New Zealand Transport Minister Paul Swain recently stated that "PPPs will help New Zealand tackle its shortage of transport infrastructure, which could hold back economic growth if not addressed."[129] The government of New Zealand believes that the use of private sector financing and expertise in the development of large-scale transportation projects will also "speed up improvements to our land transport system, and encourage further innovation," and "spread the cost of infrastructure over time."[130]
Under the recently passed Land Transport Management Bill, projects constructed through public-private partnerships must comply with a list of requirements and regulations. Under the law, management of infrastructure must revert to the government after a period of no more than 35 years, and ownership of the infrastructure must remain public at all times. Also, as long as traffic numbers remain below forecast for the life of the project, the government cannot be held liable to any party during the partnership.
Currently, Transit New Zealand is working with the Ministry and Transfund New Zealand to determine which highway projects are best suited for the public-private partnership approach.