Collaboration and a renewed push for a bipartisan approach to infrastructure were the dominant themes on the opening day of Building Nations 2024. Infrastructure New Zealand chairwoman Tracey Ryan opened the two-day conference, calling on industry players, government and iwi to work together to unlock the nation’s potential.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told delegates at the conference his Government intends to be an infrastructure government across the public and private sectors. The opening address was a prerecorded video as the PM is attending the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga.
The Prime Minister said there is a need for better procurement processes and value-focused business cases: “The national infrastructure pipeline, which includes both current and planned projects and covers roads, water infrastructure, schools, hospital and energy, is now almost $150 billion.
“We have to change the way we do things. The Crown must become more sophisticated and more capable of procurement. Our business cases must focus on value for money, not compliance.”
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop used the conference to announce the Government’s National Infrastructure Agency, before talking about the importance of building a bipartisan consensus and a more mature, depoliticised approach to planning and development.