TL;DR: The Government is trumpeting the speed, breadth and single-decision-making tools it is creating for itself to get big projects consented quickly, but its funding plans remain on decidedly slower tracks that are dependent on multiple decision-makers and unmade tough political decisions.
The political narrative around our $100 billion infrastructure deficit is that consenting is the culprit, when actually funding go-slows, self-imposed debt restrictions and the capacity and desire of private sector balance sheets, boards and fund manager mandates to lend or buy into these projects is the main restraint.
Elsewhere in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6 am:
Associate Finance Minister and ACT Leader David Seymour announced yesterda the National-ACT-NZ First Government had decided, as promised, to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties, starting with the ability to claim 80% of interest costs from April 1 this year and 100% from April 1 next year.
The Green Party announced yesterday Chloe Swarbrick had been elected co-leader to replace James Shaw, who is retiring from Parliament.
Where’s the fast track for funding to match the consents?
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