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Public Works (Critical Infrastructure) Amendment Bill

Member in charge: Chris Penk
In short: Arapono’s summary

This bill changes the rules for how the government and local councils can acquire (buy or take) private land for large infrastructure projects like roads, railways, and power cables. It creates a faster process for these specific projects. If your land is needed, you must still be consulted and you are entitled to compensation. On top of the usual compensation, you get an extra payment — either 5% of your land's value if the land is taken compulsorily, or 15% if you agree to sell before formal taking steps begin.

What this affects

Tap a topic to see how this bill touches it, and the parts of the text that show it.

The bill speeds up the process for the government to buy or take land needed for about 40 major infrastructure projects, which could help get those projects built more quickly.

From the bill

This Part applies (with some exceptions) if the Minister or a local authority requires land for a public work that is a critical infrastructure project

In forming an opinion for the purposes of subsection (1), the responsible department or Crown body must consider the time frames and costs of the project

Progress through Parliament

Introduced
First Reading
Select committee
Second Reading
Whole House
Third Reading
Royal Assent
Current stage: Royal Assent

Have your say

This bill is open for public submissions to the Transport and Infrastructure Committee. Anyone can tell the committee what they think, and you don’t need to be an expert. Submissions close 15 May 2025.

View the official bill on legislation.govt.nz

Bill text sourced from legislation.govt.nz (Parliamentary Counsel Office). Arapono’s summary and breakdown are drafted with AI grounded in that official text and reviewed by an Arapono editor for accuracy and neutrality before publishing. Arapono is non-partisan and takes no position on this bill.