More details of new SH1 Wellington route revealed - and the houses affected
Tuesday, 3 February 2026
Further details of Wellington State Highway 1 changes have been released, showing precisely which houses will be tunnelled beneath and that the Government could be digging holes for an unapproved project.
The still-heavily redacted State Highway 1 Improvements roads of national significance investment case - designed to deliver second Mt Victoria and Terrace tunnels - was completed in late July, but only now released by the NZ Transport Agency.
On The Terrace, near Salamanca Rd, renter Bernard Treine said he was completely unaware that a tunnel would cut deep beneath the southeast corner of his house.
When the existing Terrace Tunnel was built, some houses above had to be re-piled due to settling ground with some people waking up unable to open jammed doors.
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Treine said it would be a “disaster” if houses started to move vertically, but was philosophical about the disruption.
“It is a busy street,” he said. “I don’t expect it to be quiet anyway – it is life in the city … it is going to be what it is.”
The plan tunnel would enter from the west through the Clifton Terrace car park, north of the existing tunnel. It would cut under numerous homes at the peak of The Terrace, near the Salamanca Rd intersection before heading towards upper Dixon St and emerging north of the existing tunnel.
It was already known the second Mount Victoria tunnel would spell the death of homes on and around Paterson St in Mount Victoria but the documents confirm, for the first time, the plans “will require removal of Hataitai Kindergarten”.
Also among its 66 pages is a timeline showing a decision on the fast-track consent application and “decision to implement” was not down to be made until 2027.
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop made a pre-election pledge to have “spades in the ground” for a second Mount Victoria tunnel this term – which ends this year.
Under questioning in the house from Hutt South-based Labour list MP Ginny Andersen in November Bishop said the start of an infrastructure project was “normally, when me or another minister goes and turns a sod”.
On Monday, Bishop said in a statement that the promise “means spades in the ground” on the project.
“Geotech work has started already. Subject to progress and NZTA Board decisions there will be a range of work this year, including housing removal and demolition, site clearance and other work.”
Labour Transport spokesperson Tangi Utikere said Bishop was never going to deliver the project on time.
“Chris Bishop is declaring victory on road projects that haven’t even started, let alone funded,” he said.
“He should revisit his definition of ‘spades in the ground’ and make sure it aligns with reality.”
Green Transport spokesperson and Rongotai MP Julie Anne Genter said there was a “high likelihood” properties above would be affected by tunnelling and people should have been told by now.
She alleged the Government had no plan to pay for the road and said Bishop was “doing a real disservice” to Wellingtonians pretending it was going to happen. The Wellington project was the least financially viable of all of the Government’s roads of national significance, she said.
A spokesperson for NZTA/Waka Kotahi said the timeline for the main construction was subject to further funding decisions.
“The current focus is on completing the pre-implementation planning, ensuring that the project will be ready when funding for the main works becomes available over future National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) periods.”
Owners whose property may need to be acquired were notified in October and direct engagement was continuing with those land and property owners, the spokesperson said.
NZTA/Waka Kotahi also sent letters in November to landowners who had tenants in affected properties, explaining the situation and inviting them to share their contact details with the project team. Landowners were encouraged to contact their tenants to let them know these letters were being sent.