Mayors ‘singing from same song-sheet’ on mass rapid transit linking Christchurch to Rolleston and Rangiora

Friday, 14 March 2025

Canterbury Mayors say they are “singing from same song-sheet” on wanting mass rapid transit connecting Christchurch to Rolleston and Rangiora.

Canterbury mayors say they intend to push for mass rapid transit (MRT) from Rolleston and Rangiora into Christchurch, when they put in a regional deal bid to the government.

MRT is essentially “turn up and go” public transport, so frequent that travellers can turn up and go, rather than schedule journeys.

Mass rapid transit for Greater Christchurch is a key focus for the Canterbury Mayoral Forum.

Local Government Minister Simon Watts this week said it was “a shame” Canterbury’s mayors did not submit a regional deal proposal by the first deadline.

The deals, which the Government campaigned on, will offer councils new funding sources for infrastructure projects and provide a long-term vision for delivering critical infrastructure including transport.

Canterbury Mayoral Forum chairperson and Timaru mayor Nigel Bowen, Selwyn mayor Sam Broughton, and Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger are “singing from the same song sheet” when it comes to getting Mass Rapid Transit going. (Composite image)

Wellington’s councils were also criticised this week for not submitting a proposal, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon describing the inaction as “pretty lame-o”.

The Canterbury Mayoral Forum decided last month it needed another six months to get a bid together, despite 18 other regions or cities managing to get their “light-touch” proposals in by February 28.

Canterbury Mayoral Forum chairperson and Timaru mayor Nigel Bowen said one infrastructure project the forum will push for is mass rapid transit (MRT) from Rolleston and Rangiora into Christchurch.

Bowen said the forum was in support of MRT because what was good for Greater Christchurch was good for the rest of the district.

“We are all singing from the same song sheet on that one.”

Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger said MRT was a key part of discussions at the forum.

He said the Government saw the value and importance of investing in the city’s future and funding the Brougham St upgrade showed this.

Selwyn mayor Sam Broughton said MRT was a smart investment, not only because of the rapid growth the region was experiencing, but also because the land was flat and easy to build on.

“MRT unlocks further urban and economic growth and is a great investment for shaping the future of Greater Christchurch for the benefit of the region.”

The original timeline for implementing MRT was planned for 2031 to 2034, but Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency told ECan last year it would likely be after 2034.

In the meantime, the Christchurch City Council - which took the project over as lead agency in December - was focused on work to protect the future 22km MRT corridor between Belfast and Hornby.

While work on an MRT route protection plan was under way, the timeline for completing it was between three and nine years away.

Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon introduced some optimism, saying there was a meeting with Transport Minister Chris Bishop last week and “there does seem to be an appetite to look at this a little bit more”.

The forum has a membership of 10 mayors representing councils from Waitaki to Kaikōura, including Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri, and the Environment Canterbury (ECan) chairman Craig Pauling.

The forum sent a letter to Watts by the February 28 deadline signalling its intention to work on a proposal in the coming months. The forum would come back to him in August, it said.

The Government will make a decision on the first regions to progress through the process in May, with the aim of having the first regional deal finalised by December. Another two should be finalised by October 2026.

The process for future rounds of proposals and deals is yet to be confirmed.