ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Auckland Light Rail project will not progress ahead until unless next election cycle as the government failed to arrive at an agreement over the Auckland Light Rail preferred proposal.
This was announced in a media statement from Minister of Transport Phil Twyford’s office just a short while ago.
The statement said that the cabinet has agreed to end the twin track Auckland Light Rail process and refer the project to the Ministry of Transport for further work.
Expressing disappointment on the outcome Mayor of Auckland Phil Goff said that Aucklanders will be disappointed that the future of light rail will not be decided until after September’s general election.
“I am disappointed with that outcome, as I am sure many Aucklanders are too.
“It is frustrating that after three years, disagreement within the coalition has held this process up. It’s now less than 90 days until the general election and we expect the incoming government to act quickly and decisively to outline its proposal to get light rail built,” Mr Goff said.
Notably, the work on the Auckland Light Rail was part of the confidence and supply agreement between Labour and the Greens, and it seems that despite extensive cross-party consultation, Government parties were unable to reach agreement on a preferred proposal.
The future of the project will now be decided by the government following September’s general election.
Minister Twyford said that two credible and deliverable proposals were received.
“I’d like to thank NZ Infra and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency for their work and innovative proposals.
“Either would have created hundreds of jobs and resulted in an Auckland metro that offered Aucklanders a 30-minute trip from the CBD to the Airport.”
Auckland Light Rail remains a project in the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP), he said.
“The Ministry of Transport and the Treasury will report back after the general election on the best option for this project to be delivered by the public sector. The Ministry of Transport and the Treasury will also engage with NZ Infra and Waka Kotahi about how work done on this project can support the next phase.
“Auckland Light Rail will be New Zealand’s most complex infrastructure project in decades and it’s vital we get it right for future generations,” Phil Twyford said.
Auckland Light Rail project will not progress ahead until unless next election cycle as the government failed to arrive at an agreement over the Auckland Light Rail preferred proposal.
This was announced in a media statement from Minister of Transport Phil Twyford’s office just a short while ago.
...
Auckland Light Rail project will not progress ahead until unless next election cycle as the government failed to arrive at an agreement over the Auckland Light Rail preferred proposal.
This was announced in a media statement from Minister of Transport Phil Twyford’s office just a short while ago.
The statement said that the cabinet has agreed to end the twin track Auckland Light Rail process and refer the project to the Ministry of Transport for further work.
Expressing disappointment on the outcome Mayor of Auckland Phil Goff said that Aucklanders will be disappointed that the future of light rail will not be decided until after September’s general election.
“I am disappointed with that outcome, as I am sure many Aucklanders are too.
“It is frustrating that after three years, disagreement within the coalition has held this process up. It’s now less than 90 days until the general election and we expect the incoming government to act quickly and decisively to outline its proposal to get light rail built,” Mr Goff said.
Notably, the work on the Auckland Light Rail was part of the confidence and supply agreement between Labour and the Greens, and it seems that despite extensive cross-party consultation, Government parties were unable to reach agreement on a preferred proposal.
The future of the project will now be decided by the government following September’s general election.
Minister Twyford said that two credible and deliverable proposals were received.
“I’d like to thank NZ Infra and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency for their work and innovative proposals.
“Either would have created hundreds of jobs and resulted in an Auckland metro that offered Aucklanders a 30-minute trip from the CBD to the Airport.”
Auckland Light Rail remains a project in the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP), he said.
“The Ministry of Transport and the Treasury will report back after the general election on the best option for this project to be delivered by the public sector. The Ministry of Transport and the Treasury will also engage with NZ Infra and Waka Kotahi about how work done on this project can support the next phase.
“Auckland Light Rail will be New Zealand’s most complex infrastructure project in decades and it’s vital we get it right for future generations,” Phil Twyford said.
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