Simon Court MP, ACT – Under-Secretary for Infrastructure and RMA Reform, and Civil Engineer
For years, the people of Northwest Auckland have been stuck in a daily traffic nightmare – crawling along SH16 with no real alternative. That’s going to change. This Government has done the work to deliver the Northwest Busway. This isn’t consultation, another glossy brochure, or another empty promise. Construction is set to begin from 2027.
In April, the Transport Agency endorsed the investment case. Soon after, Ministers put it on the Fast Track Approvals pathway, cutting through the red tape that’s delayed progress for far too long. And crucially, the Government has put real money on the table. That means stations, lanes, and buses you can actually ride, not wait forever for.
Stage one includes stations at Westgate, Brigham Creek and Lincoln Road, with a dedicated rapid transit corridor alongside State Highway 16. By the early 2030s, thousands of people an hour will be moving between the Northwest and the city on a reliable service that takes just 25 minutes from Brigham Creek to the CBD – slashing current journey times by up to 15 minutes.
But the true impact goes beyond faster commutes. The Northwest Busway is a game-changer for investment and employment. New businesses, shops and services will spring up around stations. Jobs will be created not only during construction, but long after – giving young people real opportunities close to home instead of losing hours of their lives on the motorway. The Northwest will finally become a place where people can live, work and thrive without being held hostage by traffic.
This is only possible because the Government has done the hard yards. We’ve identified the priorities, secured the land, protected the routes, and funded the project. For decades, politicians have promised to fix Auckland’s transport network. This time, it’s not talk. It’s happening.
And this is just the start. Planning is already underway to extend rapid transit to protect a corridor for an alternative highway, and improve local roads by building walking and cycling links. The vision is clear: a world-class transport system for the Northwest, built to serve growing communities for decades ahead.
The Northwest has waited long enough. Now the traffic nightmare is ending – and a new era of opportunity, investment, and growth is beginning.
