New Zealand is already benefiting from faster approvals, lower costs, and real infrastructure getting underway

RNZ reporting in April revealed that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), which runs the Coalition's expedited Fast-track process, has admitted its operational costs are well in excess of what it first modelled.

The EPA received a $10 million Crown loan for set-up costs, requiring 50 applications a year through 2029 to repay it, but only 49 were lodged between December 2024 and December 2025. It originally projected roughly $250,000 per application but now estimates some will cost more than $500,000. This creates a shortfall in the cost-recovery model that was meant to have applicant fees cover all operating expenses.