Industry Welcomes Strategic Focus on Pipeline Certainty

Civil Contractors NZ has backed the Government’s newly released 30-year National Infrastructure Plan, which outlines system reforms to planning, funding and delivery 

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop said the National Infrastructure Plan is central to economic growth. 

“New Zealand’s future prosperity depends on high quality infrastructure. It is central to our quality of life and to the Government’s ‘Going for Growth’ agenda,” Bishop said. 

“The National Infrastructure Plan sets out a 30-year view of how New Zealand can improve the way it plans, funds, maintains and delivers infrastructure,” added Bishop. 

The plan identifies four themes for system change and outlines 10 priority actions for the decade ahead. It notes that while New Zealand spends around 5.8% of GDP on infrastructure each year, the country ranks poorly among OECD nations for efficiency and asset management. 

Four themes for system change 

The first theme focuses on strengthening long term planning and decision making. The plan calls for clearer national direction, improved sequencing of capital works and a more stable infrastructure pipeline to reduce stop-start investment cycles. 

The second theme centres on improving funding and financing settings. It highlights the need for more sustainable funding tools and better use of financing mechanisms to support delivery, particularly as traditional funding sources come under pressure. 

The third theme targets lifting system capability and performance. This includes improving procurement practices, strengthening assurance frameworks, building workforce capability and enhancing asset management across central and local government. 

The fourth theme emphasises resilience and maintenance. The plan states that maintaining and renewing existing infrastructure is as important as building new assets, and calls for more disciplined long term maintenance planning and resilience investment. 

Bishop said the plan is intended to “improve how we plan, fund, maintain and deliver infrastructure” and address longstanding performance challenges in the system. 

Priority actions linked to delivery 

Among the 10 priority actions, those most closely tied to the construction sector include:  

• Improving the national infrastructure pipeline to provide clearer visibility of planned projects. 

• Strengthening capital planning and sequencing. 

• Enhancing procurement and assurance frameworks. 

• Expanding funding and financing tools. 

• Improving asset management practices and addressing workforce capability constraints. 

The plan builds on steps already underway, including changes to infrastructure funding and financing settings and efforts to clarify delivery roles across agencies. 

Industry reaction – call for certainty 

Civil Contractors New Zealand welcomed the release of the plan and its long-term approach to infrastructure. 

Chief Executive Alan Pollard said the document reflects concerns raised by the sector. 

He said the plan “echoes many of the concerns and solutions put forward by our sector, particularly around the need for true pipeline certainty, practical consenting, and robust, durable funding mechanisms”. 

He added that industry confidence would depend on projects moving from strategy to delivery. 

“Too often, projects remain on paper or are delayed by regulatory and funding uncertainty, hampering both the industry and community outcomes,” he said. 

Pollard also highlighted the importance of resilience investment and workforce development, noting that long term infrastructure goals require sustained funding, regulatory efficiency and a skilled construction workforce.