S02E04 - It’s Tough to Be an Infrastructure Provider

Summary

Infrastructure New Zealand is an industry body representing infrastructure building companies and other stakeholders. They advocate for infrastructure projects that are best for the sector and the country. The politicization of infrastructure and the lack of stable funding have led to a significant infrastructure deficit in New Zealand. The government's approach to infrastructure has been inconsistent, leading to uncertainty and inefficiency. There is a need for stable funding and a menu of projects with political consensus. Local government settings and funding arrangements need to be improved to enable better infrastructure delivery. There is a growing interest in involving private capital in infrastructure projects to increase efficiency and reliability. The conversation explores the challenges and potential solutions for infrastructure development in New Zealand. The main themes include the role of public-private partnerships, the need for long-term planning and funding, the importance of coordinated resilience and adaptation planning, and the impact of natural disasters on infrastructure. The conversation also touches on the political challenges and the need for consensus and stability in infrastructure decision-making. The key takeaways include the need for political and local government reform, the urgency of addressing climate change and resilience, and the importance of learning from past disasters.

Keywords

Infrastructure New Zealand, advocacy, infrastructure deficit, politicization, stable funding, menu of projects, local government, private capital, infrastructure, public-private partnerships, long-term planning, funding, resilience, adaptation, natural disasters, political challenges, consensus, climate change

Takeaways

• Infrastructure New Zealand advocates for infrastructure projects that are best for the sector and the country.

• The politicization of infrastructure and the lack of stable funding have led to a significant infrastructure deficit in New Zealand.

• There is a need for stable funding and a menu of projects with political consensus.

• Improvements are needed in local government settings and funding arrangements to enable better infrastructure delivery.

• There is a growing interest in involving private capital in infrastructure projects to increase efficiency and reliability. Public-private partnerships can be an effective model for infrastructure development, but the government needs to refine the risk allocation and bidding processes.

• Long-term planning and funding are crucial for achieving better infrastructure outcomes and intergenerational equity.

• Coordinated resilience and adaptation planning are necessary to address the challenges of climate change and natural disasters.

• Political challenges and changes in government can disrupt infrastructure projects, highlighting the need for consensus and stability in decision-making.

• Reforming local government settings and improving the relationship between central and local government are essential for effective infrastructure delivery.

• Addressing climate change and building resilience should be top priorities in infrastructure planning and investment.

Titles

• Advocating for Better Infrastructure in New Zealand

• The Need for a Menu of Projects with Political Consensus Reforming Local Government Settings

• The Need for Long-Term Planning and Funding

Sound Bites

• "New Zealand for the last 30, 40 years, 30 years has been quite shit at building infrastructure."

• "The further something is, or at least the funding is from politics, the more reliable the outcome is."

• "The further you get away from government funding, the more efficient and reliable these projects become."

• "Deliver the outcomes that all of us as citizens of a first world country expect."

• "The issue is not the funding itself. It's the privatization."

• "It incentivizes better asset maintenance. You have that longer term view and can achieve better outcomes."