We asked about policies for Auckland – which parties responded?

At the beginning of last week, we reached out to the main political parties with a questionnaire about their policies for transport and infrastructure in Auckland. We asked some yes/no questions, and some open-ended ones.

You can see the questions and the responses below. We hope this information is useful as you make up your mind about how to vote – and encourage our readers to independently check out the various policies, promises and track records.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you plan to vote in this election, be aware that the rules have changed – this time, you must be registered to vote by midnight on Sunday 25th October, i.e. before early voting begins.

CHECK YOUR ENROLMENT DETAILS HERE. And remind friends and family to check, too, especially young people/ first time voters, who are currently less likely to be on the electoral roll. You’ll be doing democracy a favour!

• • You can enrol/ update in person at the community locations here
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  • If you don’t have one of those you can enrol via email (see other ways to enrol)
  • If you need help getting enrolled, help is available here.

What we asked

Part 1: Ten yes/ no questions on transport and infrastructure

A quickfire round on ten key issues for Auckland. Please answer with a YES or NO, confirming your party’s position on the following:

1. Our party agrees with devolving more resources and decision-making to Auckland Council for local transport and infrastructure.
2. Our party will prioritise funding Stage 1 of the Northwest Busway in the coming term.
3. Our party will commit to including the missing modes in the next Waitematā Harbour Crossing – rapid transit, walking, cycling/ micromobility.
4. Our party will progress Mass Rapid Transit along the City Centre to Māngere corridor in the coming term, including a surface light rail option.
5. Our party will support rapid rollout of a safe, separated cycleway network for Auckland.
6. Our party will restore evidence-based safe speeds of 30km/h around Auckland’s schools, in town centres, and in residential neighbourhoods.
7. Our party will adhere to the advice of the Infrastructure Commission and the guidance of the National Infrastructure Plan.
8. Our party will ensure that all major transport projects – including those delivered by NZTA and funded via the National Land Transport Fund – are assessed under the Infrastructure Commission’s new Investment Decision Assurance.
9. Our party supports upzoning of housing along key rapid transit routes and town centres in Auckland as planned under Plan Change 120.
10. Our party will restore and improve regional passenger rail in the Golden Triangle (Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga).

Optional: If you would like to provide any additional context on your answers to these ten questions, please do so here. (150 words max)

Part 2: Immediate transport priorities and long-term vision for Auckland

An opportunity to share your action plans and vision with Aucklanders:

• The cost-of-living is the #1 concern this election, and transport is a key part of that. How will your policies give New Zealanders more affordable options for everyday trips? (150 words max)

• What are your party’s immediate transport priorities for Auckland, if elected? (150 words max) 

• Tell us your vision of how Auckland will look and feel in 2050. (150 words max) 

Optional: Anything else you’d like to say to Greater Auckland’s readership about your party’s plans for shaping our city, our transport and our housing choices? (100 words max) 

How the parties answered

Note: the responses are shared in the order in which we received them. We appreciate that this is a very busy time for everyone involved, and are grateful for the quick turnaround.

At time of initial publication, we had not yet received a response from National, NZ First, ACT, or Te Pāti Maori. As further responses come in, we’ll add them below.

Updated 11am Thursday 22 October: a response has now arrived from National.

Labour Party

Labour chose to respond as follows:

Thank you for the chance to set out Labour’s thinking for your readers. We have chosen to respond in writing rather than through the yes/no format, because several of these questions involve multi-billion-dollar decisions that deserve proper costing and assessment, not a tick box.

Labour established the Infrastructure Commission, and a Labour government will follow its advice and the National Infrastructure Plan, so that good projects stop being cancelled every time the government changes. We also support upzoning for more homes along Auckland’s key rapid transit routes and in its town centres, as planned under Plan Change 120. We were disappointed to see the Government retreat from housing capacity for the second time.

