Project update - July 2025

Tēnā koe and welcome to the Northland Corridor newsletter.

We’ve had a great response to our community information drop-in sessions and have met with over 600 people across 5 events in Kaiwaka, Waipū, Ruakākā and Whangārei to share progress on the Northland Corridor project. Thank you to everyone who came along to talk to us.

Work on the project continues at pace. The procurement process for Ara Tūhono – Warkworth to Te Hana as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) is well underway. We answer some frequently asked questions about the PPP model below.

We are now preparing to begin a range of geotechnical and environmental investigations from Te Hana to Port Marsden Highway and from Port Marsden Highway to Whangārei. These investigations are very important to help us work out where the best place for the new road will be and help us support the design and consenting of the project. Read on to learn more about the types of work we need to carry out.

We know there is a lot of interest in our next steps. Once the preferred route from Te Hana to Whangārei has been to the NZTA board in August/September, we’ll be able to share more information.

Great community turn out at drop-in sessions

The drop-in sessions were well attended, showing the high level of interest in the project across Northland. Overall, people were pleased to hear more about the progress we have been making and there is continued support for the project with many people telling us to ‘get it done’.

The sessions provided an opportunity for communities to learn about the project’s progress so far and understand more about next steps.

This was also an opportunity for landowners in the emerging preferred corridor to meet the team, confirm next steps and timeframes for more detailed property discussions, and register additional contact details with us.

What if I couldn’t make the information sessions?

We know everyone is busy, so if you couldn’t make it to one of the events and you’d like to talk to us, feel free to contact us on [email protected]

Information for landowners

I’m a landowner in the emerging preferred corridor how do I register my details?

So that we can contact landowners as quickly and efficiently as possible we want to make sure we have all the contact details of landowners who may be potentially affected.

If you have received a letter from us advising that your property is in the study area, please register your contact details. Instructions about how to register your contact details are provided in the letter.

It is quick and easy to register via the online form and only takes about one minute.

If you have any questions about registering or can’t access the online form, please contact us by emailing [email protected] or phoning us on 0800 927 293.

When will I know more information?

Once the preferred route has been to the NZTA Board we will be able to share more information. We will liaise closely with landowners throughout to discuss the next steps.

The timeline below shows next steps for Te Hana to Port Marsden Highway and Port Marsden Highway to Whangārei over the coming months. Click here to view a larger version of the project timeline.

Upcoming Environmental and Geotechnical Investigations

We are starting to work with landowners along the corridor in the Te Hana to Port Marsden Highway and Port Marsden Highway to Whangārei sections to request permission to carry out important site investigations. Subject to NZTA board endorsement and landowners’ permission, we plan to get the investigations underway from August 2025.

Our upcoming geotechnical investigations will assess subsurface ground conditions, including soil and rock types, groundwater conditions, and soil and rock strength, with samples taken for testing. Once the investigations are complete, we may continue to monitor the sites to understand the seasonal changes in groundwater levels and water quality.

We’ll also carry out a variety of different environmental investigations to help us understand the local conditions and identify the various habitats and species that exist in the study area. This helps us to plan for any potential impacts and how we might mitigate them.

Examples of environmental investigations we may need to undertake on private property include:

• Archaeology – identifying and managing any cultural heritage sites.
• Soil testing – ensuring land is suitable to use.
• Ecology – studying habitats of different species including kiwi, bats, lizards, bugs, fish and plants, also streams, to see how construction may impact nearby water.
• Land use and farming – identifying and confirming local land use and farming activities.
• Landscape, visual and natural character – investigations into how a new highway could impact the landscape and character of the area.
• Noise and vibration monitoring – measuring existing baseline noise so future noise impacts from the highway can be assessed and mitigated.

Frequently asked questions - PPP

What is a PPP?

A PPP or public private partnership is a long-term contract for the delivery of a service which requires the construction of a new asset, in this case a road, and the maintenance and operation of this asset. The construction of the asset is financed from private sources, NZTA will only make payments once the asset is ready. Full legal ownership of the asset is at all times retained by the Crown.

Why use a PPP model?

The PPP model will improve the delivery of service outcomes from major public infrastructure assets by:

Improving asset and service design by encouraging innovation and best practice from the private sector

Incentivising whole of life design and asset management

Payment for performance

Allocating risks to the parties who are best able to manage them

When will you select a construction partner to build Ara Tūhono - Warkworth to Te Hana?

Procurement is underway. Following a rigorous evaluation and selection process through the Expressions of Interest (EOI) phase, three shortlisted consortia are in the next stage of procurement, the Request for Proposals (RFP). The PPP contract is expected to be finalised by the middle of next year.

Meet the team

Mike Forrest – Property Workstream Lead

Tell us about yourself and your role:

I’m the Property Workstream Lead for the Northland Corridor project. I am an experienced property professional with significant expertise in Public Works Act land acquisition for large infrastructure projects, property advisory and consultancy. I was the property acquisition manager for the Northern Corridor Improvements, Ara-Tuhono - Pūhoi to Warkworth, and even an earlier phase of Warkworth to Te Hana.

My role involves supporting the overall project development, landowner engagement, and managing the property acquisition programme. Our call for landowners to register their contact details is really important to support this engagement and acquisition process in a smooth way.

What excites you about the Northland Corridor project:

I have a passion for solving challenges, especially on large complex projects like the Northland Corridor. A significant part of my career has been centred around the former Rodney District, so improving the transport connections for this community resonates with me.

The Northland Corridor is an opportunity to deliver a legacy project for New Zealand and fully unlock the economic potential of Northland.