For the reasons outlined in the introduction, it is common practice in most countries that use PPPs to establish a specialist PPP unit. Such units are usually located in, or are associated with, the national Treasury or Ministry of Finance. The unit is:
the focal point for economic and financial assessment and advice on all PPPs and will assist government agencies more generally. It will ensure application of these Guidelines. The relevant PPP authority will also promote best-practice PPPs by absorbing and disseminating the lessons of experience and consulting with other governments on their experiences and practices.3
In New Zealand this role is played by the National Infrastructure Unit (NIU) of the Treasury. Cabinet has agreed that:
• the NIU should be involved in the economic and financial assessment and advice on all PPPs
• departments and agencies should be required to consult the NIU early in the development of a PPP proposal, and
• departments and agencies should be required to give the NIU the opportunity to make an experienced officer available to the project steering and working groups.
The NIU will not itself contract for projects; it does not have a budget to do so. PPP contracts will be with line agencies.
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3 Section 8.6 of Infrastructure Australia's Practitioner's Guide.