On the other themes you raise, we share many of your goals. Auckland’s growth depends on rapid transit. Safer streets and better walking and cycling connections matter, and we believe road safety decisions should rest on evidence rather than slogans. Te Huia began under the last Labour Government and showed there is real demand for regional rail. We also want a genuine partnership with Auckland Council that pairs more local say with sustainable funding. We will make decisions on specific projects through a transparent, evidence-based process, and we will be honest about what can be funded and when, rather than repeat the cycle of big announcements that cannot be delivered.

What we have committed to will make a difference straight away. Public transport fares in Auckland will be capped at $20 a week. Fuel tax will be frozen for three years, and we will crack down on fuel price gouging and on unfair car repair costs. Now that the City Rail Link is open, more Aucklanders have a real alternative to the car, and Labour wants to make that choice affordable. We will release further policy before the election and look forward to continuing the conversation with Greater Auckland.

Green Party

YES to all ten yes/no questions:

1. Our party agrees with devolving more resources and decision-making to Auckland Council for local transport and infrastructure.
2. Our party will prioritise funding Stage 1 of the Northwest Busway in the coming term.
3. Our party will commit to including the missing modes in the next Waitematā Harbour Crossing – rapid transit, walking, cycling/ micromobility.
4. Our party will progress Mass Rapid Transit along the City Centre to Māngere corridor in the coming term, including a surface light rail option.
5. Our party will support rapid rollout of a safe, separated cycleway network for Auckland.
6. Our party will restore evidence-based safe speeds of 30km/h around Auckland’s schools, in town centres, and in residential neighbourhoods.
7. Our party will adhere to the advice of the Infrastructure Commission and the guidance of the National Infrastructure Plan.
8. Our party will ensure that all major transport projects – including those delivered by NZTA and funded via the National Land Transport Fund – are assessed under the Infrastructure Commission’s new Investment Decision Assurance.
9. Our party supports upzoning of housing along key rapid transit routes and town centres in Auckland as planned under Plan Change 120.
10. Our party will restore and improve regional passenger rail in the Golden Triangle (Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga)

Additional context: The Green Party will invest in modern, sustainable, and affordable transport options. We will transform public transport networks, including building mass rapid transit in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and providing comprehensive bus lanes in all cities. The Green Party will invest in transport for the future so we all have real options to get around our communities, wherever we live.

How will your policies give New Zealanders more affordable options for everyday trips? 

The Green Party’s plan for connecting Aotearoa with fast, frequent and affordable public transport will immediately save people money by making bus and train fares free for children, teenagers, students, apprentices, Community Service Card holders, and Total Mobility Users, and capping bus and train fares at $2 for adults. We have also budgeted for running increased services, all day every day of the week, and supporting frequent bus networks in smaller towns, as well as inter-city.

A key difference of our proposed policy is planning and funding public transport networks for all day access, as opposed to focussing only on journey-to-work.

We will also make it easier for people to access e-bikes and e-cargo bikes/trikes as these can be used for many daily trips at much lower cost than a car.

What are your party’s immediate transport priorities for Auckland, if elected?

Funding an increase in bus services where needed, dropping fares, and funding the mass rapid transit projects that have already been planned (e.g. the Northwest Busway, level crossings removal on the Western line). We would also support more improvements to active transport networks and enable the Auckland Council to implement safe speeds and congestion charging.

Tell us your vision of how Auckland will look and feel in 2050.

Auckland in 2050 has plentiful affordable housing options and vibrant neighbourhoods within existing urban areas. Few people need to own a private car. The vehicles moving people and freight are all zero emissions. Children can independently get to school and around their neighbourhoods safely. The air is clean and native birds and trees are thriving – even in areas that were previously covered in tarmac. Nature-based stormwater solutions are helping the city deal with frequent storm events and hotter weather. Greenhouse gas emissions are finally declining. Sea-life in the Hauraki Gulf is rebounding thanks to significant marine protection.

Modern electric trams run from Queen Street down Dominion Road to Māngere and across the harbour through the North Shore.

