The Government and Auckland Council will develop a coordinated 30-year transport strategy as part of a wider Auckland City Deal aimed at boosting growth and improving infrastructure across the region.
The agreement, New Zealand’s first city deal, sets out a framework for long-term collaboration between central and local government across transport, housing, infrastructure and economic development.
The transport component will see priority projects reflected in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2027, including the North-West Rapid Transit project, Botany to Airport public transport, Mill Road, and City Rail Link level crossings.
Both parties will also work together on an additional Waitematā Harbour crossing, time-of-use charging, and improving transport network efficiency.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the deal is designed to unlock Auckland’s economic potential.
“Auckland is New Zealand’s economic engine room. This Deal is about getting that engine room firing on all cylinders so that we can lift incomes, create more jobs and make Auckland, and therefore New Zealand, more prosperous,” he says.
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says the agreement builds on major projects already underway in the city.
“The Central Interceptor Project will be finished this year, the third main line separating freight from passenger rail is now open, funding has been confirmed to complete the Eastern Busway, the line to Pukekohe has been electrified, and the City Rail Link will open later this year,” he says.
The deal also identifies key growth areas where transport and infrastructure planning will be coordinated, including Drury, the Maungawhau–Kingsland–Morningside corridor, the city centre and the airport precinct.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says integrated planning will be critical to supporting future development.
“We must build where we have already invested significantly in infrastructure, and not in flood plains. We must provide housing near where people work,” he says.
The Auckland City Deal also includes commitments across areas such as innovation, tourism, major events and biodiversity, alongside new funding and financing tools to support priority projects.
Local Government and Auckland Minister Simon Watts says the agreement sets a new benchmark for collaboration.
“This is about long-term certainty and better delivery. By aligning our long-term planning and focusing on the fundamentals – transport, housing, innovation and skills – we are building the foundations for a stronger, more prosperous Auckland,” he says.
The Government says the deal will act as a model for future agreements with other regions, with further city and regional deals expected to be progressed in 2026.
