Hamilton-Auckland Intercity Connectivity
Investigating the potential for a new rapid rail service between Hamilton and Auckland.
Hamilton-Auckland Intercity Connectivity
The Government has initiated reforms of Auckland’s transport governance through the Local Government (Auckland Council) (Transport Governance) Amendment Bill. The reforms aim to bring greater democratic accountability to Auckland’s transport decision-making and ensure long-term strategic alignment between Auckland Council and central government.
The Bill aims to deliver these goals through a range of key changes:
- establishing an Auckland Regional Transport Committee (ARTC), with voting members comprising Ministerial appointees and Auckland Council elected members, as well as an independent chair jointly appointed by the Minister of Transport and the Mayor of Auckland;
- providing for the ARTC to prepare a 30-year transport plan for Auckland, the Regional Land Transport Plan (for approval by Auckland Council) and to undertake other functions as delegated by Government or Auckland Council;
- moving most transport functions, including policy and planning functions as well as Road Controlling Authority status, from Auckland Transport to Auckland Council;
- re-establishing Auckland Transport as a transport Council-Controlled Organisation (the transport CCO) focused on providing public transport services in Auckland; and
- allocating some specific transport decisions to Auckland Council’s local boards.
The work to date
02
Sept 2025
Local Government (Auckland Council) (Transport Governance) Amendment Bill introduced and referred to Select Committee
On 5 September 2025, the Local Government (Auckland Council) (Transport Governance) Amendment Bill was introduced to Parliament by the Minister for Transport, Hon Chris Bishop.
Beehive press release - Restoring democracy to Auckland’s transport(external link)
The Bill had its first reading in Parliament on 16 September 2025 and has now been referred to the Transport and Infrastructure select committee (the Committee) for public submissions. You can find out more detail on how to submit here(external link). Submissions are open until 09 November 2025.
Next steps
After submissions close, officials will analyse the submissions received and make suggestions to the Committee about changes to the Bill. The Committee will review these and propose any changes they think are needed for the Bill to work as intended for consideration by the Government.
01
Dec 2024
Governance reform for transport in Auckland announced
On 3 December, the then Minister of Transport, Hon Simeon Brown, announced the Government will implement significant reforms to restore democratic decision-making for transport outcomes in Auckland.