Transport 2026: New Zealand’s Infrastructure Tracker
Last updated: 3 August 2026
Transport 2026 tracks what New Zealand is actually building, what has been funded, what has entered procurement and what remains at the planning or political-commitment stage.
The tracker covers major transport and transport-related infrastructure across:
Roads and bridges.
Public transport.
Passenger and freight rail.
Ports and maritime transport.
Aviation.
Fuel and energy resilience.
Regional infrastructure.
National transport-funding systems.
It is designed to provide a clear, non-partisan record ahead of the 2026 General Election.
The tracker does not assess whether a project is politically desirable.
Instead, it asks:
Is the project operational?
Is construction physically under way?
Has a delivery contract been signed?
Has funding been approved?
Is the project consented?
Is it still being designed?
Is it only being route-protected?
Is it an election proposal without a funded delivery path?
These distinctions matter.
A project can be described politically as “committed” while remaining years away from construction. Another may have a complete business case but no funding. A project may also be fully funded but delayed by procurement, consenting, land acquisition, engineering or workforce capacity.
Transport 2026 aims to make those differences visible.
Why This Page Exists
Transport policy debates often focus on what should happen next.
This tracker focuses on what is happening now.
New Zealand’s next government will inherit:
Projects already under construction.
Long-term contracts.
Public-private partnership obligations.
Rail and road maintenance programmes.
Major projects in procurement.
Designations and land already acquired.
Infrastructure requiring ongoing operating funding.
Projects that are politically supported but not yet funded.
Ageing transport assets requiring renewal.
New road-pricing and funding systems still being developed.
These commitments shape what any future government can realistically change.
Cancelling an early proposal is very different from cancelling a signed construction contract.
Likewise, announcing a project does not mean it has the money, consent, design or delivery capacity required to proceed.
How to Read the Tracker
Projects and programmes are grouped into the following categories.
Operational or Newly Opened
The infrastructure is carrying passengers, vehicles, freight or delivering its intended service.
Minor finishing works may still continue.
Testing, Commissioning or Near Opening
Most physical construction is complete, but safety testing, operational preparation, regulatory approval or network integration is still taking place.
Under Construction
Physical works are under way.
The project has moved beyond announcement, business-case and planning stages.
Contracted or in Procurement
A delivery contract has been signed, a preferred bidder has been selected or a formal construction procurement is under way.
Main physical construction may not yet have started.
Funded or Committed
Government or another responsible agency has approved funding or made a formal delivery commitment.
Further design, procurement, consent or staging decisions may still be required.
Consented, Designed or Preparing for Construction
The project is progressing through detailed design, consent, property acquisition, early works or route protection.
Funding for full construction may not yet be available.
Future or Slower-Moving Pipeline
The project remains part of an official programme but will progress more slowly because of funding, sequencing or delivery-capacity limits.
Proposed or Election Policy
A party or organisation supports the project, but it does not yet have a complete funded delivery pathway.
These proposals are recorded separately from projects already in delivery.
Major Changes Since the Previous Update
The infrastructure picture has changed substantially since the tracker was last updated on 8 June 2026.
The most important developments are:
NZTA published its Major Transport Projects Pipeline on 9 July 2026.
The final section of Auckland’s Eastern Busway entered construction.
The Warkworth-to-Te Hana public-private partnership reached financial close.
Drury and Paerātā railway stations opened.
The strategic diesel-storage infrastructure at Marsden Point entered use.
The Government formally responded to the 30-year National Infrastructure Plan.
Major road projects were separated into faster and slower delivery phases.
City Rail Link testing and commissioning continued toward opening later in 2026.
Budget 2026 rail, resilience and Cambridge-to-Piarere funding moved into the formal infrastructure programme.
The July pipeline provides a more realistic picture of project sequencing than the earlier political list of 17 Roads of National Significance.
It confirms that not every project can begin immediately and that some will remain in design or route protection until later funding becomes available.
Operational or Newly Opened
Drury and Paerātā Railway Stations
Location: South Auckland
Mode: Passenger rail, bus connections and park-and-ride
Status: Operational
Opened: 1 August 2026, with passenger services beginning 2 August 2026
The new Drury and Paerātā stations serve South Auckland, Franklin and areas expected to experience substantial housing and population growth.
Each station includes:
Two passenger platforms.
Approximately 350 car parks.
Bus connections.
Connections with the electrified Auckland rail network.
