by Chris Penk MP
MP for Kaipara ki Mahurangi
It was great to host the Minister of Transport, Chris Bishop, here in northwest Auckland recently. We spent the day looking at some of the key transport priorities for our community — and it was encouraging to see plans and progress coming together, slowly but surely.
We began with a visit to the current roadworks along State Highway 16. This stretch of highway has long been a source of frustration for locals due to congestion and safety concerns, so it’s very welcome to see improvements now taking shape. Once complete, these works will make travel safer and smoother for everyone using this crucial route between our growing townships and the city.
Another key focus was the proposed Kumeu Bypass. For years, residents have called for a better way to divert heavy traffic away from Kumeu’s town centre. The bypass will do exactly that, improving both travel times and the local environment. I appreciated the opportunity to discuss with the Minister how we can keep momentum up on this long-awaited project.
We also visited possible sites for an additional secondary school in the area. With our local population continuing to grow rapidly, it’s clear that another high school will soon be needed to serve families from Kumeu, Huapai, Riverhead and beyond.