Auckland is a healthier, happier city, with frequent and fast passenger trains south to Hamilton and Tauranga, and daily and train nightly services to Wellington, with electric bus services across the motu.

Anything else you’d like to say to Greater Auckland’s readership about your party’s plans for shaping our city, our transport and our housing choices?

The Green Party has the longest track record of any political party when it comes to campaigning for and delivering better public transport and sensible urban policy. We campaigned for electrification of Auckland’s rail network and the CRL for years before they were funded. We campaigned for urban planning reform that removes harmful planning rules in order to give people better affordable housing options and enable walkable neighbourhoods. Every party vote for the Green Party gives us more of a mandate to deliver on our policy.

Opportunity Party

YES* to all ten yes/no questions:

1. Our party agrees with devolving more resources and decision-making to Auckland Council for local transport and infrastructure.
2. Our party will prioritise funding Stage 1 of the Northwest Busway in the coming term.
3. Our party will commit to including the missing modes in the next Waitematā Harbour Crossing – rapid transit, walking, cycling/ micromobility.
4. Our party will progress Mass Rapid Transit along the City Centre to Māngere corridor in the coming term, including a surface light rail option.
5. Our party will support rapid rollout of a safe, separated cycleway network for Auckland.
6. Our party will restore evidence-based safe speeds of 30km/h around Auckland’s schools, in town centres, and in residential neighbourhoods.
7. Our party will adhere to the advice of the Infrastructure Commission and the guidance of the National Infrastructure Plan.
8. Our party will ensure that all major transport projects – including those delivered by NZTA and funded via the National Land Transport Fund – are assessed under the Infrastructure Commission’s new Investment Decision Assurance.
9. Our party supports upzoning of housing along key rapid transit routes and town centres in Auckland as planned under Plan Change 120.
10. Our party will restore and improve regional passenger rail in the Golden Triangle (Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga)

*Additional context: Opportunity’s approach to infrastructure would place responsibility for evaluating and sequencing infrastructure projects with Te Waihanga. While we are supportive of the named projects above in principle, commencement would need to be subject to robust assessment in light of the projects’ own merits and wider infrastructure needs. We also support capital injections totalling $3 billion in to the National Land Transport Fund specifically to public transport, active modes and rail (and therefore projects like these).

How will your policies give New Zealanders more affordable options for everyday trips? 

Opportunity will make public transport permanently free, giving households an immediate alternative to paying for petrol, parking and fares. We will also invest $3 billion in rail, public transport and safe walking and cycling, while helping transport fleets electrify. Time-of-use road charging will help Councils pay for transport infrastructure needs. We will give kiwis genuine choices while being honest about what infrastructure costs and who pays.

What are your party’s immediate transport priorities for Auckland, if elected?

First, make Auckland’s buses, trains and ferries free. Second, improve reliability and capacity by directing new national funding into public transport, rail and active transport, while prioritising maintenance of the network Auckland already has. Third, lock major Auckland projects into an evidence-based 30-year infrastructure pipeline so successive governments cannot keep cancelling, redesigning and delaying them. We would also give Auckland (and other local government) new funding tools such as congestion charging, bed levies, a fully-funded Ratepayer Assistance Scheme and GST-back on high performance new builds.

Tell us your vision of how Auckland will look and feel in 2050.

Auckland in 2050 is a quarter-hour paradise: compact, green and human, where reliable public transport puts work, friends, shops, nightlife and nature within 15 minutes. Families live in warm, energy-efficient apartments and townhouses near rapid transit, with community gardens and lively local centres. Streets are quieter and safer because walking, cycling and public transport are easy choices, while the remaining vehicle fleet is largely electric. Native birds have returned to greener neighbourhoods, waterways are healthy, and infrastructure is maintained before it fails. Aucklanders spend less time stuck in traffic and less wealth chasing property gains, and more time building businesses, solving problems and enjoying their city. That is what good growth should feel like.

