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What contingency arrangements, if any, are in place for Regional Infrastructure Fund projects, including the 42 flood resilience projects requiring 40 percent local authority co-investment, should a council be unable to meet its share once the rates cap transition begins on 1 January 2027; and what consideration, if any, has been given to increasing the Crown's funding share in such cases?

Answered Question 36598 (2026)
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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • What contingency arrangements, if any, are in place for Regional Infrastructure Fund projects, including the 42 flood resilience projects requiring 40 percent local authority co-investment, should a council be unable to meet its share once the rates cap transition begins on 1 January 2027; and what consideration, if any, has been given to increasing the Crown's funding share in such cases?

Answered by

Hon Shane Jones

List MP · NZ First · Minister for Regional Development

Answer

The Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) is a Budget 2024 initiative appropriated until June 2027, and is approaching full allocation. All flood resilience projects will be underway by 2027. No consideration has been given to increasing the Crown's funding share as the terms of co-investment funding for current approved projects have already been established. Details of the Government's proposed new legislation to limit local government rates increases are currently being finalised, with the full regulatory model expected to be in place by 1 July 2029.