Investment in new infrastructure is challenging. Uncertainty arising from short political cycles, funding and financing constraints, an unnecessarily complicated regulatory and planning framework, a shallow pool of resources and rising construction costs all contribute to a complex problem.
As a firm, we have a deep history of delivering infrastructure solutions for New Zealand Inc., and we are ready and geared up to do more.
Our multi-disciplinary infrastructure team has the capability, expertise and capacity to provide the required legal assistance to the public and private sector alike in the drive to fixing our infrastructure issues.
We specialise in providing comprehensive advice across the entire lifecycle of infrastructure projects. From initial procurement and financing to the construction, operation, maintenance, and asset disposal or acquisition, our team offers expertise at every stage. Our market leading expertise covers:
Work highlights
Public private partnerships (PPPs)
Bell Gully has acted for the Crown on the delivery and implementation of all eight PPP projects to date, advising the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, the Ministry of Education and the Department of Corrections for the procurement of roads, schools and prisons.
Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act 2020
Advised Crown Infrastructure Partners (CIP) on the development of the model for infrastructure funding and financing transactions under the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act 2020 (the Act). We have since advised the first transaction implemented under the Act which was a key milestone transaction for the funding of infrastructure in New Zealand, and financed thirteen transport projects across the Tauranga region. We have subsequently advised CIP on its financing and project documentation for the development of the wastewater minimisation facility in Wellington at Moa Point, which was the second transaction implemented under the Act.
Infrastructure funding
Advising Kāinga Ora on the establishment and implementation of its NZ$1 billion Infrastructure Acceleration Fund, including developing the key commercial contracts, advising on the contestable process and on the implementation of the first “fast track” pathfinder project, as well as a number of subsequent projects.
Social Housing
Advising Wellington City Council on its City Housing social housing portfolio (consisting of more than 2,000 properties), including in relation to the establishment of a new community housing provider.
City Rail Link
Assisted with obtaining the original designations and resource consents, and continues to act on a range of alterations to the designations involving High Court and Court of Appeal proceedings and contentious aspects of land acquisitions for the City Rail Link (CRL). The NZ$4.6 billion (3.4km) project is New Zealand's largest ever single civil construction project.
Ministry of Defence
Advised the Ministry of Defence on its P-8A Infrastructure Project, which involves the procurement of significant new infrastructure at RNZAF Base Ōhakea as part of the NZ$2.34 billion Air Surveillance Maritime Patrol Project.
Supporting Growth Alliance
Advising Auckland Transport and New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) on Te Tupu Ngātahi, the Supporting Growth Alliance on route protection of the transportation network required to service the next 30 years of Auckland's growth.
Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM)
Advised LGWM (a partnership between Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Taranaki Whānui and Ngāti Toa) on various aspects of the proposed NZ$7.4 billion transformational city-shaping programme for Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington (this project was discontinued by the current Government in late 2023).
Ngāi Tahu property developments
Advised Ngāi Tahu Property on a number of major property and infrastructure development projects and joint ventures, including its "quasi-PPP" joint venture with Christchurch City Council for the NZ$135 million Christchurch Civic Building redevelopment project.
Tainui Group Holdings Ruakura inland port
Providing strategic and consenting advice on the (under construction) 30ha inland port and commercial hub, valued at NZ$3 billion, to serve Auckland, Bay of Plenty and the Waikato.
Wellington City Transformation
Advising Wellington City Council on a number of significant projects in relation to the on-going transformation of Wellington including: the redevelopment of the Michael Fowler Centre Carpark into a multi-level, 5 Green Star-rated building, providing 15,000 sqm of mixed-use space; the new NZ$180 million Convention and Exhibition Centre; the extensive Civic Precinct Redevelopment Project; and the redevelopment and seismic strengthening of the Wellington Town Hall.
Downtown Infrastructure Development Programme
Advising on the Downtown Infrastructure Development Programme (DIDP) a transformational project along the waterfront of Auckland’s CBD.
Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
Advising Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand on Project Pihi Kaha, the ~NZ$800 million redevelopment of Whangarei Hospital comprising the design and construction contract of multiple hospital buildings alongside the continued operation of the existing hospital, including a new acute services ward and children’s health centre.
KiwiRail and Port Marlborough Limited
Advised Port Marlborough and KiwiRail on the nationally-significant project to fully redevelop Port Picton to accommodate New Zealand’s future interisland freight and passenger services between the North and South Islands.
Department of Corrections
Advised on the procurement of facilities and asset management services for the Department of Corrections and Ministry of Justice's national property and asset portfolios throughout New Zealand.
Ultra-fast broadband
Advised Crown Infrastructure Partners (formerly Crown Fibre Holdings) on the New Zealand Government's ultra-fast broadband, rural broadband and mobile blackspots initiatives as well as the Next Generation Critical Communications project, Marae Connectivity Programme and Chatham Islands short term backhaul project.
Igneo Infrastructure Partners
Advised Igneo Infrastructure Partners on its New Zealand energy and infrastructure investments, including its purchase of the Vector transmission business, the Maui line from Shell, the Ultra-Fast Fibre (UFF) assets from WEL Networks, its NZ$1.9 billion purchase of the Waste Management business from Beijing Capital, and its recent NZ$260 million acquisition of the Eastland electricity network.
Vodafone Group and Brookfield
Advised Vodafone Group on the NZ$3.4 billion sale of Vodafone New Zealand (now One NZ) to Infratil and Brookfield Asset Management and subsequently advised Brookfields on the sale of its 49.95% stake in One NZ to Infratil for NZ$1.8 billion.
Vodafone New Zealand
Advised Vodafone New Zealand (now One NZ) on the NZ$1.7 billion sale of its passive mobile tower business to InfraRed Capital Partners and Northleaf Capital Partners.
Ampol
Advised Ampol on its NZ$2 billion acquisition of Z Energy, by way of scheme of arrangement and on the NZ$572 million sale of its Gull retail fuel business in New Zealand Allegro Funds Pty Ltd.
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners
Advised Brookfield Infrastructure Partners on the sale of its 42% interest in Powerco.
Cheung Kong Infrastructure and Hong Kong Electric
Advised Cheung Kong Infrastructure and Hong Kong Electric on their acquisition of Vector’s Wellington electricity distribution network.
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
Advised Canada Pension Plan Investment Board on its proposed partial takeover of and amalgamation with Auckland International Airport.
"The team is able to not only identify the issues and possible solutions to a problem, but to go further to help us find a pathway through that issue in a way that mitigates risk and achieves our organisation’s objectives. The team has been working with our in-house team for less than two years and in my experience it is really rare to have a team so quickly understand our complex organisation’s objectives, risks and drivers in the way that Bell Gully has done."
IFLR1000 2023 - Tier 1
"Bell Gully are active in communication during projects and provide ongoing, targeted, helpful insight and commentary of relevance, even when not directly engaged."
Chambers Asia Pacific 2024 - Band 2
"Bell Gully has the most experienced and knowledgeable team and cover every aspect of investments in real estate. We consider Bell Gully to be the leader in the market and to provide service of comparable quality with other larger, multinational legal firms globally."
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024 - Tier 1
"The team is an exceptionally strong group, who are commercial, pragmatic, efficient, very responsive and great to deal with."
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024 - Tier 1
