Auckland mayor and Transport Minister agree to cooperate on port and reallocate millions in funds

The Transport Minister and Auckland’s mayor have agreed to cooperate on a “joined-up” transport plan, including clear decision about shifting Ports of Auckland.

And millions in funding for Auckland transport projects has been reallocated.

The announcement was made in a joint announcement.

Shortly after gaining office mayor Wayne Brown asked Ports of Auckland to make more of its waterfront land available for the public.

Now he and Transport Minister Michael Wood have said they’ll make clear decisions about shifting the port, the future use of the land the port occupies and the timeline.

Brown said the council would work with the government on transport, and their immediate focus would be reducing congestion, a waterfront plan and fixing Auckland’s public transport crisis.

The announcement included news that $200,000 million of public transport spending for the Northern Busway would be reallocated to the Eastern Busway. Making the total government contribution to the Eastern Busway $600,000m.

Ports of Auckland sits on prime central city waterfront real estate
Photo: 123RF

Brown said the announcement was a good first step to creating a successful, city-wide public transport network.

He thanked the minister for listening to Aucklanders and acting fast to back the project’s completion.

Wood said the city’s eastern suburbs had the lowest use of public transport in Auckland.

But by 2028 the Eastern Busway would carry 14,000 passengers a day, four times the number of passengers pre-pandemic .

The project would also increase access to jobs and education, connect communities, attract investment and help reduce emissions, Wood said.

Work begins on the Whangaparāoa Penlink connection

Construction has begun on a long-awaited two-lane road project in Auckland, that would link State Highway 1 to the Whangaparāoa Peninsula.

Wood said the 7 kilometre stretch, known as Penlink, would be a vital connection for north Auckland.

It was to include a shared walking and cycling path and was expected to be completed in 2026.