Weekday peak services are scheduled to operate every 10 minutes.
The stations form part of approximately $2.4 billion of recent Auckland rail-network investment, including:
Electrification from Papakura to Pukekohe.
The Third Main Line.
The Auckland Rail Network Rebuild.
New southern stations.
Level-crossing work.
Preparation for City Rail Link.
A further station at Ngākōroa is under construction and expected to open in 2027.
Strategic purpose:
Support South Auckland housing growth.
Improve access to employment and services.
Integrate bus, rail and private travel.
Increase passenger-rail capacity south of Auckland.
Support a more frequent Auckland rail timetable.
Auckland Rail Electrification to Pukekohe
Location: South Auckland
Mode: Heavy rail
Status: Operational
The extension of Auckland’s electrified passenger-rail network from Papakura to Pukekohe is operational.
The project allows Auckland’s electric trains to travel directly to Pukekohe without requiring passengers to transfer to diesel services.
It supports:
More consistent passenger services.
Reduced use of diesel trains.
Integration with Drury and Paerātā stations.
Future South Auckland growth.
City Rail Link network operations.
Auckland Third Main Line
Location: South Auckland
Mode: Passenger and freight rail
Status: Operational
The Third Main Line provides additional rail capacity in South Auckland.
Its purpose is to improve the separation of passenger and freight movements through one of the busiest sections of the national rail network.
The additional track supports:
More reliable commuter services.
Freight access to the Ports of Auckland and inland freight facilities.
More frequent future rail services.
Greater network flexibility following the opening of City Rail Link.
Strategic Diesel Reserve at Marsden Point
Location: Marsden Point, Northland
Mode: Fuel and national transport resilience
Status: Storage infrastructure operational; reserve being stocked
Two former crude-oil tanks at Marsden Point have been refurbished to store New Zealand’s new strategic diesel reserve.
The tanks provide approximately 93 million litres of storage capacity.
The Government contracted Z Energy to supply and manage approximately 90 million litres of diesel, equivalent to around nine days of average national diesel consumption.
The reserve is controlled by the Crown and sits outside the minimum stockholding requirements placed on fuel companies.
The storage infrastructure officially entered use in July 2026.
Strategic purpose:
Improve resilience during international fuel disruption.
Protect freight, farming and construction.
Support emergency and essential services.
Reduce the immediate effect of supply interruptions.
Restore fuel-storage capacity at Marsden Point.
The reserve improves short-term resilience but does not remove New Zealand’s continuing dependence on imported refined fuel.
Testing, Commissioning or Near Opening
City Rail Link
Location: Auckland
Mode: Heavy rail and rapid transit
Status: Testing, commissioning and operational preparation
Expected opening: Second half of 2026
City Rail Link is a 3.45-kilometre underground railway connection through central Auckland.
The project includes:
Twin rail tunnels.
Te Waihorotiu Station.
Karanga-a-Hape Station.
A rebuilt Maungawhau Station.
Major changes to the wider Auckland rail timetable.
New network and emergency systems.
Most major physical construction is complete.
Current work includes:
Station-system testing.
Emergency exercises.
Train-operation testing.
Timetable testing.
Regulatory approvals.
Staff and operational preparation.
Integration with Auckland Transport and KiwiRail systems.
The project is expected to open to passengers later in 2026.
Strategic purpose:
Remove the existing Britomart dead end.
Create a through-running central rail network.
Increase rail capacity.
Reduce journey times.
Enable more frequent services.
Support central-city and station-area development.
The tracker classifies City Rail Link as near opening rather than under ordinary construction because the main remaining risks relate to testing, safety, integration and operational readiness.
Under Construction
Eastern Busway
Location: Panmure, Pakuranga and Botany, Auckland
Mode: Bus rapid transit, walking and cycling
Status: Under construction
Expected full opening: 2027
The Eastern Busway is a dedicated rapid-transit corridor connecting Botany, Pakuranga and Panmure.
The final 500-metre section entered construction in July 2026.
It will connect Ti Rakau Drive with the Te Irirangi Drive and Te Koha Road intersection and includes an extension of the shared walking and cycling network.
When complete, the busway is expected to provide an approximately 40-minute combined bus-and-train journey between Botany and central Auckland.
Government forecasts expect public-transport use on the corridor to rise from approximately 3,700 daily trips to 18,000 in 2028 and 24,000 by 2048.
