This opinion piece originally ran in the New Zealand Herald on 1 October.
Just over a fortnight ago, a new era for Auckland Transport was marked when the City Rail Link officially opened with all the fanfare it rightly deserved. It is, after all, the biggest transport infrastructure project ever delivered in New Zealand, and one that will transform how people move around our region.
Today (1 October) marks another important milestone: a new direction for where we’re heading with transport in Auckland and how we achieve great transport outcomes for everyone, regardless of how they choose to travel.
Transport is about more than roads, cycleways, foot paths, buses and trains. It is about how we live. It shapes how we get to work, whether kids can safely walk to school, how businesses operate and how our city grows. Done well, it unlocks economic opportunity. Done poorly, it wastes time, money and trust.
For too long we have struggled to deliver transport outcomes that are fully aligned with what our changing needs and what communities want.
Transport cannot be planned in isolation. It must be integrated with land use, growth and infrastructure investment. That changes today, as responsibility for how transport is planned, governed and delivered in Auckland moves to Auckland Council.
We go into this with a strong foundation, driven by dedicated and capable people who care about this region and want to deliver great outcomes.
Projects like the City Rail Link and Eastern Busway are reshaping how people move around our city. They also demonstrate why transport, housing and growth needs to be planned tighter, enabling better access to jobs and supporting thriving communities.
Our transport system is critical: not just locally, but nationally. Our strengthened alignment with government includes a shared commitment to develop a 30-year plan that brings clarity, discipline and consistency to investment with less flip-flopping between election cycles.
So, what will actually be different?
First, value for money. We will use standardised, proven designs wherever possible and avoid unnecessary bespoke solutions. The goal is simple: deliver more for less, without compromising safety or effectiveness. This means using simpler designs that can be delivered quickly and cost-effectively and using in-house capability first.
Second, better engagement with communities. Too often, engagement has felt late, complex or disconnected from the decisions that follow. This undermines trust. While it’s not realistic to expect everyone to agree on everything, we can ensure people feel heard, trade-offs are clearly explained and input genuinely influences outcomes.
Third, we want to reduce frustration caused by too many cones, too much disruption and projects taking too long. That means rethinking traffic management planning and delivery, speeding up work in road corridors and being more disciplined what is actually required. Safety is non-negotiable, but we can be smarter about how it is achieved.
Fourth, creating a culture that has relentless focus on cost-effectiveness, one that values collaboration and partnership, is responsive to community needs and understands the importance of working constructively with elected representatives.
Fifth, clearer accountability for decision making. In a democracy, some decisions rightly sit with elected representatives. Their role is to balance competing interests, reflect community views and make calls about trade-offs. We will ensure that key decisions are more clearly in their hands, including at a local level. This will strengthen accountability and ensure decisions are grounded in both sound technical advice and in democratic legitimacy.
There is no version of Auckland where we get everything we want without compromise.
If we want dedicated busways, we must reallocate space on existing roads. If we want safer cycleways, we must change how streets are used. If we want to reduce congestion, we need more people using public transport.
These are not easy choices. Auckland has limited road space and growing demand, so there will inevitably trade-offs. Our job is to be honest about those choices, listen to communities and make decisions that stand the test of time.
We will not get everything right. No system does. But from day one, we are committed to doing better, and being more transparent, more aligned, more efficient and more responsive.
We are committed to rebuilding confidence. Confidence that there is a plan. Confidence that money is being well spent. Confidence that your voice matters. And confidence that, together, we can create a transport system that supports the Auckland we all want to see.