This government’s legacy for transport in Auckland
The following is an op-ed I wrote which ran in the NZ Herald on November 3. It’s turning out to be even more topical than ever – read to the end for an update with recent events… In July 2016, dignitaries geared up to ride along a brand new cycleway on Quay Street in Auckland.…
30 Comments At a crossroads: How a new Auckland Council will traverse transport policy
Connor stood on the City Vision ticket in the latest local elections, in a personal capacity.
This ran in The Post on October 21 2025. Despite the lowest ever local election turnout, this was perhaps Auckland’s most consequential election so far.…
What this local election means for transport in Auckland
Connor Sharp is running for the Waitematā Local Board in this year’s election. On Saturday (pending any close-run races), we’ll learn who will govern our city for the next three years.
While the mayoral race feels like a foregone conclusion – to the point there’s barely even any media coverage of it – who else will be sitting around the council table, and who will sit on the various local boards, will have a big impact on the city’s future.…
Project K is gonna be OK
Breaking news: better things are indeed possible!
At the end of last week, the agenda of the Waitematā Local Board went public revealing the outcome of Auckland Transport’s recent work to fix the Karanga-a-Hape Station Precinct Integration Project, aka Project K.…
NZTA’s self-contradictory changes to SH16 Brigham Creek to Waimauku
A couple of months ago, NZTA reversed its plans to install a median wire barrier on SH16 for stage 1 of the SH16 Brigham Creek to Waimauku project.
The project, which officially aims “to improve safety”, was – and still is – midway through construction, and the decision to delete the median barriers from the design appeared to have no real justification.…
Revealed: 2021 draft Cabinet paper shows Labour’s last minute light rail switch
Over the last year, I’ve been writing a book on the story of light rail in Auckland between 2014-2024. A lot happened – much of it public, and quite a lot not – and the history of the project goes to the heart of our struggle to build things in New Zealand.…
By shaping Auckland, we shape ourselves
“First we shape the cities — then they shape us.”.
These words by renowned Danish architect and urban designer Jan Gehl are a simple but powerful reminder of our ability – and perhaps even duty – to shape any city, including our own home of Auckland, for the better.…
Behind the curtain of AT’s Project K switcheroo
On Tuesday this week I watched AT present to the Waitematā Local Board about the Karanga-a-Hape Station precinct integration project (otherwise known as Project K).
The same day, I received information in response to my LGOIMA request for documents about the last-minute decision to drastically change the project in March & April of this year, as well as an early return yesterday of documents regarding resolutions from the Traffic Control Committee.…
Auckland Transport doubles down on diluting Project K
Last Wednesday, Greater Auckland sent an open letter to Auckland Transport about last minute U-turns on designs for the area around Karanga-ā-hape CRL station. Our letter was co-signed by over a hundred people including many local residents and businesses, Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick, and organisations such as the City Centre Residents’ Group, Bike Auckland, Campaign for Better Transport, and more.…
Some comments for Auckland Transport on Project K and our open letter
This is a bit of a progress update for our open letter asking Auckland Transport to return to the consulted and support plans for the Karanga-a-Hape Station precinct integration project after their last-minute changes.
So far, we’ve had over 80 people and organisations sign on.…
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