Enable thriving cities

Enable thriving cities
and infrastructure

We believe collaboration is critical to the creation of thriving cities and communities, and that robust infrastructure must go hand in hand.

New Zealand cities are facing vast population growth which has led to an increase in demand for housing and infrastructure. Historic underinvestment in infrastructure and asset management has resulted in aging infrastructure and buildings that may not be fit for purpose.

It is vital that the Government, public and private sectors work together to create thriving cities and communities. This includes local authorities working with Government and the private sector to resolve the lack of funding and financing of infrastructure.

Property Council supports local authorities meeting urban growth pressure by building both up and out, especially by encouraging good urban form through intensification in CBDs and near key transport nodes.

Topics include:
  • Infrastructure funding and financing
  • Future growth
  • Development contributions

Recommendations

  1. Strengthen and enable the existing tools available to local authorities for alternative
    funding and financing (including value capture mechanisms, Special Purpose Vehicles and targeted rates), supported by central government guidance, technical assistance and education.
  2. Introduce alternative funding and financing mechanisms for infrastructure at local,
    regional and national levels.
  3. Extend support, guidance and tools for smarter infrastructure investment planning to local authorities, including simplified cost-benefit analysis tools and capability-building.
  4. Encourage robust business cases and funding certainty ahead of major infrastructure commitments.
  5. Prioritise maintenance and renewals alongside new infrastructure investment,
    supported by consistent, long-term asset management stewardship across central and
    local government.
  6. Introduce greater financial incentives for local authorities to enable growth, including
    mechanisms such as GST sharing, or the expansion of the growth incentives payments.
  7. Support and extend Regional and City Deals as a mechanism for aligning central
    government and private sector investment around long-term growth priorities.
  8. Establish an independent national regulator to oversee development levies and require
    consistent national reporting on levy collection, expenditure and infrastructure delivery, with levy revenue ring-fenced for growth infrastructure.
  9. Limit levy calculations to a ten-year planning horizon, and encourage smaller,
    infrastructure-aligned catchments and the use of complementary funding and financing mechanisms.
  10. Partner with Property Council to support implementation of the new development levies regime; road-testing guidance, identifying emerging issues early and strengthening communication between government and the development sector.

Development Levies
Taskforce

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The Development Levies Taskforce aims to improve the transparency and fairness of development contribution fees through input into central Government on the future Development Levy scheme.

Property Council is honoured to work with members from across the property spectrum on this important issue, including:

  • Adam Colleton, Winton
  • Alice Hall, Chapman Tripp
  • Amanda Greenwood, Russell Group
  • Andrea Steffensen, Woolworths New Zealand
  • Andre De Jong, Classic Developments
  • Ben Jones, Templeton Group
  • Brad Smith, Woolworths New Zealand
  • Chris Bufton, Reidy & Co
  • Christie Wrightson, Founders Development Ltd
  • Corey Penney, McConnell Property
  • Daniel Minhinnick, Russell McVeagh
  • David Schwartfeger, Paparata Capital
  • Davida Dunphy, Dunphy Emmett
  • Ed McGimpsey, Buddle Findlay
  • Gerard Earl, Colliers
  • Graeme Birkhead, Graeme Birkhead Consulting Ltd
  • Greg Reidy, Reidy & Co
  • Howard Smith, D3 Development
  • Jan Walker, Shore City Shopping Centre Pty Ltd
  • Joanna Brain, Tamaki Regeneration
  • John Dobrowolski, Russell Group
  • Kim Barrett, Haydn & Rollett
  • Luke Hinchey, Chapman Tripp
  • Mandy Boyce, Simplicity Living
  • Mark Peldmanis, Avant Property Development Ltd
  • Martin Cooper, Cooper and Associates
  • Matt Ashworth, Neil Group
  • Matt Doughney, Euroclass Ltd
  • Matthew Brown, Ryman Healthcare Ltd
  • Michael Cocks, CBRE
  • Micheal Holloway, Frequency
  • Morgan Jones, Veros
  • Natalie Van Rossen, Tamaki Regeneration
  • Neil Donnelly, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa Limited
  • Nicole Carseldine, Development Advisory Services Limited
  • Nicole Warner, Glaister Ennor
  • Olga Druzhinina, Development Advisory Services Limited
  • Pat Gavaghan, Hugh Green Group
  • Paula Ormandy, Buddle Findlay
  • Phil Ainsworth, The Neil Group Limited
  • Phil Smith, Smith Architects
  • Roddy John, NewGround Capital
  • Rhys Harvey, Foster Development
  • Sarah Hall, Willis Bond
  • Scott Illingworth, D3 Development
  • Shane Kelly, Avant
  • Simon O’Conner, Sentinel Planning
  • Tim Bull, Bayleys
  • Tim Woods, Precinct Properties
  • Tom Chatterton, Rider Levett Bucknall
  • Trevor Canty, Neil Group
  • Wesley Gerber, Bayleys
  • Will Ellison, Willis Bond

Join the taskforce

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Contact

For further information or to get involved, contact:
Bella Leddy

Advocacy Advisor
bella@propertynz.co.nz