National Party

For the yes/no questions, the answers are a mix of yes, no, and it depends. (Note: we’ve shown the ten statements as questions, so the responses make sense to readers.)

1. Does your party agree with devolving more resources and decision-making to Auckland Council for local transport and infrastructure?

Yes. In Government, we have been proud to restore democratic accountability to how transport decisions are made in Auckland, by reforming Auckland Transport, and giving Auckland Council the powers they need to lead transport planning and decision making for their city.

2. Will your party prioritise funding Stage 1 of the Northwest Busway in the coming term?

This Government supports the Northwest Busway, and is committed to seeing it progressed. Under National, we identified this project as a priority in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2024, funding was approved for consenting work and property acquisitions, and in September this year, the project was granted Fast-track approval.

This government has set out a priority order of investment ready transport projects in its Major Transport Projects Pipeline, which includes this important project.

3. Will your party commit to including the missing modes in the next Waitematā Harbour Crossing – rapid transit, walking, cycling/ micromobility?

National is committed to working in a bipartisan way on this critical project for Auckland’s future. That is why we aren’t rushing decisions and are taking it through a full detailed business case. We won’t be committing to anything until this is complete – however, any future crossing will involve multi-modal solutions.

4. Will your party progress Mass Rapid Transit along the City Centre to Māngere corridor in the coming term, including a surface light rail option?

National is committed to getting Aucklanders where they need to be, quickly and efficiently. If it is congested and hard to get around, the whole country pays for it through increased prices being passed on to consumers.

We have an ambitious plan for the rapid transit network in Auckland, which builds on our work this term. The projects we are prioritising are laid out in the government’s Major Transport Projects Pipeline, and include progressing work on the Northwest Busway, the Eastern Busway, and the Airport to Botany Busway.

We will work with Auckland Council through the development of the 30-year Auckland Transport Plan to determine the solution for this corridor, so we won’t be getting ahead of those discussions by picking a mode now. That’s precisely what got us into the mess on that corridor in the first place.

5. Will your party support rapid rollout of a safe, separated cycleway network for Auckland?

That’s up to Aucklanders. However, in government, our priority in transport has been to build and maintain our roading and public transport networks so that we can have a safe, efficient and productive transport network which helps Kiwis get where they need to go, quickly and safely.

6. Will your party restore evidence-based safe speeds of 30km/h around Auckland’s schools, in town centres, and in residential neighbourhoods?

National campaigned on reversing the blanket speed limit reductions at the last election, and over 65 per cent of submitters during consultation on the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024 agreed. Labour’s changes went too far.

Our new rule reversed these blanket changes where it was safe to do so. We also prioritised the safety of Kiwi kids by introducing reduced speed limits outside schools during pick-up and drop-off times.

Throughout the world, 50km/h is used as the right speed limit to keep urban roads flowing smoothly and safely. The evidence on this is clear – comparable countries with the lowest rates of road deaths and serious injuries, such as Norway, Denmark, and Japan, have speed limits of 50km/h on their urban roads, with exceptions for lower speed limits.

7. Will your party adhere to the advice of the Infrastructure Commission and the guidance of the National Infrastructure Plan?

Yes. National campaigned on developing a 30-year national infrastructure plan, and we are pleased to have delivered on that promise.

8. Will your party ensure that all major transport projects – including those delivered by NZTA and funded via the National Land Transport Fund – are assessed under the Infrastructure Commission’s new Investment Decision Assurance?

This year, National changed New Zealand’s investment management system to transfer responsibility for infrastructure project assurance to the independent Infrastructure Commission. High-risk NZTA projects or those funded outside of the National Land Transport Fund, will be subject to this assurance.

9. Does your party support upzoning of housing along key rapid transit routes and town centres in Auckland as planned under Plan Change 120?

Yes.

10. Will your party restore and improve regional passenger rail in the Golden Triangle (Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga)?

We were supportive of NZTA extending the Te Huia trial for another 12 months until June 2027.

How will your policies give New Zealanders more affordable options for everyday trips?