Strategic purpose:
Provide reliable rapid transit in southeast Auckland.
Separate buses from general congestion.
Improve access to the Auckland rail network.
Support housing and employment growth.
Improve walking and cycling connections.
O Mahurangi–Penlink
Location: Whangaparāoa and north Auckland
Mode: State highway, bridge, walking and cycling
Status: Under construction
O Mahurangi–Penlink is a new seven-kilometre transport connection between Whangaparāoa Road and State Highway 1.
The project includes:
A new bridge over the Wēiti River.
Connections at Stillwater and East Coast Road.
South-facing ramps at State Highway 1.
A separated shared path.
Links supporting future housing development.
A confirmed tolling arrangement.
Main construction began in 2023 and the project remains under construction.
Strategic purpose:
Provide an alternative route to the Whangaparāoa Peninsula.
Reduce pressure on the Silverdale interchange.
Improve resilience.
Support new housing.
Improve travel reliability.
Provide new walking and cycling infrastructure.
Ōtaki to North of Levin
Location: Kāpiti Coast and Horowhenua
Mode: State highway
Status: Under construction
Ōtaki to north of Levin is part of the Wellington Northern Corridor and the Government’s Roads of National Significance programme.
The project is intended to:
Improve State Highway 1 safety.
Bypass existing urban and rural road constraints.
Improve freight movement.
Strengthen connections between Wellington, Horowhenua and the lower North Island.
Support growth around Levin.
NZTA places the project in Phase One of the Major Transport Projects Pipeline.
Hawke’s Bay Expressway
Location: Hawke’s Bay
Mode: State highway
Status: Under construction
The Hawke’s Bay Expressway project is part of the Roads of National Significance programme.
It is intended to improve:
Road safety.
Freight connections.
Travel reliability.
Regional growth.
Access between Napier, Hastings and surrounding areas.
Resilience following severe-weather disruption.
NZTA places the project in Phase One of the national pipeline.
Takitimu North Link Stage 1
Location: Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty
Mode: State highway
Status: Under construction
Stage 1 of Takitimu North Link is a new state-highway connection intended to improve travel between Tauranga and Te Puna.
A significant milestone was reached in July 2026 when the new State Highway 29 and Takitimu Drive Toll Road flyover opened to traffic.
The complete Stage 1 project remains under construction.
Strategic purpose:
Improve safety.
Reduce congestion.
Support housing growth.
Improve regional freight access.
Strengthen connections with the Port of Tauranga.
SH29 Tauriko West and Omanawa Bridge
Location: Tauranga
Mode: State highway and growth infrastructure
Status: Under construction
The Omanawa Bridge and associated State Highway 29 Tauriko West works are in construction.
The programme supports:
Western Tauranga housing growth.
Freight movement.
Safety.
Connections with State Highway 1 and the Port of Tauranga.
Development of the wider Tauriko corridor.
The wider SH29 Tauriko project remains divided into separate stages, with some elements in construction and others in route protection or future design.
Melling Transport Improvements
Location: Lower Hutt
Mode: State highway, rail, walking, cycling and flood resilience
Status: Construction and detailed design
The Melling project includes:
A new grade-separated State Highway 2 interchange.
A new bridge across Te Awa Kairangi–Hutt River.
Relocation of Melling railway station.
New park-and-ride facilities.
Walking and cycling connections.
Integration with wider flood-protection works.
The delivery agreement was signed in 2025, with construction and site activity progressing as part of Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi.
Strategic purpose:
Improve access between Lower Hutt and State Highway 2.
Improve resilience.
Support flood protection.
Improve rail-station access.
Provide safer walking and cycling infrastructure.
Brougham Street Improvements
Location: Christchurch
Mode: State highway and urban transport
Status: Under way
The Brougham Street project forms part of the Christchurch transport programme and is classified in the first phase of the Major Transport Projects Pipeline.
The corridor is an important:
Freight route.
Connection with Lyttelton Port.
Urban arterial.
Link between State Highway 1 and central Christchurch.
The project is intended to improve:
Safety.
Freight reliability.
Public-transport movement.
Walking and cycling.
Access across and along the corridor.
Second Ashburton Bridge
Location: Ashburton
Mode: State highway and bridge
Status: Under way
The second Ashburton bridge is progressing as a Road of Regional Significance.
The existing State Highway 1 bridge is a nationally important but constrained crossing.
The new connection is intended to:
Improve network resilience.
