Ten new infrastructure planning changes have been implemented in New Zealand as preliminary measures while the Government prepares to replace its existing national Resource Management Act (RMA).
Led by RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop, the reforms are part of a new National Policy Statement for Infrastructure and are designed to speed up project delivery and boost renewable energy development.
The new measures address the recognition that the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy generation requires a significant increase in the number of renewable energy sites, and an increase in the capacity and development of the electricity network.
The changes come through amendments to the National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation and the National Policy Statement for Electricity Networks.
“The RMA is a direct contributor to New Zealand’s infrastructure deficit. It drives up costs, slows projects down, and has become a complicated nightmare for councils and developers alike,” Bishop said.
“A 2022 study for the Infrastructure Commission by Sapere found that developers collectively spend NZ$1.29 billion each year getting projects consented, and consenting costs have risen 70% since 2014. Paperwork has taken priority over progress.”
Bishop said the changes, which were extensively consulted on throughout 2025, would deliver immediate benefits from a more enabling planning system in advance of the full rollout of a new planning framework.
New Zealand plans to replace the existing Resource Management Act (RMA) with the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill, introduced in December 2025. The Government aims to enact them into law by mid-2026, transitioning to a new system for management of land and environment by 2029.
A Select Committee process is underway for public feedback, with submissions closing in February 2026. New consent applications under the new framework will likely start mid-2026, with existing RMA consents extended to 2031.
Investment is the other piece of the infrastructure reforms in New Zealand, and fund manager Simplicity has launched a new company called InfraKiwi, designed for New Zealanders to invest their KiwiSaver pension savings in national infrastructure projects.
InfraKiwi plans to be listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange and become a long-term steward of critical assets. The NZ Treasury said the move was a “welcome innovation,” but has questioned the plan to limit investment to NZ investors.
In a paper to Finance Minister Nicola Willis – obtained by the National Business Review under the Official Information Act – the Treasury said Simplicity’s approach could have implications for capital market depth, compared with a case where ownership included international investors.
