Queenstown cable car gets lift through AIP visa
The Queenstown Cable Car project secured $265 million in private financing via the Active Investor Plus visa, linking central Queenstown, Frankton, the airport, and Ladies Mile to ease transport pressure.
The Queenstown Cable Car project, led by Southern Infrastructure Limited (SIL), has secured $265 million in private lending through the Government’s Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Immigration Minister Erica Stanford announced. The proposed cable car would connect central Queenstown, Frankton, Queenstown Airport, and Ladies Mile, offering a rapid public transport option in one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing districts.
SIL reached an initial agreement with Private Capital Group (PCG), an AIP-approved fund manager, to provide the $265 million in lending. The financing leverages capital invested in New Zealand through the AIP visa, which was refreshed in April 2025 to attract international investment into productive sectors, including infrastructure.
Ministers highlighted the project’s potential to address transport constraints in Queenstown, where geography limits road expansion. Cable cars were noted as a reliable, high-frequency transport solution that avoids additional road corridors and minimizes disruption to existing infrastructure, benefiting locals, workers, and visitors.
The Government emphasized that private sector innovation and capital are essential to meeting New Zealand’s infrastructure needs. While the project remains subject to design, consenting, and commercial milestones, the financing agreement marks a significant step toward delivering a major regional transport solution.