Second Auckland harbour crossing appears feasible, review finds
Tue, 22nd Sep 2026 (Today)
A review team has found that successful delivery for an alternative Waitematā harbour crossing in Auckland appears feasible.
The government last month announced a new business case to investigate the options.
Under Treasury rules, an independent 'Gateway' review was required early this year.
The New Zealand Transport Agency had already done an investment case over the last two years - and tested the seabed - but ministers said they needed more information before choosing an option for what would be New Zealand's single largest infrastructure project.
"The review team found that successful delivery appears feasible," NZTA said.
It refused to release the review report to RNZ on the grounds doing so might put people off contributing their "free and frank" views in future.
It said the "significant work" done so far - investigations date back many years - presented a "compelling" case for the Waitematā Harbour Connections project and a basis for Cabinet to consider "two options".
"However, there are issues that require attention and resolution in relation to clarity of the underlying strategic drivers, testing evolving market conditions, and governance arrangements for the next phase," it said in an Official Information Act response.
The government has said it is not set on whether the crossing should be a tunnel or bridge or other option.
"Let's go back, let's look and understand the lay of the land," Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said in August.
Gateway reviews are done of all high-risk large public projects and rate them either green - all OK - amber (problems need fixing) or red, meaning they appear unfeasible.
The new business case for the second Waitematā crossing will bypass the agency and be reported directly back to ministers.
