Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland 2023 update

A low carbon, more efficient and resilient transport system to move people and goods is the major investment focus in Auckland during the 2021–24 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). The performance of the transport system in Auckland is integral for New Zealand to achieve productivity growth and emissions reduction.

Auckland communities want efficient and reliable journey times, better public transport, inexpensive travel improvements and less congestion. This NLTP is therefore focused on supporting population growth and the development of new communities with better access to more sustainable travel choice.

With Auckland’s population expected to reach two million people by the late 2030s, investment is aimed at making public transport, cycling and walking viable travel choices to the private car. This includes building the rapid transit network, incorporating investment in rail. Targeted upgrades to roads to support freight movement, appropriately maintaining and renewing the network in a way that adapts to a changing climate and delivering safety programmes, are all critical.

Making the most of the existing transport network is also important, making quick and effective changes to our roads and paths to improve safety and efficiency.

Completed in the last 12 months

• Safer and better connections between Auckland and Northland are now available with the opening of the new Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway.
• The Northern Corridor Improvements (NCI) project is now complete.  This project has contributed towards healthier transport options and an overall more resilient transport system and more reliable journey times on SH1 and SH18 the North Shore through:
  • 10km walking and cycling shared path
  • 5km extension of Northern Busway (with AT)
  • safety upgrades to SH1 and SH18
  • completion of Western Ring Route
  • upgrades to community facilities, parks and reserves
  • partnership with Mana Whenua to tell the ancestral story of the region through design.
• Old Māngere Bridge - Ngā Hau Māngere has opened. The replacement bridge provides an important strategic walking and cycling connection across the Manukau Harbour.

Underway or about to start

• Better commuter and community access in south Auckland is closer with work continuing on the SH1 Papakura to Drury project.  The project includes an additional motorway lane in each direction, wide shoulders for future bus services, a 4km shared walking and cycling path alongside SH1, interchange improvements, plus safety and environmental improvements.
• Residents of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, Hibiscus Coast and Silverdale will have improved travel choices with the new O Mahurangi | Penlink route. Early works are underway with the construction planned to begin in October 2023.
• Work continues on the final section of the Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive Shared Path between Ōrākei Basin and Tāmaki Drive. With more than 5kms of the full 7km route now open, thousands of Aucklanders are enjoying the path. We are in the consenting process for the remaining section – the 700m long boardwalk.
• More reliable bus connections from the city centre to the northwest are coming with the Northwestern Bus Improvements project, expected to open late 2023. 
• Consents have been lodged for stage two of the SH16 Brigham Creek and Waimauku (Brigham Creek to Kumeū). Construction for stage one (Huapai to Waimauku) will start mid-2023.
• The first two sections, (Panmure to Pakuranga) of the Eastern Busway are now complete. Planning and design is underway for the final stage, Pakuranga to Botany, which will complete the new high-frequency bus services to connect people from Botany, Pakuranga and the surrounding suburbs with the rail network in Panmure.
• A second crossing of the Waitematā Harbour progresses with a recommendation for a package of transport improvements as part of an Indicative Business Case, including light rail, buses, connections for walking and cycling, vehicles and freight, along with determining the future use of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Engagement with communities has started and will continue throughout 2023/24 to help shape final decisions.

Funding overview

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