New Zealand has been ranked at the bottom of a global survey regarding its performance in delivering national infrastructure, Ipsos’ 2024 Global Infrastructure Index has revealed.
Only 17% of New Zealanders believe that the country has a strong track record in delivering national infrastructure projects. Conversely, 67% feel that New Zealand is falling short in addressing its infrastructure needs, a sentiment that has risen from 61% last year and 55% in 2019.
Just 27% of New Zealanders expressed satisfaction with the country’s national infrastructure, a decrease from 29% the previous year and a significant decline from 46% in 2019. The global average satisfaction level was recorded at 40%, with Singapore leading at 74%.
“The number of New Zealanders who don’t think New Zealand is doing enough to meet our infrastructure needs has significantly increased,” said Carin Hercock, managing director for Ipsos NZ.
“While our views were aligned with citizens in other countries in 2019, we are now out of step with the global trend,” Hercock added.
New Zealand’s airport infrastructure received a positive rating from 81% of respondents, placing it fourth worldwide. Only Indonesia (90%), Singapore (86%), and Thailand (85%) achieved higher ratings, while the global average stood at 72%.
In terms of digital infrastructure, which includes high-speed broadband, full fibre networks, and 5G, New Zealand ranked seventh with a rating of 70%, exceeding the global average of 61%.
55% of respondents in the survey indicated that prioritising new housing supply should be a key investment for New Zealand. This was closely followed by water supply and sewerage, along with motorway and major road networks, receiving 50% support as joint second priorities.
Nick Leggett, the chief executive of Infrastructure New Zealand, stated that the recent rise in costs associated with the I-Rex and Dunedin hospital projects has contributed to the public’s belief that New Zealand must enhance its operational methods.
“A significant way to make improvements will be for a more politically bipartisan approach to agreeing on which projects are important, along with funding and improvements in the wider funding and delivery system.”
“System and funding changes that are being worked on by the government are encouraging, but it will ultimately be shovels in the ground on new projects that don’t blow their budgets, with those projects being completed on time, that will improve these Ipsos figures,” Leggett stated.