Provide additional capacity.
Support freight.
Reduce dependence on a single river crossing.
Improve local access.
The project is included among the regional projects currently under way in NZTA’s national pipeline.
Ngākōroa Railway Station
Location: Drury West, South Auckland
Mode: Passenger rail and growth infrastructure
Status: Under construction
Expected opening: 2027
Ngākōroa is the next new railway station planned for South Auckland.
The project is intended to support housing and employment growth around Drury West.
It follows the opening of Drury and Paerātā stations and forms part of the wider investment in Auckland’s southern rail network.
State Highway Bridge-Replacement Programme
Several significant state-highway bridge projects are progressing under national resilience and replacement programmes.
These include:
Mangati Bridge
Location: State Highway 39, Waikato
Status: Construction contract awarded
A contract has been awarded for a permanent two-lane replacement of the Mangati Bridge.
Pepe Stream Bridge
Location: State Highway 25, Coromandel
Status: Construction under way
The project replaces an important bridge on the Coromandel state-highway network.
Pekatahi Bridge
Location: State Highway 2, Bay of Plenty
Status: Design contract awarded
Design work is progressing for a new two-lane replacement.
These projects are smaller than the national expressway programme but are significant for regional safety, freight, resilience and community access.
Contracted or in Procurement
Warkworth to Te Hana
Location: Auckland and Northland
Mode: Four-lane expressway
Status: Public-private partnership signed and at financial close
Early works: From August 2026
Main construction: Expected from November 2027
Expected road opening: 2033
The Crown and the Northway consortium signed the project agreement in July 2026.
The project includes:
A 26-kilometre four-lane expressway.
Grade-separated interchanges at Warkworth, Wellsford and Te Hana.
Fifteen bridges.
Two underpasses.
Major culverts.
Stormwater-treatment systems.
Twin tunnels through Kraack Hill.
The contract covers:
Design.
Construction.
Finance.
Maintenance.
Operation.
The final project agreement has a reported net-present-value cost of $3.649 billion.
The Crown has provided NZTA with a $1.6 billion loan to support its capital contribution. Once the road opens, NZTA will make performance-linked payments over a 25-year operating period.
The project is the first section of the wider Northland Expressway and has been described by the Government as New Zealand’s largest public-private partnership.
Tracker assessment:
This is no longer a proposal or ordinary procurement.
A signed agreement and financial close create substantial long-term contractual obligations.
Cambridge to Piarere
Location: Waikato
Mode: Four-lane expressway
Status: Funded and in procurement
Stage 1 construction: Expected in early 2027
Stage 2 construction: Expected later in 2027
Budget 2026 committed approximately $1.8 billion to extend the Waikato Expressway from Cambridge toward the State Highway 1 and State Highway 29 junction at Piarere.
The project is in procurement and is part of Phase One of the Major Transport Projects Pipeline.
Strategic purpose:
Improve safety on State Highway 1.
Strengthen the Auckland–Waikato–Bay of Plenty freight corridor.
Reduce travel-time unreliability.
Extend the Waikato Expressway.
Support interregional economic activity.
The project is one of the clearest examples of a current Road of National Significance with specific Budget funding and an identified construction timetable.
Funded National Programmes
KiwiRail Network Investment Programme 2027–2030
Mode: National freight and passenger rail infrastructure
Status: Up to $1.075 billion committed
Budget 2026 committed up to $1.075 billion for KiwiRail’s planned national network investments between 2027 and 2030.
The funding supports preparation of the next Rail Network Investment Programme.
Rail infrastructure spending includes:
Maintenance.
Track renewals.
Bridges.
Tunnels.
Signalling.
Network improvements.
Asset management.
Rail-freight customers are also expected to contribute approximately $60 million through track-user charges.
The Government describes this as the first occasion on which a full three-year national rail-network programme has been funded in advance.
Tracker assessment:
This is a funded national programme rather than one construction project.
Individual rail projects within the programme will need to be tracked separately as the Rail Network Investment Programme is finalised.
Auckland and Wellington Metropolitan Rail Renewals
Mode: Metropolitan passenger rail
Status: $106.9 million committed
Budget 2026 included $106.9 million for critical renewals across the Auckland and Wellington metropolitan rail networks.
The programme may include:
Rails.
Sleepers.
Ballast.
Formation work.
Slope remediation.
Other reliability and resilience work.
