New Zealand public transport will benefit a NZD 2.3 billion (USD 1.4 billion) under the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport released on March 4, 2024.
The draft commits USD to NZD 2.3 billion (USD 1.4 billion) for public transport services and NZD 2.1 billion (USD 1.3 billion) for public transport infrastructure over the next three years.
The funding is part of Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely.
“Over the next three years, our investment of around NZD 7 billion [USD 4.3 billion] per year prioritises economic growth and productivity, increased maintenance and resilience, safety, and value for money. It balances the need for investing in new projects, while ensuring our transport system is maintained to a high standard,” Transport Minister Simeon Brown said.
The financing will be used particularly for the cities of Auckland and Wellington.
New Zealand public transport needs to be modernised and expanded and the new funding will deliver “reliable, effective, and efficient public transport is a priority, particularly in our main cities of Auckland and Wellington,” the Transport Minister said.
Auckland is currently implementing the city rail link, covering the construction of a 3.5 km tunnel Auckland’s city centre, at up to 42m underground between Waitematā station (Britomart) and Maungawhau stations. The city is also undergoing transport transformation and will benefit from a 34 km long light rail system between the city centre and the Auckland Airport. This new connection is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
In 2024, the authorities plan to start train testing and the fit out of the stations and tunnels, alongside landscaping and urban realm enhancements. The fit-out programme includes the installation of lifts, escalators, security systems, CCTV, electricity, signalling and communications.
In Wellington, the rail company Kiwi Rail is implementing projects to modernise and expand the rail system under Wellington Metro Upgrade Programme, which is part of the NZD 700 million (USD 432.5 million) Future Rail programme.
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