Southern Links

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), working with Hamilton City Council and our project partners, completed a review in September 2023 into the form and function of the proposed state highway transport components of Southern Links.

The purpose of the review was to make sure that Southern Links takes into account changes that have occurred since the route was designated in 2014 and how Southern Links fits in the wider transport system.

These changes include the completion of the Waikato Expressway, the development of the Hamilton Metro Spatial Plan, the continued growth in the Peacocke and Tamahere areas and the growing importance of walking, cycling and public transport in planning for future transport networks.

While Southern Links project itself remains unfunded, the review also looked at how improvements within the Southern Links area could be delivered in stages.

Southern Links form and function review report [PDF, 2 MB]

Southern Links is a transport network of state highway and urban arterial routes linking State Highway 1 from Kahikatea Drive in Hamilton to the Waikato Expressway at Tamahere and State Highway 3 from Hamilton Airport to central and east Hamilton. 

The project ties in with the projected growth and development in the Peacocke, Tamahere and Hamilton Airport areas.

In 2013 the route protection designations were lodged by NZTA and Hamilton City Council with the relevant councils.  At the same time, resource consent applications to Waikato Regional Council for the key new bridges over the Waikato River and Mangakotukutuku Stream were also lodged.

More than 80 submissions were received and a hearing was held before four independent commissioners in 2014.

The commissioners later issued their recommendations to NZTA, and decision to Hamilton City Council, on their respective parts of the project.  The recommendations/decision were to confirm the designations and approve the resource consent applications, subject to conditions, with a lapse period of 20 years.

NZ Transport Agency made its decisions on the Commissioner’s recommendations in December 2014 and 2 appeals were lodged with the Environment Court. The appeals were resolved by negotiation between the parties, with the subsequent Designations being included in the Waipā District Plan on 1 June 2016 and in the Waikato District Plan on 18 August 2016.

Southern Links is still at an early stage of development and no decision has been made about construction. NZTA doesn’t currently have funding allocated for the project. Getting the designations in place protects the network so it can be built when required in the future.