This funding continues a multiyear programme intended to address overdue network renewals and improve passenger-service reliability.
State Highway Resilience Programme
Mode: Roads, bridges, slopes and network resilience
Status: $400 million committed
Budget 2026 committed $400 million to a package of state-highway resilience projects.
Priority corridors include vulnerable roads exposed to:
Flooding.
Landslides.
Coastal erosion.
Severe weather.
Limited alternative access.
The programme includes work associated with routes such as:
Waioweka Gorge.
Awakino Gorge.
The Coromandel.
Tākaka Hill.
Central Otago and Queenstown routes.
Haast and Hāwea.
Milford and Te Anau.
The programme reflects the growing economic importance of keeping existing corridors open rather than focusing only on new construction.
Road Maintenance and Renewals
Mode: State highways and local roads
Status: Continuing national programme
Road maintenance and renewals continue through the National Land Transport Programme and the State Highway Pothole Prevention Fund.
The programme includes:
Resealing.
Road reconstruction.
Drainage.
Pavement renewal.
Bridge and slope work.
Safety repairs.
Maintenance programmes should be tracked separately from major new corridors.
They may be less visible politically but are fundamental to road safety, reliability and whole-of-life infrastructure cost.
Consented or Preparing for Construction
Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass
Location: North Canterbury
Mode: State highway
Status: Provisional consent granted; early works under way
The project would provide a higher-standard connection between Belfast and Pegasus and bypass Woodend.
It is in Phase Two of the Major Transport Projects Pipeline.
The project is progressing toward construction but remains dependent on future sequencing and funding availability.
Takitimu North Link Stage 2
Location: Western Bay of Plenty
Mode: State highway
Status: Fast-track consent received; construction funding and timing still to be finalised
Stage 2 extends the Takitimu North Link programme toward Ōmokoroa.
It has received approval through the Fast-track Approvals Act.
The Western Bay of Plenty Regional Deal identifies Stage 2 as a priority project connected with housing, growth and freight.
Consent is a significant milestone, but it should not be confused with full construction funding.
Mill Road Stage 1
Location: South Auckland
Mode: State highway and growth corridor
Status: Planning progressing; not yet in full construction
NZTA is continuing planning work on the first stage of Mill Road.
The project is intended to support:
South Auckland housing growth.
Network resilience.
Connections around Manurewa, Takanini, Papakura and Drury.
Alternatives to State Highway 1.
Stage 1 sits in Phase Two of the national pipeline.
The wider Alfriston-to-Drury corridor is progressing more slowly under Phase Three.
Northwest Busway Stages 1B and 2
Location: Northwest Auckland
Mode: Bus rapid transit
Status: Planning and preparation progressing
Stages 1B and 2 of the Northwest Busway are in Phase Two of the Major Transport Projects Pipeline.
The project is intended to provide rapid transit along Auckland’s northwest corridor.
It remains at an earlier delivery stage than the Eastern Busway.
Outstanding work includes:
Detailed planning.
Funding.
Route integration.
Construction staging.
Connections with local bus services.
Park-and-ride and station planning.
Stage 3 remains in route protection rather than near-term construction.
Hope Bypass Stage 1
Location: Richmond and Tasman
Mode: State highway
Status: Detailed design progressing
The Hope Bypass is intended to address congestion, safety and freight movement around Richmond.
NZTA has prioritised design for improvements around the Gladstone Road and Lower Queen Street intersection.
Other elements of Stages 1 and 2 will continue as funding becomes available.
SH1 Wellington Improvements
Location: Wellington
Mode: State highway, tunnels, walking and cycling
Status: Route protection, investigation and pre-implementation
The programme includes proposals for:
A second Mount Victoria Tunnel.
Basin Reserve changes.
A second Terrace Tunnel.
Associated urban-road improvements.
Walking and cycling facilities.
Geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations have taken place.
The project remains in route protection and pre-implementation rather than main construction.
Brynderwyns and Northland Expressway Route Protection
Location: Northland
Mode: State highway and resilience
Status: Route protection and planning
NZTA is progressing route protection for a more resilient Northland state-highway connection through or around the Brynderwyn Hills.
The project forms part of the wider Northland Expressway programme.
Sections beyond Warkworth-to-Te Hana remain at earlier stages of planning and delivery.
SH29 Tauriko Wider Scope
Location: Tauranga
Mode: State highway and growth infrastructure
Status: Route protection and planning
The wider Tauriko programme extends beyond the Omanawa Bridge and immediate Tauriko West construction.
