Eastern Busway update for Oct 2025

🚌 Eastern Busway update for October 2025

In this edition:
🥳 Rā Hihi – flyover opens
🔨 Tī Rākau Bridge takes shape
🚧 Construction updates

https://e.at.govt.nz/mail/view/x4mgt2zrk334f1gp13h03hn49s05bzy1ct3ck_vdj88jkmchz020m143h6_78s9r9bsz426z06yvv7fkq2j8b

More information is available at:
🖥 www.easternbusway.nz
📧 info@easternbusway.nz
☎️ 0800 287 929

Business East Tāmaki transport breakfast

Howick Local Board Member Peter Young, me, and Deputy Bo Burns

Thank you Business East Tāmaki for hosting another fantastic breakfast meeting this morning. I attended along with Howick Local Board Deputy Bo Burns and Member Peter Young.

It was great opportunity with Hon Chris Bishop Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and RMA Reform (among others) speaking about the challenges and opportunities that Auckland faces. While none of it will be easy, he was optimistic about the future for Auckland.

This was followed up by Auckland Transport CEO Dean Kimpton who has done a great job leading the organisation over the past few years, transforming the organisation to be more community led.

And finally we heard from Matt Zame from Eastern Busway. Perfect timing as the flyover opened this morning to traffic, give months ahead of schedule and under budget. There's more work to do, which will help support the local economy with less congestion and more transport choices.

Thank you to RSM for sponsoring the breakfast.

More safety improvements coming for The Parade, Bucklands Beach

The Howick Local Board (HLB) has been working with Auckland Transport (AT) on safety improvements for The Parade, Bucklands Beach.

Stage 2 proposed changes to six sites identified as needing attention by the public, local board, and/or traffic survey.

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This went out for public consultation in July with over 500 letters delivered and social media adverts. 24 responses were received with 50% (12 responses) in support, 33% (8 responses) against and 17% (4 responses) neutral.

Based on public feedback, AT have made some changes to the proposal:
Site 2 (23/24 The Parade): don't install yellow lines (as these might be confusing)
Site 6 (Laings Road): remove side island, add additional road markings and high friction surface

On Thursday 18 September, the HLB was asked for approval to construct the project. After a robust discussion, the Board agreed to proceed with four sites:
🚧 Site 1 (Devon Road): new pedestrian side islands
🚧 Site 3 (41 The Parade): new side islands
🚧 Site 4 (Wharf Road): zebra painted on existing raised platform, new streetlighting
🚧 Site 6 (Laings Road): intersection upgrade (including high-friction surfacing)

While the following two sites have been deferred, pending further discussions between the HLB and AT:
🚧 Site 2 (23/24 The Parade): New pedestrian refuge and side islands
🚧 Site 5 (55 The Parade): New pedestrian side islands

Next steps: construction dates will be confirmed and communicated once they are known.

👉My opinion: I felt that we should have proceeded with all six sites and proposed this, but an amendment to defer two was successful. The funding for this needs to be spent before June 2026 and Auckland Transport did warn us that deferring parts of the project may incur extra cost and/or end up with the deferred portions not being delivered.

Our full minutes are available here: https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2025/09/20250918_HW_MIN_11596_WEB.htm

The full recording of the meeting is available here (this item starts at 1hr 12min): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNiuqKCzobSzQ05kCv2JI2iefmDp2_tEh

Rā Hihi flyover officially opened

As the sun rose over Pakūranga, we walked over Rā Hihi in preparation for its opening.

This special dawn blessing was led by Ngai Tai ki Tamaki, with attendance from Eastern Busway, Auckland Transport, Auckland Council, Howick Local Board, and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

Mana whenua have contributed much to the wider Eastern Busway project including advocating for better environmental and community outcomes, designing the mahi toi (artwork), and gifting of names for the stations and structures. This has enabled the return of the full name of Pakūranga Rā Hihi (Battle of the Sun's Rays) to the area.

