Source: New Zealand Government
The North-West Rapid Transit project, a major new rapid bus transit route alongside State Highway 16 in Auckland, has been granted fast-track approval, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says.
This is the 33rd project approved through the Fast-track process.
The project includes a busway alongside State Highway 16 between Brigham Creek and Auckland City Centre, seven rapid transit stations and one Park and Ride facility at Brigham Creek Rarawaru. It will also include connections to the local bus and road network.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) lodged its application in December 2025, with approval taking less than five months from the appointment of the independent expert panel.
“This project will provide faster, more frequent and reliable public transport for Aucklanders living in the north-west, one of the city’s fastest-growing areas,” Mr Bishop says.
“By 2051, roughly 100,000 more people are expected to call the north-west home. Once completed, the project will have the ability to move up to 9,000 passengers per hour in each direction and provide a reliable 25-minute journey from Brigham Creek to Auckland City Centre.
“The recently opened Westgate Station has been designed to build on the success of Auckland Transport’s Western Express (WX1) service, which has experienced high demand since its introduction – growing faster than the Northern Busway at launch.
“The strong demand for public transport in the north-west is already clear. The WX1 has recorded more than 1.1 million passenger trips in the 12 months to May 2026, exceeding forecasts by around 40 per cent.
“Once fully completed, the Northwest Busway will be a transformational piece of infrastructure for northwest Auckland and, combined with the opening of the City Rail Link, shows this Government’s commitment to improving transport infrastructure across the city.
“It will provide a reliable 25-minute journey time from Brigham Creek to Auckland city centre, supporting Auckland’s continued growth and economic productivity for decades to come, and I look forward to further stages being delivered in the years ahead.”
Notes to editor
More information about the project: North West Rapid Transit
Fast-track by the numbers:
- 33 projects approved by expert panels.
- 18 projects with expert panels appointed.
- 68 projects are currently progressing through the Fast-track process. 35 active substantive and 31 referral applications.
- 68 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]
- 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]
- 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]
- 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]
- 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 Prison Capacity Increase
- Auckland Surf Park Community – Stage 2
- Barrytown Minerals Project
- Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project
- Bream Bay Sand Extraction Project
- Central and Southern Block Mining Project
- Hunua Quarry Development
- Mt Iron Junction
- Mt Welcome, Pukerua Bay, Porirua
- Ōhoka Residential Subdivision
- Remarkables Ski Area Upgrades and Doolans Expansion Project
- Stella Passage Development
- Southern Link Inland Port
- The Point Solar Farm
- Twizel Solar Farm
- Waikanae North Development
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/04/north-west-rapid-transit-project-fast-tracked/