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‘By-pass My Ass’ fight revived with accusation of sham NZTA feedback

Monday, 1 December 2025

From left, former Wellington City councillor Iona Pannett, regional councillor Yadana Saw and city councillor Laurie Foon. All were instrumental in anti-bypass action in the early 2000s and they are getting the band back together to fight tunnel plans.
From left, former Wellington City councillor Iona Pannett, regional councillor Yadana Saw and city councillor Laurie Foon. All were instrumental in anti-bypass action in the early 2000s and they are getting the band back together to fight tunnel plans.

Wellington’s veteran “By-pass My Ass” campaigners say the transport agency is listening to feedback in name only as it tries to make once-in-a-generation highway changes to the heart of the capital.

Recently quit Wellington City councillor Iona Pannett has joined forces with current councillors Laurie Foon (city council), Yadana Saw (regional council) and others opposing NZTA’s current plans for two new tunnels and massive road changes in the central city, around the Basin Reserve and Hataitai.

All three, when politicians-in-waiting, were involved in trying to stop the inner city bypass that became Karo Dr, then later the successful prevention of a flyover at the Basin Reserve.

Chances for public feedback on the plans are limited with just four “information days” to come and the December 14 deadline for feedback fast-approaching. It is also running a survey that ends the same day. The transport agency says it is listening and doing “extensive” other engagement including with mana whenua, local authorities and others.

Iona Pannett in Tonks Ave in 2001, which was about to be taken over by the proposed bypass. It would soon cease to exist - at least in any recognisable form.
Iona Pannett in Tonks Ave in 2001, which was about to be taken over by the proposed bypass. It would soon cease to exist - at least in any recognisable form.

The Post previously reported people were being asked to submit without full details, such as how much Town Belt land would be turned into roads and how long construction would take.

This project is the largest the By-pass My Ass group have opposed and the Government is looking to fast-track it, removing many avenues for legal opposition. Pannett said she went to two of six drop-in sessions and staff didn’t take notes of her feedback.

“I do not consider six meetings that might attract 300 people proper consultation,” she said.

Laurie Foon, centre left, and Yadana Saw, centre right, campaigning against the bypass in the early 2000s.
Laurie Foon, centre left, and Yadana Saw, centre right, campaigning against the bypass in the early 2000s.

The limited feedback was “not acceptable” in a liberal democracy where people had the right to participate and take legal action.

Wellington Airport earlier in November – albeit before NZTA publicly released full details of plans – had Curia survey 1000 Wellington City residents and found a clear majority favoured a second Mt Victoria tunnel and road “improvements” around the Basin Reserve. The majority for the changes were smaller for those with major roadworks planned in their wards.

Pannett, Foon and Saw – all Green or Green-aligned – are backed by Green local MPs Tamatha Paul and Julie Anne Genter. They plan to make NZTA’s plans a deciding factor when people vote in the late-2026 general election.

Saw said it was clear NZTA was not going to listen to what Wellington wanted in “good faith” and ignored past consultation, which showed people wanted better public transport.

“How many times to people have to tell them the same thing?” Saw said.

Around the turn of the century, Foon devised and sold the By-pass My Ass t-shirts in opposition to Karo Dr. Versions are now in the Te Papa and Wellington Museum collections.

She said the benefits, if they came, from the new roads were for those living out of Wellington City. It would become a key Wellington election issue as the time for feedback was limited – at a busy time of year.

“We have one chance to have a say …,” she said. “It is our place, it is being done to us. The benefits to local Wellingtonians are not really stacking up.”

NZTA system design national manager Robyn Elston said the agency wanted to hear from the community. “Their views are important and will help inform future phases of the project’s development.”

Local MPs Genter and Paul are on Tuesday holding a public meeting about the planned transport changes. It is from 7-8pm at St Joseph’s Church, 152 Brougham St, Mt Victoria.

NZTA has now released a list of all streets where it will have to buy land or already owns land for the project. They are: