Hīkoi march against priciest toll road in New Zealand

Sunday, 6 October 2024

Hīkoi march against priciest toll road in New Zealand.

More than 100 people marched through Woodville in protest against the introduction of the country’s priciest toll.

The new Te Ahu a Turanga project will be a 11.5km-long, four-lane highway and is being built over the Ruahine Range, between Manawatū and Tararua.

New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi proposal to charge $4.30 for light vehicles and $8.60 for heavy vehicles once the road opens, would make it the most expensive toll road in New Zealand.

On Saturday, after three local councils formally opposed the proposal (Horizons Regional Council, Tararua District Council, Palmerston North City Council), the opposition was taken to the street.

Over 100 people marched in protest against a proposed road toll for using the soon-to-be-opened Te Ahu a Turanga highway.

Hīkoi organiser Vicky Tomlinson said she grew up driving on the old Manawatū Gorge Rd, which the new highway would replace.

“We were going to celebrate the highway being open, but now it’s got this dark cloud over it and takes away the joy of having a replacement highway,” she said.

The hīkoi marched from Woodville to where the new roundabout is being constructed, near the intersection of Woodlands and Troup roads.

She said the hīkoi, which included Tararua mayor Tracey Collis, local iwi representatives and councillors, marched through Woodville and then went to where a new roundabout was set to be built.

Large turn-out to a public meeting in Woodville to discuss a proposed toll on the soon to be opened Te Ahu a Turanga, Manawatū Tararua Highway.

“They’re just proposing a very high toll on a replacement highway that is steep and still curvy,” Tomlinson said.

An assessment of the Te Ahu a Turanga Highway released under the Official Information Act showed a recommended toll of $3.80 for light vehicles and $7.60 for heavy vehicles would bring net revenues of $8 million in 2025.

In 2045, that figure would grow to $14.4m.

The assessment estimated 6100 vehicles per day would use the highway in 2025 and 11,200 vehicles per day in 2045.

NZTA modelling forecasts 10,902 vehicles a day using the road in 2025, rising to 14,250 a day in in 2048.

Katelyn Luttrell from the Pohangina Valley took part.

The assessment said a recommended tolling option similar to other New Zealand existing toll roads was $2.8 for light vehicles and $5.6 for heavy vehicles.

Aotearoa New Zealand has three toll roads, all in the North Island.

Tararua district mayor Tracey Collis is strongly opposed to the toll.

The Auckland Northern Gateway is a 7.5km-long motorway, with a toll of $2.6 for light vehicles and $5.2 for heavy vehicles.

The longest toll road in the country is Tauranga Eastern Link.

There has been strong local opposition to the toll since it was first proposed, including from Nova Lowry from Pohangina Valley.

Light vehicles are charged $2.3 to use this 15km section of State Highway 2, while heavy vehicles are charged $5.6.

The Takitimu Drive bypasses Tauranga city centre and its toll is $2.1 for light vehicles and $5.4 for heavy vehicles.

Tomlinson said NZTA tolling proposal was a kick in the guts for locals.

When construction on the Te Ahu a Turanga Manawatū Tararua Highway started in early 2021, vehicles were told to use one of two alternative routes: Saddle Road through Ashhurst or the Pahiatua Track.

Tomlinson said once the new highway opened it would not be a feasible option for her, as it was too expensive.

“I do contract work and when I have contracts in Palmerston North I travel daily, and I’d be using the Saddle [Rd alternative route], because I won’t be able to afford the toll,” she said.

Consultation on the proposed tolling schemes ended at 5pm on Monday, but Tomlinson said she would have liked more details about how the money from the toll would be reinvested in local projects.