In this special guest episode of the Economy Made Simple, Shamubeel Eaqub sits down with Geoff Cooper, CEO of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, to unpack the country’s infrastructure crisis: why it exists, what keeps driving costs up, and how we can start fixing it. They explore why and how NZ keeps falling behind when it comes to maintaining essential infrastructure, the political and geographic challenges at play, and the practical steps we could take to build smarter for the future.
This episode covers:
- How New Zealand’s geography and spread-out population make infrastructure costly to deliver
- The long-term impacts of under-maintaining existing assets
- How better asset management and smarter funding could (literally) save billions in the long run
- The political economy behind infrastructure decisions - why “taking the politics out” isn’t realistic
- Lessons from Japan and South Korea on adapting infrastructure to aging populations
- The importance of making infrastructure "boring" again - maintenance, transparency, and long-term planning
This episode goes beyond the headlines to explain why NZ’s infrastructure struggles aren’t just about money; they’re about priorities, planning, and people. You’ll learn how we got into this stiicky situation, and how a few smart, practical changes could set us up for a more resilient (and prosperous) future.
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Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.
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