Regional Infrastructure Fund

The establishment of the $1.2 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) is the Coalition Government’s commitment to investing in and improving New Zealand’s regional infrastructure.

The fund delivers on the Government’s promise to address the regional infrastructure deficit. It will help boost the New Zealand economy, increase regional prosperity, and create jobs.

The RIF, $1.2 billion over three years, will be administered by Kānoa – Regional, Economic Development & Investment Unit (Kānoa – RD).

The RIF is primarily a capital fund. Funding support will be provided through a mix of loan and equity investments. Grants will be available only in very limited cases.

The RIF will invest specifically in regional infrastructure, making investments in projects that boost regional growth, resilience, and productivity.

This includes building new infrastructure and improving existing structures to benefit regional businesses, organisations, and communities.

Good public and private infrastructure is vital for the prosperity of New Zealanders.

Through such capital infrastructure investment, business productivity can be raised, and communities can be protected, supported, and enabled to be more resilient.

This guide lists the stages you may go through in accessing financial support from the Regional Infrastructure Fund. Note this guide will not be the same for every project and timeframes listed may change.

1. Application

• We will either invite you to apply, or you will decide to apply after reading the eligibility criteria.
• You will then complete an initial funding application online.
• If your application aligns with the fund criteria, within about two weeks, we will ask you to complete a full application.

2. Evaluation

• From the information you provide, we will assess the viability of your project, its fit with the RIF, and your ability to deliver.
• Depending on the complexity of your project this stage may take 1-6 months.

3. Decision making

• We will advise decision-makers on your project and submit recommendations to them.
• Decision makers will consider your project for funding.
• This stage may take 2-3 months.

4. Contracting

• If approved, we will work with you to negotiate a contract with us which outlines what you need to do before payments can be made, and our ongoing expectations of you while the contract is in place.
• Depending on the complexity of your project this stage can take 1-4 months.
• Example RIF loan agreement with drafting notes [PDF, 772 KB]

5. Project delivery

• You will deliver the project as agreed, and report regularly to us on progress and outcomes.

6. Loan repayment

• As per our contract, you will begin repayments.
• Some projects may have loan repayment periods of 5-20 years. We will negotiate this with you during the contracting phase.