Council turns focus to a city deal with incoming government

City Deals
Written By Linda Meade

Transport, the inner-city, earthquake strengthening and affordable housing are the mayor’s priorities for a city deal with the new Government.

As Let’s Get Wellington Moving hits a central government roadblock, the Wellington City Council is turning its focus to a possible city deal.

City deals – where councils and central government enter long-term arrangements to fund major infrastructure projects – were a pillar of National’s infrastructure policy at the election and a recommendation of the Future for Local Government Review.

The model of funding partnership between local and central government originated in the United Kingdom and has been popular in Australia, with many city deals signed over the past decade.

Each arrangement, negotiated between central government and councils, is unique to the local circumstances. Items have included train lines, expanded harbours, revitalised city squares, educational or business precincts, and climate change mitigation measures like increased shade cover.

Mayor Tory Whanau said she would be talking to the new government “over the coming months” to discuss priorities and hoped to get the “best deal for Wellington”.

“The things I will prioritise for Wellington are improving transport, revitalising our inner city, support for earthquake strengthening and more affordable housing,” she said.

Linda Meade

Linda leads Kalimena’s infrastructure investment advisory work. Linda established Kalimena after a career spanning over a decade respectively at Deloitte and PwC, including time spent in London, Geneva and Wellington. Up until 2020 she was lead partner in New Zealand for Deloitte Access Economics, and the partner in charge of the Infrastructure, Economics and Business Modelling team. Linda’s areas of expertise are in designing and applying investment systems and processes, tailored to the type of infrastructure, the sector, and the desired outcomes. Linda specialises in social infrastructure (education, health, housing) and transport.  She is most interested in projects where there is a clear understanding of the desired outcomes for people and communities in New Zealand, working mostly with public sector clients. 

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