Councils hit hard by COVID-19, who oversee half this country’s public infrastructure, require financial support from central government, says Paul Blair CEO of Infrastructure New Zealand Rates, which some councils are already choosing to freeze or cut, only provide 60% of council revenues, on average. Continue →

Important policy and legislative developments have landed today which could enable a bolder, more streamlined way of delivering new infrastructure for the benefit all New Zealanders, says Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Paul Blair New government announcements and a Productivity Commission report this week are reiterating that New Zealand needs new ways of working together, brought together by a coherent vision, to dramatically change outcomes for the better. Continue →

By strengthening regional capability and incentivising local, regional and central government institutions to collaborate, we can tackle complex issues and improve outcomes for all New Zealanders, says outgoing Infrastructure NZ CEO Stephen Selwood   Devolving transport, housing and other regionally specific services to an empowered and capable regional government would improve national outcomes by strengthening delivery and incentivising all of government to work towards shared objectives. Continue →

While the Productivity Commission’s draft report on Local Government Funding and Financing provides some useful recommendations to improve the current system, the report falls short of advancing the level of change need to lift New Zealand’s productivity, says Stephen Selwood Chief Executive of Infrastructure New Zealand It is pleasing that the Commission has reinforced earlier findings which emphasise the importance of beneficiaries contributing a greater share of local government costs and of the urgent need for three waters services reform. Continue →

Long overdue reform of the water sector has created the opportunity for a first principles discussion of what local government can and should do and with what resources, says Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Stephen Selwood “Operating infrastructure networks is a technical activity demanding flexible use of capital and strong asset management capability,” he explains. Continue →

The Productivity Commission’s inquiry into local government funding and financing is welcome, but it is concerning to see the Terms of Reference will constrain an objective assessment of all options, says Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Stephen Selwood It is particularly disappointing that ‘asset recycling’ – the process of selling down public shareholding in one public asset in order to invest in another more valuable asset – has been precluded from the terms of reference, he adds. Continue →