NZ InfraWatch
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Waitematā Harbour Connections — Additional Crossing
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency / Auckland Transport · Auckland
A second Waitematā Harbour crossing — the Government-backed plan combines tunnels (and a possible second bridge) with provision for rapid transit/rail and walking/cycling, plus Harbour Bridge and Northern Busway upgrades. Treasury-reviewed preferred option ~NZ$23–27b (Stage 1 capex); detailed design 2026, construction targeted from 2029.
Key facts
- Region
- Auckland
- Sector
- Transport
- Status
- Planning
- Estimated value
- $25b
- Indicative completion
- 2040
- Funding status
- No Source
- Lead organisation
- Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency / Auckland Transport
- Election risk
- Extreme
Election risk assessment
National wants a road-only tunnel under the Waitematā Harbour. Labour and Greens want a multimodal crossing including rail. The two approaches differ by $8–18B in cost, a decade in timeline, and fundamentally in transport mode. No consent, no committed funding.
Government priority alignment
HIGH — Road-only tunnel option chosen — aligns with the GPS roads priority (though unfunded).
Chronology
- 2023Indicative business case — options $15–25b+
- 2024Government backs a tunnels-based crossing
- 2026Detailed design; preferred option ~$23–27b (Treasury review)
- 2029Construction targeted to begin