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NZTA acknowledges the Government’s decision to confirm the tolling proposal for Takitimu North Link. This decision provides the project with the direction needed to move forward, and provide clarity for communities and road users. NZTA thanks everyone who made submissions, public consultation is a valued part of the process and the insights gained through submissions were considered in the decision-making process. Revenue collected from the toll will ensure Takitimu North Link remains safe and well maintained, and will contribute towards the construction and maintenance of the road. The Minister of Transport’s full announcement can be viewed here: Beehive.govt.nz(external link) A summary of the consultation findings for Takitimu North Link can be viewed here: |
Tolling to support the new highway
While funding for Takitimu North Link Stage 1 has been provided for the planning and construction of the project and for route protection for Stage 2, tolling the road would provide an additional funding source.
Tolling Takitimu North Link would allow for the Stage 1 maintenance costs to be covered so the road remains at an appropriate standard and would support the construction phase for Stage 2.
Toll prices
Variable toll prices are recommended for Takitimu North Link. The toll prices being consulted on for when Stage 1 opens (expected 2028) are:
|
Time of day |
Light vehicles |
Heavy vehicles (Over 3500kg gross vehicle mass) |
|
Peak (7am–9am and 4pm–6pm) |
$3.10 |
$6.20 |
|
Off-peak (9am–4pm and 6pm–7am) |
$2.10 |
$4.20 |
When Stage 2 opens there will be 2 separate gantry points. When travelling the full length between Tauranga and Ōmokoroa the toll prices being consulted on are:
|
Time of day |
Light vehicles |
Heavy vehicles (Over 3500kg gross vehicle mass) |
|
Peak (7am–9am and 4pm–6pm) |
$4.10 |
$8.20 |
|
Off-peak (9am–4pm and 6pm–7am) |
$3.10 |
$6.20 |
When travelling in either Stage 1 (Tauranga to Te Puna) or Stage 2 (Te Puna to Ōmokoroa) toll prices remain as in Table 1 for each section.
The toll prices being consulted on are in 2024 dollars, and subject to Consumer Price Index.
Supporting growth and efficiency in the region
Takitimu North Link is a vital transport link in the Bay of Plenty providing a safer, more efficient and reliable route between Tauranga and Ōmokoroa. Takitimu North Link is being constructed in 2 stages:
- Stage 1 is a 6.8km 4-lane expressway between Tauranga and Te Puna which started construction in December 2021 and is due for completion 2028.
- Stage 2 extends the expressway a further 7km between Te Puna and Ōmokoroa. The designation process is underway. Construction timeframes are yet to be established.
NZTA is creating a transport system which is effective, efficient, safe, secure, accessible and resilient to enable the movement of people and freight.
Assessing Takitimu North Link as a tolled road
Every time a new state highway is built in Aotearoa New Zealand, NZTA carries out an assessment to see if it meets the criteria to be tolled.
Tolling provides an opportunity for an additional source of revenue, protecting the existing funding in the National Land Transport Fund, and will support faster delivery of infrastructure, providing safer and more efficient routes.
NZTA will consider tolling of all new roads as outlined in the Government Policy Statement for land transport 2024 (GPS 2024).
The Land Transport Management Act 2003 allows a toll to be established, as a mechanism for funding road infrastructure projects and sets out the process required.
The Land Transport Management Act 2003(external link)
Tolling assessments are designed to analyse tolling feasibility, including how a potential toll road might interact with the wider transport network.
NZTA has assessed Takitimu North Link’s suitability as a tolled road and is now seeking public feedback on a proposed tolling scheme.
Safety and alternative routes
The new Takitimu North Link is being built to a high safety standard and will deliver strong safety benefits for people travelling through the western Bay of Plenty.
Safety features that greatly reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a crash, include 2 lanes in each direction, road side and median barrier between opposing lanes, includes 2 grade separated interchanges, and a smooth alignment that offers good sight distance for drivers. It has been designed to expressway standards, supporting reduced and reliable travel times and increased productivity on the transport network.
All toll roads in New Zealand are required to have a feasible, untolled, alternative route available to road users. In the case of Takitimu North Link, the current SH2 between Ōmokoroa and Tauranga is the alternative route. Takitimu North Link is expected to move regional traffic and freight away from local roads, because of the significant benefits for productivity and efficiency. More traffic is expected to move from local routes to the tolled routes over time as the benefits of the new road become clear. Modelling estimates around 5 minutes travel time savings compared to the alternative route.
Modelling for 2031 estimates that around 34,000 vehicles could travel between Ōmokoroa and Tauranga each day, on both Takitimu North Link and the existing SH2. With the proposed tolling scheme in place, vehicle numbers crossing the existing Wairoa River bridge would reduce to around 18,000 per day, in comparison to 24,000 currently. Further improvements to the existing SH2 would be made through the revocation process, and this would become a local road.
Next steps
Now the consultation period is over, we will provide an engagement report on our webpage soon so you can see public feedback received.
All submissions and feedback collected via the public consultation will be summarised and sent to the Minister of Transport. This will provide insights into the level of community support for the proposed tolling scheme in the region.
The NZTA Board will consider the results of the consultation, and the Board may then recommend tolling to the Minister of Transport.
The final decision on whether or not to toll each road rests with Cabinet on the recommendation of the Minister of Transport.
Tolling assessment
Tolling proposals are assessed against a number of criteria before progressing to public consultation:
