Source: New Zealand Government
A third substantial Auckland quarry project has gained Fast-track approval to expand operations, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Resources Minister Shane Jones say.
This is the 37th project approved through the Fast-track process.
Winstone Aggregates lodged its application in March 2026, with approval taking around four months from the appointment of an independent expert panel.
The redevelopment of Hunua Quarry will expand existing quarrying activities to allow Winstone Aggregates to deepen the existing Symonds Hill Pit to access additional high-quality greywacke and enabling a peak production capacity of up to 5.4 million tonnes a year of processed aggregate.
“Auckland needs a steady supply of aggregate for housing, construction, businesses and infrastructure. For over 15 years, Auckland has had to bring aggregate in from outside the region, at a significant cost. If the shortage gets worse, building and infrastructure costs will continue to rise,” Mr Bishop says.
“The expansions of this quarry, Drury Quarry and Kings Quarry will help reduce the shortage of aggregate and avoid extra costs. Without the expansion, the quarry’s approved rock supply would likely run out by 2039.
“The expert panel decided that the project would have major benefits for Auckland and the rest of New Zealand. It would make the supply of materials more reliable and make good use of a quarry that has been operating for about 100 years.
“The project was approved with conditions to manage concerns about increased truck traffic on Hunua Road and other roads. Other conditions were put in place to protect the land, natural surroundings and appearance of the area.”
“These three quarrying expansions approved through Fast-track mean a range of important projects will no longer need to source aggregate from outside the region and costs can be kept to reasonable levels. In addition, the region will benefit from lower emissions and less heavy traffic on major roads,” Mr Jones says.
“Quarrying is vital to the country providing the materials New Zealand needs to address the housing and infrastructure deficit, as well as providing employment.”
Media contacts
Chris Bishop – Tegan Harris +64 21 823 151
Shane Jones – Lucy Bennett +64 221 038 687
Notes to editor:
More information about the project: Hunua Quarry Development
Fast-track by the numbers:
37 projects approved by expert panels.
18 projects with expert panels appointed.
68 projects are currently progressing through the Fast-track process. 29 active substantive and 39 referral applications.
77 projects have been referred to Fast-track by the Minister for Infrastructure.
149 projects are listed in Schedule 2 of the Fast-track Approvals Act, meaning they can apply for Fast-track approval.
On average, it has taken 118 working days for decisions on substantive applications from when officials determine an application is complete and in-scope.
Fast-track projects approved by expert panels:
Arataki [Housing/Land]
Ashbourne [Housing/Land]
Auckland Prison Capacity Increase [Infrastructure]
Ayrburn Screen Hub [Infrastructure]
Bledisloe North Wharf and Fergusson North Berth Extension [Infrastructure]
Delmore [Housing/Land]
Downtown Carpark Site Development [Housing/Land]
Drury Metropolitan Centre – Consolidated Stages 1 and 2 [Housing/Land]
Drury Quarry Expansion – Sutton Block [Mining/Quarrying]
Foxton Solar Farm [Renewable Energy]
Green Steel [Infrastructure]
Haldon Solar [Renewable Energy]
Hananui Aquaculture [Aquaculture]
Hunua Quarry Development [Mining/Quarrying]
Homestead Bay [Housing/Land]
Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme [Renewable Energy]
Kings Quarry Expansion – Stages 2 and 3 [Mining/Quarrying]
Lake Pūkaki Hydro Storage and Dam Resilience Works [Renewable Energy]
Māhinerangi Wind Farm [Renewable Energy]
Maitahi Village [Housing/Land]
Milldale – Stages 4C and 10 to 13 [Housing/Land]
Mt Iron Junction [Housing/Land]
North West Rapid Transit [Infrastructure]
Pound Road [Housing/Land]
Rangitoopuni [Housing/Land]
Ryans Road [Housing/Land]
Southland Wind Farm Project [Renewable Energy]
State Highway 1 North Canterbury – Woodend Bypass Project (Belfast to Pegasus) [Infrastructure]
Stella Passage Development [Infrastructure]
Sunfield [Housing/Land]
Takitimu North Link – Stage 2 [Infrastructure]
Tekapo Power Scheme – Applications for Replacement Resource Consents [Renewable Energy]
The Point Mission Bay [Housing/Land]
Waihi North [Mining/Quarrying]
Waitaha Hydro [Renewable Energy]
Waitākere District Court – New Courthouse Project [Infrastructure]
Wellington International Airport Southern Seawall Renewal [Infrastructure]
Expert panels have been appointed for:
188 Beaumont Street
Alternative to the Brynderwyn Hills
Auckland Surf Park Community – Stage 2
Barrytown Minerals Project
Beachlands South
Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project
Bream Bay Sand Extraction Project
Brookvale Green
Central and Southern Block Mining Project
Mt Welcome, Pukerua Bay, Porirua
Ōhoka Residential Subdivision
Oparure Quarry South-Western Pit
Remarkables Ski Area Upgrades and Doolans Expansion Project
Southern Link Inland Port
State Highway 29 Tauriko Network Connections
The Point Solar Farm
Twizel Solar Farm
Waikanae North Development
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/10/15/hunua-quarry-development-fast-tracked/