Tranzliquid, one of New Zealand’s largest bulk fuel logistics providers, is calling for urgent Government action to upgrade State Highway 29, warning that growing congestion on the key Bay of Plenty freight route is undermining national productivity and restricting the flow of goods through the Port of Tauranga.
The Mount Maunganui-based company operates dozens of trucks moving thousands of tonnes of product to and from the port each week. Owner and director Greg Pert says worsening delays on SH29 are now a critical constraint for freight operators.
“Our task at its core is simple, yet essential: to transport the items that power our economy, from the food on our tables to the machinery that drives our industries. And to do this, we need roads – reliable, efficient, and well-maintained highways,” Pert says.
“The efficiency of our highway system is directly tied to our national productivity and economic health.”
The Port of Tauranga is the country’s largest export gateway, handling 42% of New Zealand’s shipping containers, 32% of total cargo and 36% of exports. Container volumes have risen 67% over the past decade, and national freight demand is forecast to grow 40% over the next 10 years — significantly faster than population growth.
Tranzliquid says SH29, which links the port to the Waikato and upper North Island freight network, is “no longer fit-for-purpose”.
In a recent case study, the company cites degraded infrastructure, rising congestion and ongoing safety concerns for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
Investment in SH29 would unlock freight efficiency, reduce travel delays and support industries reliant on the Port of Tauranga, including manufacturing and export businesses. Planned improvements include wider lanes, upgraded intersections and modern safety features.
It says alternative transport modes such as rail and coastal shipping can assist with long-distance movements but cannot replace the door-to-door service road transport provides.
“Goods such as petroleum have to be moved where people need them – and primarily, that’s not near a sea port or rail station,” it says.
Meanwhile, Pert says upgrading SH29 is essential to maintaining supply-chain resilience.
“A nation’s economy depends on the efficient transport of goods. In our case, an investment in our roading infrastructure is an investment in our economic future. We must prioritise expanding and modernising SH29, creating a dedicated freight corridor that can meet the demands of our growing economy. This is not a nice-to-have, but a necessity that, if left unaddressed, will continue to sap our productivity and economic vitality,” he says.
Tranzliquid notes that major international transport projects often use mixed funding models, including private investment and long-term partnerships, referencing examples such as the Indiana Toll Road in the United States, the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project in South Africa and Australia’s WestConnex.
Marking the first phase of the SH29 Tauriko West Road of National Significance programme, construction on a new Ōmanawa Bridge, State Highway 29, got underway in October following NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) awarding a major contract.
The Government has $92 million set aside for the project. NZTA has awarded a $42m construction contract to HEB Construction for the bridge replacement. The package includes realigning SH29 at the bridge and minor improvements to the SH29/Ōmanawa Rd intersection.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop says the Government is focused on delivering transport infrastructure that will support the rapid growth being experienced in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions.
“Between Hamilton and Tauranga, through SH1 and SH29, we are focused on completing the final section of the Waikato Expressway, from Cambridge to Piarere, and progressing the SH29 Tauriko West Road of National Significance.
“Between Piarere and Tauriko, there is a need to accommodate growing demand on the corridor. NZTA is looking at that through a Hamilton to Tauranga Corridor Strategic Transport Plan,” Bishop says.
He says the corridor plan will clarify needs on the network, establish priorities for future investment, and develop how those improvements might be delivered over time.
“Right now, our focus needs to be completing the work we have underway, maintaining our current transport assets and infrastructure, and planning for improvements to key regional transport links where it makes sense to do so.”