It was wonderful to be there to celebrate, especially with the planning, design and construction crews who have worked so hard to deliver this incredible piece of infrastructure five months early and under budget.

Later in the morning we returned for the formal opening, with mana whenua, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Ministers Simeon Brown and Chris Bishop, Mayor Wayne Brown cutting the ribbon.

The flyover opens from 1 October for city bound traffic with Howick bound lanes opening later in October.

Consultation on Kerrykeel Drive, Flat Bush

Ormiston Primary School, along with residents, parents and the wider Flat Bush community, has raised concerns about pedestrian safety and high traffic speeds in the vicinity of the school.

In response, the Howick Local Board asked Auckland Transport to investigate improvements to make the roads safer and easier to navigate for everyone, especially for tamariki using Kerrykeel Drive.

The proposed changes are:
1️⃣At the Kerrykeel Drive/Arranmore Drive roundabout:
🚧two road-level zebra crossings on the eastern and western sides of the roundabout (replacing refuge islands)
🚧 new pedestrian refuge island crossing on Arranmore Drive

Eleven on-street parking spaces near the crossings will be reprioritised as “no stopping at all times” zones and marked with broken yellow lines to improve visibility near pedestrian crossings.

2️⃣On Kerrykeel Drive (near Springside Drive)
🚧 Upgrade the existing pedestrian refuge island crossing to a school patrolled road level zebra crossing.
🚧 installing high friction surfacing on the approaches to the zebra crossing to make it easier for drivers to stop more quickly and safely when approaching a pedestrian crossing
🚧 New cycle ramps and widened footpath on the northern side of the crossing to assist with cyclist movements

Public consultation is open until 6 August. You can find out more, including how to have your say, here: https://haveyoursay.at.govt.nz/kerrykeel-drive-arranmore-drive-roundabout

Consultation on Sunnyview Ave

In response to community concerns about the lack of crossing facilities on Sunnyview Avenue, the Howick Local Board asked Auckland Transport to investigate options to make it safer for children and families to get to Shelly Park Primary School.

The proposal is to:
🚧 install a new zebra crossing on Sunnyview Avenue, monitored by school patrols
🚧 install new pram crossings and street lighting on either side of the crossing
🚧 replace 5 kerbside parking spaces between the school bus stop and the new crossing with broken yellow lines (no stopping at all times).

Shelly Park Primary School and the community dental clinic will be more accessible. It will be easier for tamariki and whānau to walk, bike or scoot to school. Road markings and parking changes will make it easier to see pedestrians. This will make them safer.

If you have questions or feedback you can phone 09 355 3553 or email atengagement@at.govt.nz with the subject line ‘Shelly Park Primary School crossing’.

Before construction begins, Auckland Transport will contact residents directly affected by the works.

Consultation on Stage 2, The Parade Bucklands Beach

The Parade on Bucklands Beach is a popular destination for families and local residents. After years of complaints and concerns from local residents about unsafe driving, the Howick Local Board asked Auckland Transport to improve safety through speed calming.

In October 2024, construction was completed on Stage One of the improvements which (based on public consultation) included one raised crossing and three speed bumps.

Phase two will continue at five locations chosen based on pedestrian demand, traffic surveys, and safety analysis.

Site 1: Devon Road and 23 The Parade
🚧 install a new pram crossing with kerb buildouts on Devon Road
🚧 install new side islands and refuge island outside 23 The Parade

Site 2: 41 The Parade
🚧 install new side islands with pram crossings

Site 3: Wharf Road intersection
🚧 install additional zebra crossings along The Parade at existing raised intersection
🚧 install new lighting

Site 4: 55 The Parade
🚧 install new side islands with pram crossings
🚧 install small section of footpath to connect to Grangers Point

Site 5: Laings Road
🚧 install splitter island and formalise Give-Way control at carpark
extend broken yellow lines around the bends to ensure the required sight line is maintained

As with Stage One, public feedback is helpful for us to understand what you think will work and what needs to change. We made significant changes to Stage One based on public feedback, delivering a more cost effective and safer road for everyone.

