The Government has released its first quarterly action plan for 2025 — focused on growth and rebuilding the economy.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the plan outlined upgrades to visa settings, delivering smarter regulation for the agriculture sector, and reshaping planning rules so “people can get stuff done in this country”.
“We have hit the ground running with many of the priorities in our Q1 plan already ticked off, including allowing digital nomads into New Zealand and laying the groundwork for AI to improve public services.”
Luxon said the “centrepiece” of the plan was an international investment summit, which aimed to bring together 100 of the world’s high-profile investors, business leaders, and construction companies from March 13 to 14.
“Attendance is by invitation only, and interest is so high that the summit is already oversubscribed,” Luxon said.
“As well as showcasing upcoming infrastructure opportunities for partnership and investment, the summit will highlight changes to policy, regulation, and legislation that make it easier to do business here, along with other investment opportunities in a range of growth sectors and the Māori economy.”
When asked which countries would be able to participate, Luxon said the summit would be “country agnostic”, with “very strong safeguards in place to protect our national interests”.
“We need investment, because when we get investment and capital that leads to higher incomes and more jobs which is a good thing for Kiwis who win out of the back of this.
“We also think there is opportunities for partnerships in our fast growing sectors, and certainly for iwi being a key partner participate in many of these opportunities to participate in infrastructure development as well.”
Luxon said New Zealand has done a “poor job” of attracting foreign direct investment for a number of decades.
“We need to be able to make the most of all that pension fund wealth that sits out there in the world which is awash with cash, we want to be able to make sure it needs a home, and we want to make sure we can bring some of that money here to New Zealand to benefit everyday Kiwis.”
Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop said more detail about what opportunities would be available to investors would be shared at the summit.
Govt’s action plan for first quarter of 2025
Economy and ease the cost of living
1. Launch the Government’s 2025 economic growth plan.
2. Take Cabinet decisions on the policy design, core functions and implementation plan to establish Invest NZ.
3. Host an Investment Summit to showcase upcoming investment and development opportunities.
4. Begin reform of the science and innovation system to drive economic growth.
5. Upgrade investor visa settings to attract more foreign direct investment to New Zealand.
6. Amend visitor visa settings to allow digital nomads and others to work remotely for overseas employers.
7. Take Cabinet decisions on enhancing access to capital for Community Housing Providers.
8. Pass legislation to remove barriers to overseas investment in “build-to-rent” housing.
9. Take Cabinet decisions on Building Act changes to allow granny flats and other small structures up to 60sqm to be built without a building consent, saving Kiwis time and money.
10. Consult with Māori landowners on changes to Te Ture Whenua Māori / Māori Land Act to better enable Māori economic development.
11. Take Cabinet decisions on the major legislative architecture for the Government’s replacement legislation for the Resource Management Act.
12. Pass the first reading of the Land Transport Management (Time of Use Charging) Bill.
13. Pass the Customer and Product Data Bill to promote competition in banking, energy, and other key
sectors, by giving consumers better access to their data.
14. Take Cabinet decisions on modernisation of the Companies Act to improve competition and corporate governance.
15. Deliver guidance to accelerate the responsible use of AI in the public service to improve productivity and service delivery.
16. Take Cabinet decisions on new national direction for freshwater and pragmatic rules for on-farm water storage and vegetable growing.
17. Take Cabinet decisions on system design for improved and simplified Freshwater Farm Plans.
18. Launch Minerals Strategy for New Zealand to 2040 and a Critical Minerals list.
19. Announce projects funded through the $1.2 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund.
20. Take Cabinet decisions on the Regulatory Standards Bill.
21. Begin the fourth regulation sector review.
22. Take Cabinet decisions on reform of health and safety law and regulations to reduce cost, increase certainty and improve outcomes.
Law and order
23. Pass legislation to introduce roadside drug testing.
24. Pass legislation to reform sentencing rules, to ensure appropriate consequences for criminal offending.
25. Take Cabinet decisions to strengthen response to retail crime.
26. Take Cabinet decisions on legislation to crack down on street racing and other anti-social road usage.
Public services
27. Release the draft English/Te Reo Rangatira (Y7-13) and Maths/Pangarau (Y9-13) curricula.
28. Deliver maths resources for over 400,000 students to primary and intermediate schools.
29. Begin the nationwide roll-out of the Phonics Check in primary schools.
30. Take Cabinet decisions in response to the ECE Regulation Sector Review.
31. Announce the second suite of new charter schools.
32. Implement the new Healthy School Lunches programme.
33. Consult on proposals to improve disability support services.
34. Consult on the development of an accredited product stewardship scheme for building and farm plastics.
35. Publish the Health Infrastructure Investment Plan.
36. Take Cabinet decisions on next steps to reform health workforce regulatory settings.
37. Take Cabinet decisions on a refreshed suicide prevention action plan.
38. Deliver first contracts from the Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund.
39. Consult on proposals to reduce smoking rates and the harm from smoking, while addressing youth vaping.
40. Take Cabinet decisions on legislation to improve the regulation of medical devices.
