News & Insights
Building Better in the Bay
Last week we celebrated the opening of RCP’s new Bay of Plenty office with an evening of discussion on how the region can deliver housing, infrastructure and social infrastructure faster, adopt smarter policy tools and strengthen its voice nationally.
The Bay of Plenty is one of New Zealand’s fastest growing regions. Growth brings opportunity, but it also creates pressure. Housing demand, infrastructure lag, consenting challenges and funding constraints are already clear. At the same time, the Bay has the momentum and ambition to show how delivery can be done differently, and last week’s conversation reinforced several key themes.
Smarter Tools for Delivery
Delivery needs frameworks that give investors, communities and delivery partners confidence. Approaches such as updated funding and financing models, risk-sharing partnerships and procurement structures that reflect the life of assets all help create the certainty required for projects to move ahead.
Practical mechanisms such as public–private partnerships, strategic leasing and market-led proposals are ways to match capital with demand and reduce friction in delivery. As the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Infrastructure, Simon Court MP, noted on the night, “The tools we are putting in place are designed to give regions and delivery partners the certainty they need to move from planning into delivery with confidence.”
A Regional Voice in National Planning
Rapid growth in the Bay has shown that regional priorities must carry weight in national decision-making. Communities cannot afford to see projects delayed by process or sidelined by competing pressures elsewhere. Consistent pipelines, transparent sequencing of investment and regulatory settings that prioritise outcomes will be vital to sustaining momentum.
The region already understands its future needs with clarity. Transport corridors, housing demand and social infrastructure are well mapped. The challenge is to align this local knowledge with central planning so that investment follows need and opportunities are not lost to delay.
Alignment and Clarity
Another strong theme was the value of regional alignment. When councils, iwi, investors and communities present a united view, delivery gathers pace. Alignment is not only about agreeing on priorities but also about having clarity on timelines, funding pathways and responsibilities.
The Bay has shown before that this unity is possible, and it is evident through the new Regional Deal presented to the government. It will be critical to maintain this alignment and momentum as growth intensifies. When all parties work together with shared intent, projects move forward with greater certainty and confidence.
The Path Ahead
The Bay of Plenty is well positioned to act as a proof point for how New Zealand can deliver better. It has the scale to support major projects and the cohesion to show how smarter delivery tools, clearer planning and strong alignment can create results.
By aligning intent early, realising capacity in the market and structuring projects with communities at the centre, the Bay can demonstrate what it means to move from planning to delivery in a way that builds both regional and national confidence.
Growth brings challenges, but it also creates the chance to set new standards. The Bay’s ambition, combined with the willingness of government, councils and the private sector to work together, can shape a model for how New Zealand addresses its most pressing housing and infrastructure needs.