Route protection is continuing for longer-term corridor improvements.
Northwest Alternative State Highway
Location: Auckland
Mode: State highway
Status: Designated; future delivery
The Northwest Alternative State Highway has an existing designation.
Designation protects the route but does not mean construction is funded or imminent.
Hamilton Southern Links
Location: Hamilton and Waikato
Mode: State highway and regional connections
Status: Designated; future delivery
Hamilton Southern Links is designated but remains dependent on future funding and sequencing.
The programme is intended to improve:
Southern Hamilton connections.
Freight movement.
Links with the airport and surrounding growth areas.
Network resilience.
Future or Slower-Moving Pipeline
The following projects remain part of the Government’s long-term transport programme but are scheduled to progress more slowly.
East West Link
Location: Onehunga and Penrose, Auckland
Mode: State highway and freight connections
Status: Phase Three; slower development
The East West Link is intended to improve freight and road connections around the Onehunga–Penrose industrial area.
It remains part of the Roads of National Significance programme but is progressing at a slower pace than Phase One and Phase Two projects.
Northland Expressway Sections 2 and 3
Location: Te Hana to Northport and Whangārei
Mode: State highway
Status: Longer-term planning and route development
The sections beyond Warkworth-to-Te Hana remain in a slower delivery phase, except for separate work associated with the Brynderwyns.
The first section now has a signed PPP, but the remainder of the Northland corridor does not yet have the same contracted construction status.
Mill Road: Alfriston to Drury
Location: South Auckland
Mode: State highway
Status: Phase Three; slower development
The wider Mill Road corridor remains an official project but will progress more slowly than Stage 1.
New Zealand First has separately announced Mill Road as an election priority, but that political commitment does not by itself change the wider corridor’s current delivery status.
Petone to Grenada
Location: Wellington region
Mode: State highway and regional connection
Status: Phase Three; slower development
The project remains part of the Roads of National Significance programme but is progressing more slowly because of funding and sequencing.
Hope Bypass Stage 2
Location: Tasman
Mode: State highway
Status: Slower design progression
Stage 2 will continue through further design as funding permits.
Northwest Busway Stage 3
Location: Northwest Auckland
Mode: Bus rapid transit
Status: Route protection
The project remains part of the long-term rapid-transit programme but is not currently a funded construction project.
Major Infrastructure and Governance Programmes
National Infrastructure Plan
Mode: All national infrastructure
Status: Final plan released; government response published
The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission released the National Infrastructure Plan in February 2026.
The Plan provides a 30-year assessment of New Zealand’s infrastructure needs and focuses on:
Affordability.
Asset maintenance.
Project prioritisation.
Delivery.
Long-term planning.
Better national infrastructure data.
The Government published its response in June 2026 and supported all 16 recommendations, with three supported in principle pending further work.
Actions include:
Reviewing the land-transport funding system.
Requiring long-term investment plans.
Strengthening asset-management reporting.
Improving infrastructure-project assurance.
Requiring better participation in the National Infrastructure Pipeline.
Strengthening public-sector project leadership.
The Plan is not itself a construction project.
It is an institutional framework intended to influence how future projects are selected, funded, maintained and delivered.
Major Transport Projects Pipeline
Mode: Roads and public transport
Status: Published July 2026
NZTA’s Major Transport Projects Pipeline divides nationally significant projects into delivery phases.
It is one of the most important reference documents for understanding the difference between:
Projects under construction.
Projects in procurement.
Projects preparing for construction.
Route-protection work.
Longer-term projects without immediate funding.
The pipeline should not be treated as evidence that every named project is fully funded.
Progress remains dependent on:
Future National Land Transport Programmes.
Budget decisions.
Project readiness.
Construction-sector capacity.
Consenting.
Property acquisition.
Design.
Auckland City Deal
Location: Auckland
Mode: Long-term transport, housing and infrastructure planning
Status: Strategic agreement
The Auckland City Deal establishes a framework for long-term cooperation between central government and Auckland Council.
Transport-related priorities include:
Northwest rapid transit.
Botany-to-airport public transport.
Mill Road.
Rail level-crossing work.
The additional Waitematā Harbour crossing.
Time-of-use charging.
Better alignment between housing growth and transport.
The Deal does not automatically provide construction funding for every named project.
It is a planning and investment framework intended to coordinate future decisions.
