page for more information.
Once we have received the application, Te Waihanga will follow up with the applicant to review and approve the application before it is assessed.
When you submit a proposal to the Infrastructure Priorities Programme (IPP) it will be assessed by our expert evaluators and reviewed by an expert panel. The criteria are standardised, so all proposals are reviewed independently and based on their own merit.
How we assess an IPP submission depends on the stage of a proposal. All proposals are considered against three key criteria:
- Strategic alignment. Does a proposal support future infrastructure priorities and/or improve existing infrastructure systems and networks that New Zealanders need?
- Value for money. Does a proposal provide value to New Zealand above the costs required to deliver, operate, and maintain it?
- Deliverability. Can a proposal be successfully implemented and operated over its life?
Across all three stages, we assess proposals against three criteria: strategic alignment, value for money, and deliverability. However, the focus of the assessment will change between stages. Our submission guide has more information on what stage you should submit your proposal.
You shouldn’t need to develop new analysis or evidence on infrastructure proposals to support an application. Rather, applicants should provide the same information that is already expected to be produced under existing guidance. This includes the Treasury’s Better Business Case guidelines and NZ Transport Agency's monetised costs and benefits manual.
Central government agencies are required to follow Treasury business case guidance as outlined in Cabinet Circular (23) 9. Agencies that have followed this guidance should already have everything they need to complete an application.
You'll need to submit more information and supporting documentation the further along your project is. If you do not provide sufficient information, we will notify you about what information is required.
No. There is no cost to submit a proposal.
Please get in touch with us if you have forgotten important information or if something has materially changed with an ongoing application.
Your application will be assessed by Te Waihanga staff who are experts in planning and/or evaluating investments. If required, external subject matter experts will support assessments. Evaluators will use our IPP Assessment Framework – a consistent approach to testing whether projects are a priority for New Zealand’s infrastructure sector.
There are three main assessment criteria: strategic alignment, value for money, and deliverability. This Assessment Framework has been developed by reviewing international best practices for project appraisal and was externally reviewed by infrastructure experts in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK. The framework has been formally approved by the Commission’s Board.
We will complete a review of the IPP Assessment Framework after May 2025.
All assessments will go through a review panel of experts to ensure our Assessment Framework has been applied fairly and consistently.
There are four outcomes after you have applied:
- Not assessed: The proposal is not assessed because it does not meet the submission or information requirements. We will tell you why we have not assessed your proposal.
- Endorsed: Your project/problem will be put on the list at the stage you applied for.
- Endorsed at an earlier stage: Your project/problem will be put on the list at an earlier stage than what you applied for. It is possible that an application contains all the information that would allow for us to assess it at an earlier stage, if it meets all the criteria for that earlier stage.
- Not endorsed: Your project will not be put on the list.
Under any case, we will provide you with detailed feedback on the outcome of the assessment.
All endorsed assessments will be published on our website.
We will let you know the outcome of our assessment as soon as possible.
Yes, you can reapply. If your proposal is not endorsed, we will provide you with detailed feedback highlighting content that needs to be added and/or areas that can be improved. Once you have addressed our feedback, you are able to reapply.
We have taken care in designing the IPP Assessment Framework and our internal processes and policies for deciding which projects/problems make the IPP list. However, if you believe we have misinterpreted or misunderstood the information in your submission, please get in touch.
Please note that applicants cannot appeal based on disagreement with the criteria outlined in the Assessment Framework.
Our Assessment Framework has been peer reviewed and approved by our Board. To ensure that the process is robust and that all applicants are treated fairly, our Assessment Framework will be consistently applied across all applications.
Yes. We will publish all endorsed assessments on our website. Endorsed proposals are included in the National Infrastructure Plan.
No. Only endorsed assessments are publicly released.
If we get an Official Information Act request that pertains to your materials specifically (e.g., your submission form, business case, or other documentation), we will refer the request to you in line with OIA requirements.
Only evaluators and administrators/managers of the Te Waihanga Information Supply Platform have access to applicant information.
The information provided through our online submission form will be stored securely on the Te Waihanga Information Supply Platform.
Applications are open
The third round of applications for the Infrastructure Priorities Programme is now open. Applications close on 15 December.
Have a question about the Infrastructure Priority Programme? Take a look at our Frequently asked questions or email us.
Watch our recent webinar
We hosted a webinar to provide an overview of the Infrastructure Priorities Programme (IPP), including what it means for your organisation and how you can submit a proposal.
The webinar was held on 14 February 2025.