National believes that New Zealand should be a country where if you work hard, you can get ahead. National’s promise of no new taxes reflects its disciplined economic management, focused on growing the economy, creating jobs, lifting wages and keeping taxes low.

Unlike Labour, we won’t make unfunded, irresponsible commitments from the already oversubscribed National Land Transport Fund in order to bribe Kiwis with their own money. Ultimately, Labour’s transport plan will require higher taxes or more borrowing to pay for it.

What are your party’s immediate transport priorities for Auckland, if elected?

A re-elected National government will:

• Fund $1.75 billion to construct Mill Road Stage One, and $100 million to route protect Stages Two and Three, progressing this critical new transport connection for South Auckland.
• Decide on Auckland’s future harbour crossing, informed by the Detailed Business Case, which will include details on how this project can be funded and delivered.
• Complete the Eastern Busway through to Botany, giving East Auckland a faster and more reliable public transport connection.
• Progress North-West Rapid Transit, improving public transport along one of Auckland’s busiest and fastest-growing corridors.
• Progress CRL level-crossing removals, improving connections and safety across South and East Auckland and making the rail network safer and more reliable.
• Deliver the Auckland Deal, including a coordinated 30-year transport strategy so Auckland can plan ahead rather than constantly play catch-up.
• Explore options to speed up rapid transit projects like the Botany to Airport Busway, through rescoping and cost saving measures.

Tell us your vision of how Auckland will look and feel in 2050.

National is excited for Auckland’s future and, if re-elected, will spend the next three years continuing to back our largest city to grow and prosper.

We share Aucklanders’ vision for a city where families can get ahead, businesses can succeed, and communities can be proud of where they live.

National knows that when Auckland succeeds, New Zealand succeeds.

Under National the economy is growing faster than the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia. Exports are up $20 billion, inflation is down from a 32-year high, and 220,000 new jobs are expected with wages growing faster than prices.

We want to help Auckland capitalise on this opportunity.

Auckland’s future is not just about building more roads, classrooms and hospitals. It is also about making better use of the infrastructure we already have, removing rules that hold the city back, supporting more homes and jobs, and backing the places and institutions that make Auckland attractive to live in, work in and visit.

There is more to do. Auckland is still growing, and National’s focus is on building the infrastructure, services and opportunities the city needs for the future.

Optional: Anything else you’d like to say to Greater Auckland’s readership about your party’s plans for shaping our city, our transport and our housing choices?

This term, National has delivered real progress for Auckland.

The City Rail Link is open, the final stage of the Eastern Busway is under construction, and Auckland is receiving a record $8.4 billion through the 2024–27 National Land Transport Programme. We scrapped the regional fuel tax, taking 11.5 cents a litre off at the pump. We also signed the Auckland Deal so Government and Council can plan housing, infrastructure and transport together.

We’ve supported the city to grow by removing planning rules holding back the CBD and enabling more homes around CRL stations. More than 3,000 net new social homes have been added since November 2023, and the number of households in emergency housing has fallen from 885 to 81.

Crime is coming down. Between 2023 and 2025, burglaries fell 16 per cent and theft fell 11 per cent.

Health and education are improving too. Twenty-four-hour urgent care is back in Counties Manukau, land has been secured in Drury for a future hospital, and the share of Auckland District ED patients seen within six hours has risen from 67.1 to 77.3 per cent. We’ve funded 727 new classrooms, and regular school attendance has climbed from 49.2 to 66.7 per cent.

There’s more to do, but Auckland is moving again.

Other information

We will update this post if we receive responses from other parties.

We hope this has been useful in informing your vote for the upcoming election, and you may wish to check out our previous election policy coverage here:

• Labour’s Fare Cap Election Policy
• Transport policy on the campaign trail

If you would like information on the parties’ other policies for the 2026 election, you can check out their websites or the following from Policy NZ and RNZ:

• Policy NZ
• RNZ’s Policy Guide

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