Western Bay of Plenty Regional Deal
Location: Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty
Mode: Transport, housing, freight and regional growth
Status: Strategic agreement
The Western Bay of Plenty Deal connects central government with:
Tauranga City Council.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
Transport priorities include:
Takitimu North Link Stage 2.
Tauriko West.
Port and freight connections.
Growth corridors.
Housing and infrastructure coordination.
The agreement also includes potential use of local asset recycling and Crown funding uplifts for agreed projects.
The Deal identifies priorities but does not mean every project has entered construction.
Time-of-Use Charging Framework
Mode: Road pricing and network management
Status: Legislation passed; regulations being developed
The Land Transport Management Time of Use Charging Amendment Act was passed in 2025 and comes into force on 18 November 2026.
The Ministry of Transport consulted on supporting regulations between April and June 2026.
Those regulations are intended to establish nationally consistent rules for:
Vehicle classes.
Charge ratios.
Enforcement.
Infringement fees.
Technical operation.
No individual charging scheme has yet been established.
Auckland or another region would still need to:
Develop a proposed scheme.
Consult the public.
Submit it for approval.
Demonstrate how it would operate.
Establish exemptions, technology and enforcement.
The tracker records this as system-enabling infrastructure policy rather than a live road charge.
Electronic Road-User-Charge Reform
Mode: Transport funding and digital infrastructure
Status: Legislation and supporting regulations progressing
The Government is developing a wider electronic RUC system intended eventually to replace petrol excise for light vehicles.
The Land Transport Revenue Amendment Bill has progressed through Parliament but had not completed all stages as of 3 August 2026.
Consultation on supporting RUC regulations closed in June 2026.
The reform may require:
New digital systems.
Private RUC service providers.
Data and payment standards.
Enforcement systems.
Changes for millions of light vehicles.
This is one of the largest transport-funding reforms currently under development, but it should not yet be recorded as an operational nationwide system.
What Is Not Included as a Current Delivery Project
The following are not classified as funded or under-construction infrastructure unless their status changes:
Election-only proposals.
Projects without identified construction funding.
Early advocacy concepts.
Party policies not adopted by government.
Projects under preliminary investigation only.
Cancelled or abandoned projects.
Examples of politically discussed but not fully funded national projects may include:
A complete additional Waitematā Harbour crossing.
New Auckland light rail.
A nationwide rapid passenger-rail network.
Heavy rail to Auckland Airport.
Major new regional passenger-rail routes.
Universal free public transport infrastructure expansions.
Large-scale new coastal-shipping fleets.
Future stages of Roads of National Significance without funding.
These proposals may be important.
They are tracked through party policy pages and Transport 2026 reporting until they reach a formal delivery stage.
Cancelled, Replaced or Abandoned Projects
Cancelled projects are not mixed into the active tracker.
They are covered through Transport 2026 historical reporting and the Infrastructure Graveyard.
Examples include:
The previous Auckland Light Rail programme.
The original iReX ferry programme.
Most of Let’s Get Wellington Moving.
Earlier versions of Mill Road.
Auckland Harbour walking and cycling proposals.
Projects repeatedly redesigned or deferred.
A cancelled project may still affect the active infrastructure programme through:
Sunk cost.
Land already purchased.
Contract termination.
Replacement planning.
Delayed benefits.
Retained design work.
How the Tracker Will Develop
The Infrastructure Tracker will continue to be updated as:
Projects begin construction.
Contracts are signed.
Funding is approved.
Consents are granted.
Opening dates change.
Election policies are released.
Projects are delayed.
Projects are cancelled or replaced.
Coalition agreements change delivery priorities.
The next National Land Transport Programme is prepared.
Future versions may add:
Project cost.
Original announcement date.
Current expected completion.
Lead delivery agency.
Funding source.
Public-private partnership obligations.
Previous project versions.
Party positions.
Regional map.
Links to official project pages.
Key Questions for Every Infrastructure Project
Transport 2026 will continue assessing projects against a consistent set of questions.
Is It Funded?
A project may have design funding but not construction funding.
Is It Contracted?
A signed contract creates a much stronger delivery commitment than an announcement.
Is It Consented?
Resource and planning approvals can determine whether construction can begin.
Has Land Been Acquired?
Property acquisition can add years and substantial cost.
Is the Design Complete?
Early concepts can change significantly before procurement.
Who Pays?