Public consultation closes on Friday 8 August. You can find out more, including how to have your say, here: https://haveyoursay.at.govt.nz/the-parade-bucklands-beach-pedestrian-improvements-stage-2

Eastern Busway connecting communities and driving growth

Eastern Busway will provide more transport choice for East Auckland. But it's also an opportunity for urban regeneration.

The newly formed Auckland Urban Development Office is leading the programme to connect communities and drive growth.

The opportunities are focused on land in easy walking distance to the new bus stations at Pakūranga, on Tī Rākau Drive (Te Taha Wai and Koata stations), and at Burswood (Pōhatu Station), so more people can live and work in areas close to public transport.

It's focusing on land that was acquired for the Eastern Busway that will no longer be needed for transport purposes after the busway construction is complete (called residual land). This may also be supplemented by some strategic property purchases, to enable high quality urban renewal.

Read more about it here: https://www.audo.co.nz/news/eastern-busway-is-connecting-communities-and-driving-growth/

Mahi toi (artwork) unveiled at Half Moon Bay

"Ko ngā whetū ki te rangi, ko ngā kirikiri ki te one taipapa, ko ngā mana whakaheke o Ngāi Tai."

(As the stars in the sky, and the grains of sand on our many foreshores, so are the myriad of chiefs in the pantheon of Ngāi Tai.)

Beautiful mahi tai (artwork) unveiled at dawn this morning at the Half Moon Bay Ferry Terminal. Designed by local iwi Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, it includes this whakataukī that is reflected in the artwork itself. It looks especially beautiful in the dark as the light shines through the stars.

This surrounds the new electric ferry charging infrastructure that will enable environmentally friendly, cost efficient, more reliable and quieter connections into the city. With construction on the landslide infrastructure now completed, the next step is the infrastructure in the city centre and commissioning of the new ferries.

There are unrelated works still happening at Half Moon Bay with upgrades underway for the Waiheke vehicle ferry.

Road safety dashboard provides transparency

In the past 5 years, 15 people were killed on roads within the Howick Local Board. 162 received serious injuries (requiring medical or hospital care) and 947 received minor injures.

That's too high - in fact New Zealand has the 4th highest rate of road deaths of high-income countries. Accounting for population, NZ has nearly twice as many deaths as Australia and nearly four times the UK.

To help us better understand when and where these crashes are happening, Auckland Transport has created an interactive Local Board Crash Data Dashboard, with data sourced and authorised by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi's crash analysis system (CAS).

There are some limitations on the data - not every crash is reported. Analysis by Auckland Transport showed more people are admitted to hospital overnight for injuries resulting from crashes than reported in CAS. And there is a delay in the data becoming available. But it's the best data we have and it's used across NZ.

And it's now available for everyone in a user friendly dashboard.

You can filter by year, local board, and type of injury. The data is presented using visual heat map, so you can see the areas where there are more crashes. If you zoom in, you can see the details on each incident.

You can find out more about the dashboard here: https://at.govt.nz/about-us/reports-publications/where-crashes-are-happening-in-auckland

Speed calming for Bradbury Road

⚠️Bradbury Road speed calming construction begins soon

Local residents and the Howick Local Board asked Auckland Transport to look into making Bradbury Road safer.

There’s a history of drivers travelling above the speed limit, particularly during morning and afternoon peaks, as Bradbury Road is commonly used as a shortcut to access other main roads in the area.

To improve safety for drivers and the community, speed cushions will be installed at five locations along Bradbury Road together with side islands. See the image for an example of what this will look like.

Speed cushions are cheaper than a normal speed bump, don't impact larger vehicles like buses or smaller ones like bikes, and allow for stormwater to flow. They're not pedestrian crossing points - studies showed there was low demand for crossings along the road.

🚧Installing speed cushions and side islands outside number 31, 73, 101, 131 and 159 Bradbury Road.
🚧Repainting the existing bus stops on Bradbury Road.
🚧 Painting new road markings and installing new signage to support the changes. No stopping at all times (broken yellow) lines will be painted at the bus stops except for 131 Bradbury Road (which already has them).

