Transport 2026: New Zealand’s Infrastructure Tracker
An independent, continuously updated reference of what New Zealand is actually building, what is funded and underway, and what is planned — ahead of the 2026 General Election.
Updated 8 June 2026
Why this page exists
Transport policy debates often focus on what should happen next. This page focuses on what is already happening — the projects that are funded, consented, or under construction, and therefore shape congestion, resilience, emissions, and travel reliability regardless of who wins the next election.
This tracker deliberately separates projects that are underway or funded from projects that are proposed. Proposed projects will be added in future updates and clearly labelled as such.
How to read this tracker
Projects are grouped by status:
Under Construction – physical works underway
Funded / Committed – budgeted and approved, but not yet built
Operational / Near Completion – opening within the current electoral cycle
Each listing is factual and non-partisan. Commentary and historical analysis live in our companion long-form research articles.
Under Construction / Near Completion (as at 2026)
City Rail Link (Auckland)
Mode: Heavy rail (underground)
Status: Construction substantially complete; testing and commissioning phase
Strategic purpose: CBD capacity, network transformation, rapid transit backbone
Eastern Busway (Auckland – staged)
Mode: Bus rapid transit
Status: Multiple stages delivered; further stages under construction
Strategic purpose: South-east Auckland growth corridor, reliability and mode shift
Pūhoi–Warkworth Motorway (Ara Tūhono)
Mode: State highway
Status: Operational
Strategic purpose: Auckland–Northland resilience, safety and freight reliability
Transmission Gully Motorway (Wellington)
Mode: State highway
Status: Operational; ongoing remediation works
Strategic purpose: SH1 resilience and redundancy
Funded / Committed Projects
Puhinui–Airport Rapid Transit Connection
Mode: Bus priority / interchange-led rapid transit
Status: Operational interchange; future enhancements funded
Strategic purpose: Airport access, rail–bus integration
Christchurch Northern Corridor
Mode: Motorway / arterial upgrades
Status: Operational with staged enhancements
Strategic purpose: Urban growth, freight reliability
Safety & Resilience Programmes (National)
Mode: Mixed (road safety, corridor upgrades)
Status: Ongoing multi-year investment programmes
Strategic purpose: Crash reduction, network resilience
Budget 2026 Adds Major New Transport Funding to the Infrastructure Pipeline
Budget 2026 confirmed $3.358 billion in transport initiatives. The package includes $1.773 billion for Cambridge to Piarere, $400 million for state highway resilience, $106.9 million for Auckland and Wellington metro rail renewals, and up to $1.075 billion for KiwiRail’s 2027–2030 network investment programme.
This should be recorded as a major infrastructure-tracker update because it changes the status of several projects and programmes from policy discussion into funded or partially funded delivery.
Auckland City Deal Highlights Long-Term Transport Priorities
The Auckland City Deal identifies a coordinated 30-year transport strategy and highlights major priorities including Northwest Rapid Transit, Botany to Airport public transport, Mill Road, City Rail Link level crossing work, the additional Waitematā Harbour crossing, time-of-use charging and network management.
For Transport 2026, this should be tracked as one of the most important Auckland infrastructure updates. It shows that the Auckland transport debate is not just about individual projects, but about how central government and Auckland Council align investment, planning and delivery over several decades.
Time-of-Use Charging Consultation Opens
The Ministry of Transport has opened consultation on proposed regulations for time-of-use charging, with submissions open until 25 June 2026. The regulations are intended to support nationally consistent rules for future schemes under the Land Transport Management time-of-use charging framework.
This is a major issue for transport operators. The final design of any scheme will matter for buses, coaches, school transport, freight, airport transfers, trades, shift workers and essential services. The question is not simply whether road pricing exists, but how exemptions, timing, geography and commercial impacts are handled.
Fuel Security Moves from Risk Scenario to Budget-Level Policy
Budget 2026 sets aside $150 million to increase New Zealand’s strategic fuel reserves, with part of that funding linked to the previously announced Z Energy deal lifting New Zealand’s diesel reserves by nine days. The Budget also leaves room for further increases to strategic fuel reserves if needed.
This is a major development for the Transport 2026 fuel-security theme. Fuel resilience is now clearly part of national infrastructure and economic-security policy, not just a consumer petrol-price issue. The impacts reach across public transport, freight, aviation, school transport, emergency services and private-sector operators.
Western Bay of Plenty Deal Links Growth, Freight and Regional Transport
The Western Bay of Plenty regional deal should be tracked as part of the wider 2026 infrastructure story. The deal links housing, growth, transport infrastructure, freight corridors and the Port of Tauranga, with key projects including Takitimu North Link Stage 2 and Tauriko West.
This is important because it shows the Government’s regional infrastructure approach is increasingly tied to freight movement, port access and growth planning, not just urban congestion or individual highway upgrades.
Infrastructure Commission to Take Stronger Oversight Role
The Government has announced changes to the infrastructure investment system, shifting more independent assurance work to the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission. The stated aim is to improve how infrastructure projects are selected, assessed and delivered, with stronger focus on value for money, deliverability and long-term national need.
For Transport 2026, this is an important governance update. New Zealand’s transport debate is often dominated by what should be built, but the harder question is whether projects can be selected, funded, consented and delivered effectively. This reform belongs in the infrastructure-policy section, not just the news feed.What is not on this page (by design)
Cancelled or abandoned projects (covered in our historical analysis)
Election-only proposals without funding or delivery pathways
Projects still at early concept or advocacy stage
How this page will evolve
In the lead-up to the 2026 election, we will:
Add clearly labelled proposed projects from political parties
Track policy continuity vs change against what is already underway
Link each proposal to delivery risk, funding pathways, and historic precedent
This page will remain live beyond the election as a public reference.
Companion reading:The Transport 2026 Infrastructure Graveyard — a long-form analysis of major projects promised, reshaped, or abandoned over the last 20 years.