New Zealand draft infrastructure plan outlines need for more hospitals, electricity
The plan aims to improve infrastructure preparations and introduce a less politically driven approach to infrastructure investment, which critics say has been impacted by electoral cycles with the stop-start results being costly for large projects.
'We want the National Infrastructure Plan to help build common ground about our areas of need and what is affordable for Kiwis, giving the Government of the day guidance for making decisions about infrastructure,' said Geoff Cooper, chief executive of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission.
The draft plan said the country needed to establish affordable and sustainable funding, make it easier to build new infrastructure, prioritise maintaining current infrastructure and assess the readiness of projects before they are funded.
While New Zealand was in the top 10% of the OECD in its infrastructure spend as a percentage of gross domestic product, it was not getting the returns it should, it added.
To meet demand, annual capital investment would need to increase from around NZ$20 billion ($12 billion) today to slightly more than NZ$30 billion by the 2050s, according to the plan.
The New Zealand government has outlined plans to boost the infrastructure build in the country, and earlier this year hosted an infrastructure investment summit to promote foreign investment in the country's infrastructure.
'The Government is determined to improve New Zealand's infrastructure system and to work alongside the industry and other political parties to establish a broad consensus about what needs to change,' said Chris Bishop, Minister for Infrastructure.
The finalised plan is expected to be released at the end of the year and will be discussed by parliament in early 2026.
($1 = 1.6565 New Zealand dollars)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
22 minutes ago
- The Guardian
New Zealand PM says Netanyahu has ‘lost the plot' after Palestine recognition debate sees MP ejected
As more of its allies make moves to recognise Palestinian statehood, the issue is dominating New Zealand's politics, with a prominent MP ejected from parliament on Tuesday and the prime minister describing his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu as having 'lost the plot'. Speaking to local media on Wednesday, Christopher Luxon said what was happening in Gaza was 'utterly, utterly appalling'. 'I think Netanyahu has gone way too far, I think he has lost the plot and I think what we are seeing overnight, with the attack on Gaza City is utterly, utterly unacceptable.' Luxon said the Israeli prime minister was 'not listening to the international community'. The prime minister's comments are among the strongest words of condemnation he has used against Netanyahu but that will be cold comfort for opposition parties who say the government is lagging behind on recognising Palestinian statehood. On Tuesday, MP Chlöe Swarbrick was ordered to leave parliament during a heated debate, that was called after the centre-right government said it was weighing up its position on whether to recognise a Palestinian state. Close ally Australia on Monday joined Canada, the UK and France in announcing it would recognise a Palestinian state at a UN conference in September. Swarbrick, who is co-leader of the Green party, said New Zealand was a 'laggard' and an 'outlier' and the lack of decision was appalling, before calling on some government members to support a bill to 'sanction Israel for its war crimes'. The bill was proposed by her party in March and is supported by all opposition parties. 'If we find six of 68 government MPs with a spine, we can stand on the right side of history,' said Swarbrick. Speaker Gerry Brownlee said that statement was 'completely unacceptable' and that she had to withdraw it and apologise. When she refused, Swarbrick was ordered to leave parliament. Brownlee later clarified Swarbrick could return on Wednesday but if she still refused to apologise she would again be removed from parliament. Luxon's government has said it would make a decision in September about whether it would recognise Palestine as a state. Netanyahu has been strongly critical of growing international moves to recognise a Palestinian state. 'To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole, just like that, fall right into it,' he said earlier this week. 'This canard is disappointing, and I think it's actually shameful. But it's not going to change our position.' Netanyahu went on to claim Israel was 'actually applying force judiciously, and they know it'. Foreign minister Winston Peters told parliament that over the next month the government would gather information and talk to partners, which would inform cabinet's decision. 'We'll be weighing this decision carefully rather than rushing to judgment,' Peters said. Along with the Green party, opposition parties Labour and Te Pati Māori support recognition of a Palestinian state. Labour parliamentarian Peeni Henare said New Zealand had a history of standing strong on its principles and values and in this case 'was being left behind'.
