Infrastructure is being put where it belongs: at the
centre of New Zealand’s economic, environment and social
decision-making. That’s Infrastructure New Zealand’s
view as the Government introduces a National Policy
Statement for Infrastructure. INZ welcomes it and calls it a
fundamental building block of progress that finally places
infrastructure where it belongs.
“This is a clear
acknowledgement that infrastructure is not peripheral to
national outcomes, it is essential to delivering them. To
sustain this momentum, successive Governments should stick
to the broad policy direction, rather than wild shifts in
every time the government changes, ” says Infrastructure New
Zealand Chief Executive, Nick Leggett.
“For
decades, infrastructure has been treated as an afterthought,
and dealt with project by project, consent by consent –
despite being fundamental to economic growth, environmental
outcomes, and community wellbeing. A National Policy
Statement changes that. It sends a clear signal that
infrastructure is nationally significant, that its benefits
must be properly recognised, and that the system must
actively enable its timely and efficient
delivery.”
Infrastructure New Zealand emphasises the
importance of enduring national direction for
infrastructure. As New Zealand transitions through resource
management reform, changes to the system architecture must
place long-term infrastructure outcomes at the heart of
decision-making. This NPS needs to be explicit and
consistently carried through in the development of National
Direction and Standards, which will be the top of the
hierarchy in the new RMA system.
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“The release of the
National Policy Statement on Infrastructure is a step in the
right direction. This sends a critical signal to
communities, councils, investors, and delivery agencies that
New Zealand is serious about lifting infrastructure
performance over the long term, rather than responding to
short-term pressures. Strengthening these connections will
be essential to translating policy intent into
infrastructure that can be delivered,” says Nick
Leggett.
If New Zealand wants better results as a
nation, we must also accept that we need different attitudes
and behaviours about what we build, where we build, and how
we weigh local impacts against national benefits. Just as
importantly, we must be clearer about why we are building –
to support growth, improve resilience, reduce emissions, and
lift
productivity.
