New Zealand Government and Otago Central Lakes Councils Sign 10-Year Growth Deal

The New Zealand Government has finalized a City and Regional Deal with councils in the Otago Central Lakes region, marking a 10-year partnership aimed at supporting housing, infrastructure, and economic growth. The deal aligns the Government, Queenstown Lakes District Council, Central Otago District Council, and Otago Regional Council around a 30-year vision to manage the region's rapid growth as a premier tourism destination while fostering a more diverse economy.

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop highlighted the pressures of growth, noting increased demand for housing, transport, energy, and essential services. The deal includes commitments to housing, transport, health, energy, and economic development. On housing, the plan builds on the Queenstown Joint Housing Action Plan to enable faster development and support affordable housing. For transport, the Government and councils will collaborate on initiatives from the NZTA’s Whakatipu Strategic Network Plan, exploring public and private funding options.

The deal also addresses energy needs, supporting additional electricity transmission capacity and exploring an energy regulatory sandbox. Local Government Minister Simon Watts emphasized the importance of planning ahead to ensure essential services and the regional economy keep pace with growth. The deal supports the region’s clinical services plan and aims to diversify the economy beyond tourism, targeting sectors like film and technology.

The Otago Central Lakes Deal follows similar agreements with Auckland and the Western Bay of Plenty. An Implementation Plan will be completed within six months, with delivery overseen by an Otago Central Lakes Deal Oversight Board. Minister Bishop stated that the deal provides a shared plan for turning growth into better infrastructure and greater opportunities for the region's residents.