Works are planned to start on Monday 11 July and continue through to 31 July (as required). Construction will happen overnight to reduce the impact on traffic and is weather dependent.

Bradbury Road will be closed overnight during the works. If you live along this road, traffic controllers on site will help you access your property. Detours will be in place to redirect traffic around the work sites.

On-street parking will be limited. You may need to either park on your property or on a side road and walk to your property.

Works will create noise and vibration; the contractor will do their best to keep noise levels down.

You can find more about the project here: https://haveyoursay.at.govt.nz/bradbury-road-speed-calming

Progress on Mill Road good news for locals

Recently the Howick Local Board received an update from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi about the Mill Road Project. This has been selected by the Government as part of their Roads of National Significance (RONS).

The project will deliver a 21.5km four-lane corrior parallel to SH1, providing more efficient and resilient transport options between Flat Bush, Manukau, Manurewa, Papakura, and Drury.

The Howick Local Board has supported this project on the basis it would address the safety issues that many local residents face every day. With it's origins back in 2009, its good to see that this project starting to make progress. We're very focused on the northern end of the project which will be delivered in Stage 1, including a signalised intersection for Murphys and Redoubt Road.

They project has also confirmed that the intersections of Murphys/Thomas Roads, and Murphys Road/Murphys Park Drive are no longer in scope, leaving them to Auckland Transport to address. We're pleased to get this clarification and are actively working with AT to make progress as quickly as possible.

Stage 1 is working through design and consenting, with construction planned to commence in mid-2026 starting with Alfriston Roundabout and some of Redoubt Road. Estimated completion for Stage 1 is 2032.

More information about the project can be found here:
https://nzta.govt.nz/projects/south-auckland-projects/mill-road/

You can see the presentation we received in our open workshop here: https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2025/06/20250612_HLBWC_ATT_13166_WEB.htm

Eastern Busway update June - changes for Pakūranga and Tī Rākau Drive

More changes for Pakūranga and Tī Rākau Drive:

• On 28 June, Reeves Road to Aylesbury Street near the library will open to traffic

• Between 28 June and 13 July there will be left-turn only in and out of William Roberts and Mattson Roads

• From 19 to 23 June, 7pm to 7am, Gossamer Drive will be closed between Tī Rākau Drive and Riverhills Avenue and one-way-in from 7am to 7pm on those days

• From 20 to 22 June during the day, there will be no exit from Gossamer Drive onto Ti Rākau Drive.

Night and weekend work on Pakūranga Road will continue in preparation for opening Rā Hihi (flyover) above Reeves Road

Final Eastern Busway Update for 2024

Final Eastern Busway update for 2024!

The project team has out together this great video showcasing the amazing work they've been up to this year, with some great flyover shots of the progress to date.

You can always find out more about the busway project at: https://easternbusway.nz/

Government announces plans to reform Auckland Transport

This afternoon Hon Simeon Brown MP and Mayor Wayne Brown announced changes for Auckland Transport to bring greater democratic oversight.

"The existing transport governance model in Auckland is falling short of meeting the expectations of the Government, Auckland Council, and, most importantly, Aucklanders themselves. By returning decision-making power to elected representatives, we are enabling Aucklanders to directly influence the transport policies that affect their daily lives,” Simeon Brown says.

Read more here: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/democracy-restored-transport-auckland

I'm pleased to see progress being made on addressing the legislative mess that is the Auckland Council Act. Transport is critical to environmental, economic, housing, and social outcomes.

While there is more details to come, more democratic oversight is welcomed (although I acknowledge this brings new challenges).

More changes for Pakūranga as Eastern Busway continues at pace

Construction on the Eastern Busway continues at pace, with more road changes coming over the next few months as the project prepares to finish and connect the new Rā Hihi flyover.

The Reeves Road connection to Aylesbury Street will be open from December 2024 to late January 2025.

