IFS Copperleaf New Zealand Reform

July 1, 2025

Written by: Claire Mignot

New Zealand’s Infrastructure Wake-Up Call: Time to Plan Smarter with IFS Copperleaf

In May and June 2025, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop unveiled a stark reality: New Zealand ranks among the lowest in the OECD for asset management, despite being among the top 10% in infrastructure spend.  

➡️ Read the official government release – 14 May 2025
➡️ Read the draft Infrastructure Plan announcement – 25 June 2025 

With the release of the draft National Infrastructure Plan and an all-of-government reform programme underway, public agencies are now under pressure to deliver 10-year, value-based investment strategies that justify every dollar spent. 

Why this matters: 

  • 50% of proposals in Budgets 2023 and 2024 lacked a business case 
  • Over half of capital-intensive agencies don’t have robust asset registers 
  • Maintenance continues to be deferred, creating expensive catch-up costs 
  • Change is already underway, and the final Plan will be adopted in 2026 

Where IFS Copperleaf fits in:
IFS Copperleaf helps public agencies and infrastructure operators build: 

  • Defensible 10-year asset investment plans 
  • Clear comparisons of dissimilar projects 
  • Transparent, value-driven decisions aligned to strategic goals 
  • Strong business cases that stand up to Treasury and auditors 

What’s working in New Zealand:
Agencies like WEL Networks and Powerco are already seeing measurable results: 

I couldn’t confidently say every investment was optimally ranked, by comparing one against another. Now I can.

Kerry Green,
General Manager of Asset Management at WEL Networks

Results delivered: 

  • 100% ROI within the first planning cycle 
  • 5% increase in capital efficiency 
  • 30% reduction in risk exposure 
  • 50% faster planning cycles 

Ready to see what a strategic 10-year plan looks like? Two options for you:

1/ Schedule a 30-minute demo
Book a demo with our team to explore how IFS Copperleaf can support your planning goals.

2/ Join the conversation with peers
We’re bringing together agencies, SOEs, and operators at a breakfast to share insights and prepare for New Zealand’s infrastructure reform. Join us!

1/ BOOK A DEMO NOW!  2/ REGISTER YOUR INTEREST FOR OUR COMMUNITY

Learn more about our client success stories and how organisations are improving their business outcomes with Copperleaf.