Funding may come from:
Taxation.
Road-user charges.
Fuel excise.
Tolls.
Rates.
Crown debt.
Private finance.
Development levies.
Value capture.
Who Carries the Risk?
Risk may sit with:
The Crown.
Councils.
Private consortiums.
Road users.
Ratepayers.
Future governments.
What Must Be Maintained?
Every new road, bridge, station, tunnel or rail line creates future maintenance costs.
What Else Is Delayed?
Funding one large project may affect the ability to deliver another.
Is the Timetable Credible?
Opening dates can be affected by:
Consenting.
Procurement.
Weather.
Ground conditions.
Labour shortages.
Material costs.
Utility relocation.
Contract disputes.
Testing and commissioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Transport 2026 Infrastructure Tracker?
It is an independent record of major New Zealand transport and transport-related infrastructure projects and their delivery status.
Does the tracker support the listed projects?
No. Inclusion means the project is significant and has a recognised delivery status, not that Transport 2026 endorses it.
What is the difference between funded and under construction?
A funded project has approved money or a formal commitment. An under-construction project has physical work taking place.
Does a designation mean a road will be built?
No. A designation protects a route but does not guarantee construction funding.
Does consent mean construction will begin?
Not necessarily. A consented project may still require funding, procurement and final design.
Are all Roads of National Significance funded?
No. The July 2026 pipeline shows that projects are at different stages and that several will progress more slowly as funding becomes available.
Is City Rail Link open?
Not yet as of 3 August 2026. It is in testing and commissioning and is expected to open later in 2026.
Is the Eastern Busway under construction?
Yes. Construction began on the final section in July 2026, with the full corridor expected to open in 2027.
Has Warkworth to Te Hana started construction?
The PPP has been signed and reached financial close. Early works and mobilisation are expected from August 2026, with main construction expected from November 2027.
Are Drury and Paerātā stations open?
Yes. They were formally opened on 1 August 2026, with passenger services beginning the following day.
Is Cambridge to Piarere funded?
Yes. Budget 2026 allocated approximately $1.8 billion and procurement is under way.
Is Mill Road under construction?
Not as one complete corridor. Stage 1 planning is progressing, while wider sections are in a slower phase.
Is the Northwest Busway funded for construction?
Planning for Stages 1B and 2 is progressing, but complete construction funding and timing have not yet been confirmed.
Is the strategic diesel reserve operational?
The Marsden Point storage tanks are operational and are being stocked with the approximately 90-million-litre reserve.
Has congestion charging started?
No. Enabling legislation has passed and regulations are being developed, but no individual time-of-use charging scheme is currently operating under the new framework.
Is nationwide electronic RUC operating?
No. Legislative and regulatory work is progressing, but a complete light-vehicle transition has not yet occurred.
Are election promises included?
They are included only in a separate proposed-policy category until they receive funding or move into formal delivery.
Will the tracker continue after the election?
Yes. The purpose is to compare election promises with later funding, construction and delivery.
Related Transport 2026 Pages
Transport 2026: New Zealand’s Transport Outlook and Infrastructure Briefing
The main project hub covering transport policy, infrastructure, funding, resilience and the 2026 election.
Transport 2026 News and Analysis
Long-form reporting on major projects, fuel, rail, road funding and political developments.
The Transport 2026 Infrastructure Graveyard
Historical analysis of major New Zealand infrastructure projects that were promised, redesigned, delayed, cancelled or abandoned.
New Zealand Transport Political Players
A guide to the ministers, party spokespeople and infrastructure figures shaping the debate.
Political Party Transport Pages
National Party Transport Policy 2026
Labour Party Transport Policy 2026
Green Party Transport Policy 2026
ACT New Zealand Transport Policy 2026
New Zealand First Transport Policy 2026
Te Pāti Māori Transport Policy 2026
The Opportunity Party Transport Policy 2026
Transport 2026 Editorial Note
Transport 2026 is an independent public briefing published by Kiwi Coaches.
The tracker does not endorse a political party or infrastructure project.
Status is determined using the best current official information available, including government announcements, Budget documents, delivery-agency updates, legislation and signed project agreements.
Political support is not treated as the same thing as funding.
Funding is not treated as the same thing as construction.
Construction is not treated as the same thing as successful completion.
Projects and statuses may change quickly during an election year.
Government agencies, political parties, councils, contractors and readers are encouraged to provide corrections or updated official information.