Transport minister says some new motorway plans are being scaled back to pay for them
Friday, 10 April 2026
Some projects in the Government’s major motorway programme are being scaled back to ensure they can be delivered in “a cost-effective way”, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.
The roads of national significance (RoNS) programme originated under the last National Government and was resurrected by the coalition Government, after being campaigned on during the 2023 election.
It features 17 routes across the country including the second Mount Victoria Tunnel, the Northland corridor motorways and the Ōtaki to north of Levin road.
In the Government’s policy statement on transport from 2024, it was originally planned all of the roads of national significance would be four-lane, grade-separated motorways, but a Ministry of Transport briefing seen by The Post from July suggested NZTA Waka Kotahi had sought its board’s approval to step away from the RoNS requirements when “appropriate” due to costs and constructibility purposes.
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In a briefing the following month the ministry confirmed that approach had been taken in the development for the first stages of both the Hawke’s Bay Expressway and Mill Rd projects.
“NZTA note that the reduction in scope for the RoNS projects has been due to a focus on value for money.”
Scope reductions were also made to ensure essential improvements on proposed routes were made as soon as possible, the paper said.
The Petone to Grenada road also did not meet the original roads of national significance specifications as it used existing local roads.
When approached by The Post Bishop said NZTA had made some deviations from the full roads of national significance specifications in developing investment cases for the roads.
“We can’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Having flexible project scope, within an investment envelope, ensures we can deliver project benefits in a cost-effective way.”
RoNS prioritisation en route
While officials work on the future of the country’s motorways, Bishop said a plan for when they will be built is on the way.
“I’ve been clear for some months now that important sequencing and prioritisation work is underway on the roads of national significance programme.
“We have significant funding challenges in transport.”
He was tight lipped on when that work will be released.
“I’ll have more to say soon.”
Labour’s transport spokesperson Tangi Utikere said Labour had long been saying the RoNS projects were unaffordable.
“Chris Bishop still clings to unrealistic undercooked manifesto promises.”
Utikere said the Government needed to be upfront about what its future plans were for the motorways.
“New Zealanders will still need to cover costs for Bishop's RoNS however they look.”
On Thursday The Post reported a major Northland motorway relied on fuel taxes going up to pay for it.
Bishop said that no decision had been made on the fuel excise tax and road user charges but noted it was unlikely they would go up during a fuel crisis.
“I’m very conscious that any change to those settings would have a direct impact on the funding available for transport projects.”
In December Infrastructure Commission chief executive Geoff Cooper told Parliament’s transport and infrastructure select committee the scale of investment planned “obviously exceeds our capacity to fund”.
Cooper said funding the roads of national significance programme via fuel taxes and road user charges would require a 70% increase in those fees.
“You look at sort of willingness to pay here and, you know, you quickly realise you’ve got a got a funding challenge.”