Daily Mail
40 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Thames Water could be sold to the Chinese after the Labour government puts it into temporary public ownership to 'wipe' much of its £16.8billion debt
Thames Water could be sold to a Chinese infrastructure company after the government places it in temporary public ownership to ' wipe' out much of its £16.8billion debt. Steve Reed, the environment secretary is understood to be making 'active preparations' to essentially nationalise Britain's largest water utility by putting it into a special administration scheme (SAR) while the government looks for a new buyer. One of the leading contenders is CK Infrastructure Holdings (CKI), a Hong Kong based company, which could take over Thames Water within weeks of it going into special administration, The Times reported. CKI already owns Northumbrian Water and UK Power Networks and has said it would be ready to introduce tougher fines for environmental infringements, which Thames Water's creditors say is financially unviable. Yesterday, Mr Reed approved the appointment of FTI Consulting to advise on contingency plans for Thames Water to be placed into special administration. This would guarantee that even if Thames Water collapses, customers would continue to receive water and sewerage services. However, it could make taxpayers responsible for the billions of pounds of bailout costs at a time when public finances are already severely constrained. The administration process can only be put in motion in the event that a company becomes insolvent, can no longer fulfil its statutory duties or breaches an enforcement order. But the government could force a company into special administration if it does not agree to the bailout terms being proposed by creditors. Mr Reed has previously stressed his desire to avoid taking Thames into temporary public ownership, but has said that he was ready for 'all eventualities'. Two senior government sources told the Times the situation had changed and a taxpayer bailout was the most likely option. One said: 'The political benefits of an SAR are apparent to us and it is now something we are looking very seriously at and preparing for it to happen.' Another suggested it was now the government's favoured option in the absence of a better deal from creditors. Thames Water has been in financial crisis since the spring of last year when international shareholders quit the company because they felt it was no longer investable.
The Guardian
40 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Afternoon Update: national guard deployed in Washington DC; Commonwealth Bank's record profit; and a ‘deceptively cute' ancient whale
Welcome, readers, to Afternoon Update. The Washington DC national guard will begin deploying on the city's streets, a day after Donald Trump ordered their arrival and took control of the city's police force, calling Washington DC a 'lawless' city despite official crime statistics saying otherwise. Defence officials said a small number of the roughly 800 guard members planned for the mission had already been mobilised, with more expected to arrive in the coming days. About 850 officers and agents took part in a 'massive law enforcement surge' across Washington DC on Monday night and made nearly two dozen arrests, the White House has said. The violent crime rate in the city is at a 30-year low. New Zealand woman and six-year-old son detained for three weeks by Ice in US enduring 'terrifying' ordeal Man faces court after pregnant woman and partner found dead in Melbourne's south-east Police gun 'unintentionally discharged' during arrest of man at Sydney airport Commonwealth Bank posts record $10.25bn profit and reveals plan to clamp down on coal lending Use of AI could worsen racism and sexism in Australia, human rights commissioner warns Home affairs wrongfully detained Australian citizen for four days because of paperwork bungle, ombudsman reveals 'Small and deceptively cute, but definitely not harmless' is how scientists have described a new species of ancient whale, from a 25-million-year-old fossil found on Victoria's surf coast. This early species, called Janjucetus dullardi, was an extremely unusual animal, said Dr Erich Fitzgerald, senior curator of vertebrate palaeontology at Museums Victoria Research Institute. 'I think Netanyahu has gone way too far. I think he has lost the plot.' – Christopher Luxon The New Zealand prime minister spoke about his Israeli counterpart on Wednesday, saying what was happening in Gaza was 'utterly, utterly appalling'. A day earlier, MP Chlöe Swarbrick was ordered to leave the New Zealand parliament during a heated debate that was called after the centre-right government said it was weighing up its position on whether to recognise a Palestinian state. Will Trump and Putin decide the future of Ukraine? Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will meet on Friday in Alaska for a high-stakes summit on the Ukraine war. But the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will not be there, and European leaders fear damaging concessions could be made without Ukraine at the table. Our global affairs correspondent, Andrew Roth, speaks to Reged Ahmad about whether this meeting between two strongmen could end the war in Ukraine. Sign up to Afternoon Update Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Listen to the episode here Do you want to know who might be starring, cameoing or in some way appearing in the upcoming sequel to The Devil Wears Prada? Well, you might not have a choice. Ever since filming on the Anne Hathaway/Meryl Streep reunion commenced in New York a few weeks ago, set photos and accompanying news items have become plentiful. Jesse Hassenger poses the question: is the Hollywood hype machine starting too early? Today's starter word is: ICY. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply. If you would like to receive this Afternoon Update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or start your day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know with our Morning Mail newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland.
