Public Works Act reform
The Government has introduced a Public Works Amendment Bill, which proposes updates to the Public Works Act.
The aim of the Bill is to make it fairer and faster to secure land for important public infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, roads, and essential utilities, while strengthening protections for landowners.
The Bill has passed its first reading in the New Zealand Parliament.
What the proposed changes would do
The Bill includes a range of changes intended to improve how land is acquired and how affected landowners are treated.
Key proposals include:
- Incentive payments for landowners who agree to sell land early
- Increased compensation for the loss of homes and land
- Simpler and clearer land acquisition processes
- Clearer pathways for how objections are considered by the Environment Court
- Stronger safeguards for Māori land
- Emergency provisions to support land acquisition for disaster recovery
Together, these changes are intended to encourage earlier agreement, reduce delays, and ensure fair treatment for those affected.
What this means for councils and communities
From a council perspective, the proposed changes could make it easier to work with central government on securing land for local infrastructure projects.
Clearer and more efficient processes may help reduce project delays and improve our ability to plan and fund growth-related infrastructure, while still recognising the importance of landowner rights and fair compensation.
For communities, this means important infrastructure may be able to be delivered more quickly, supporting housing, transport, and essential services as our district grows.
Next steps
Submissions on the Bill have now closed. The Bill will continue through the Parliamentary process, including further debate and consideration.
We will continue to monitor the Bill’s progress and keep our community informed about any changes that may affect local projects or landowners.