Congestion, concerts, and the city’s future: Auckland’s next moves

Tuesday, 5 August 2025

Auckland faces major challenges, including low productivity and economic underperformance, according to the latest State of the City report. In this two-part series, Stuff looks at what’s been holding Auckland back and what changes are happening. Last week we examined the City Rail Link, a second harbour crossing and the stadium network. In this part, four other factors that could help make Auckland great again.

TIME OF USE CHARGE

It is projected that congestion will cost Auckland $2.6 billion a year by 2026, factoring in the cost of lost time and reduced business investment and consumer spending.

A report commissioned by Mayor Wayne Brown and released in March estimated that by next year, the average Aucklander will waste over 17 hours in traffic each year. That’s a total of 29 million hours across the city.

To help address this, Brown is advocating a Time of Use Charge to manage demand on motorways and major roads at peak times.

“Congestion is costing our economy billions of dollars every year and if we don’t do something about it, it will get worse,” Brown said.

“We also have the worst congestion out of any city in Australia and New Zealand. This costs businesses and Aucklanders alike.

“A Time of Use Charge will enable people to think of other ways to travel, like public transport, carpooling or driving outside rush hour.”

Unlike London, where there’s a blanket cost for going into the central city from 7am to 6pm on weekdays, the Auckland charge would target peak times, to encourage commuters to travel by public transport or at quieter times.

Brown has floated a fee of $3.50 to $5. Revenue would be used to improve roading and public transport.

The Government supports the move and legislation should pass later this year. The scheme would be implemented next year and align with the opening of the City Rail Link.

BUSWAYS

For the Time of Use Charge to be effective, people need public transport that’s reliable and effective.

The City Rail Link will play a part in that, but so too will the Eastern and North Western Busways.

Work on the Eastern Busway has been going on for years, and by 2028, it is expected to carry 18,000 passengers a day, more than four times the number of passengers before Covid-19. By 2048, this is anticipated to increase to 24,000 passengers per day.

“The Eastern Busway continues to expand and will connect Botany and Pakūranga with rail in Panmure,” said Jane Small, Auckland Transport’s GM of rail and rapid transit infrastructure.

“When it’s finished in 2027, it will help people to travel by bus and train between Botany and Britomart in the city centre.

“It will also make local trips easier by providing more sustainable travel options for walking, biking and using the bus.”

The current phase under construction will add an additional 5km of separated busway and 12km of walking and cycling routes.

The North Western Busway is considered vital too, with a large population growth expected in northwest Auckland over the next 25 years.

“By 2051, an additional 100,000 people are expected to be living in the area, with 40,000 new homes, and 40,000 new jobs based there,” said Transport Minister Chris Bishop.

“Currently, people in the northwest don’t have reliable public transport options, and 60% of residents commute out of the area.

“Most people travel to work by car, more than any other area in Auckland, and the Northwestern Motorway regularly suffers from congestion and delays.”

The NZTA Board recently endorsed the Northwest Rapid Transit Investment Case, recommending a busway alongside State Highway 16 between Brigham Creek and the city centre.

Work is underway to obtain statutory approvals for the project, likely via the Fast Track Approvals Act.

“Like the Northern Busway, the Northwest Busway and stations are expected to be built and opened in stages,” NZTA said.

“Work is already underway on a new station at Westgate, funded separately by the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group, with the first stage to serve local bus services expected to open in mid-2026.”

Depending on further funding, the next stages of construction could begin from 2027.

MAJOR EVENTS

Part of the fun of living in a big city is going to great events, but there are fewer of them in Auckland, particularly concerts.

Last November, Eden Park gained resource consent to hold 12 concerts a year. In 2025, there will be just three. Luke Combs played twice in January, and Metallica will perform once in November.

Artists like Oasis, Lady Gaga and Kendrick Lamar are playing in Australia this year, but not crossing the Tasman.

Rüfüs Du Sol are coming, but playing Western Springs Stadium, and Ed Sheeran, who performed at Eden Park on his last visit to Auckland, will visit Go Media Stadium in January.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU), the council’s cultural, events and destination agency, has previously supported huge events like Coldplay concerts and the Fifa Women’s World Cup, but there are no such mega-events on the horizon - and it’s got less money than it expected to attract them.

The council wanted a bed-night levy (visitors paying a fee for each night they spent in short-term accommodation), in part to fund TAU. But the Government has repeatedly said it’s not interested in changing the law to allow one.

That’s left TAU with a $7 million budget shortfall.

A statement said it was working with the Mayor, council and industry partners to fill the gap over the next two years.

“Working with the Mayor, private businesses and tourism leaders, we will continue to be positive and determined in our joint advocacy for our preferred mechanism of a national user pays, visitor levy,” the statement said.

“This will provide long-term, sustainable funding that more equitably shares the cost of delivering these important events that are so vital to a modern city’s economy and vibrancy.”

MIDTOWN WASTEWATER DIVERSION PROJECT

Businesses and residents in the Midtown area of the CBD have been battling a double whammy - the tail end of work on the CRL and the $115m Midtown Wastewater Diversion Project.

The latter began last August and is scheduled to last 30 months.

New pipes are being installed under Mayoral Drive and Queen, Vincent, Marmion and White streets.

Last month, Watercare’s micro-tunnel boring machine began its 600-metre journey under a stretch of Queen St.

Acting chief programme delivery officer David White said the new 1.2-metre diameter pipe will connect to the Ōrākei Main Sewer and capture wastewater from the city centre.

“This project will reduce wet weather overflows into the Waitematā Harbour, improve the resilience of our network and allow for growth.”

The boring machine was launched from a shaft at the junction of Queen St and Mayoral Drive.

Tunnelling will be done in two stages. The first will end at the corner of Wellesley St East. The second will continue to Victoria Street East.

This work, along with Auckland Transport building a bus interchange, has been tough on business owners, with Stuff reporting that some are borrowing money to pay rent while construction work outside their premises drags on.

“We’re doing everything we can to minimise disruption for residents and local businesses,” White said.

“All the activity will take place behind solid fencing, designed to minimise noise and dust, as well as keep pedestrians, motorists and construction crews safe,” White says.

“We’ve retained pedestrian access and installed signage to let people know businesses are still open.”