In Pakūranga Plaza there will be utility upgrades and car park improvements. Footpaths outside Countdown have been completed and work near Pakūranga Library due to finish soon.

The South Eastern Highway and Tī Rākau Drive will have periodic overnight road layout changes and detours in place

Upgrades of the Mattson Road, William Roberts Road and Tī Rākau Drive intersection continue. The new intersection is due to open in early 2025 and it will enable to traffic to turn into and out of it from all directions.

Access to William Roberts Road from its connecting roads will change in two stages, converting it into two cul-de-sacs in early 2025. William Roberts Road will be accessible from Ayr Road only following the changes.

Greater access to public transport

Great news for public transport!

From Sunday 17 November you can pay for Auckland Transport buses, ferries, and trains with your contactless debit or credit card, smartphone or device.

Auckland Transport accepts contactless debit cards, Visa, Mastercard, American Express or UnionPay cards. We also accept Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay in the digital wallet of your smart device.

You will pay standard adult HOP fares when using credit and debit cards, or mobile devices. There are no transaction fees for New Zealand issued cards. For discounts (like students), make sure you still use your AT HOP cards!

Separate the card from your wallets/phone or have your device ready before tagging on and off. This ensures you are paying with the correct card.

Tag on and off with the same card or device for each trip throughout your journey. This ensures you pay the correct fare.

Some great information is on at.govt.nz/waystopay

Botany Bus Station re-opened!

The new interim Botany Bus Station was officially opened today, delivered three years earlier than planned thanks to the Eastern Busway.

Not even the rain could stop us, with AT organising a bus for the blessing and speeches to take place on.

It was great to have Minister for Transport, Hon Simeon Brown MP cut the ribbon and formally open the station. Also present were representatives from mana whenua, NZTA, Auckland Transport, Botany Town Centre, local businesses, and community leaders.

AT’s Group Manager Strategic Development Programmes and Property, Jane Small says the station will be a great asset for the community, now and into the future. "We've re-built the footpaths, improved the curbs, upgraded the bus shelters and enhanced the road infrastructure, making sure the station is ready for frequent buses that will carry 18,000 passengers along the Eastern Busway each day between Botany and Panmure Train Station.”

The station will enable buses to use the existing route via Tī Rākau Drive and Te Irirangi Drive to connect with the Eastern Busway in Burswood. It will serve as an interim link when the Eastern Busway opens in 2027 until funding is confirmed for Stage 4 of the project.

Bus services will start using this station from Sunday 17 November.

Read more here: https://at.govt.nz/about-us/news-events/media-centre/2024-media-releases/eastern-busway-station-opens-three-years-early

Bellingham Road in Ormiston is open!

Before the sun was up this morning, mana whenua led a moving karakia, physically walking the length of the new road and underneath to view the mahi toi (artwork) on the bridge.

Despite the early start, we had solid representation from the community, businesses, developers, and Auckland Transport. It was a privilege speak on behalf of the Howick Local Board, standing alongside fellow Botany representatives Mike Turinsky and Peter Young.

It's been a long road to get to this point, longer than anyone had hoped for and we know it's been frustrating for the community. But we're finally here and the road is open. It connects Stancombe Road to the Ormiston Town Centre, supporting residential, employment and economic growth. At the northern end, it passes by Barry Curtis Park including our soon-to-be upgraded destination playground.

As we left the cones and barriers were removed, making the road available from this morning. Looking forward to seeing the community enjoy this great piece of infrastructure.

Tour of Rā Hihi

Recently the Howick Local Board was fortunate to have the opportunity to have a guided tour of the Rā Hihi flyover that is being built over Reeves Road as part of the Eastern Busway project.

While we receive regular updates and monthly briefings from the project team, it was great to see the progress first hand. Maps and diagrams are really helpful, but nothing compared to standing on the top of the flyer.

Rā Hihi will carry vehicles (not buses) over Tī Rākau Drive, allowing the busway to travel underneath and avoid congestion. The flyover is due to be finished mid-2026 with the whole Eastern Busway operational from 2027.