Regional summaries

The focus in Northland remains on creating a transport system that is safer, has stronger community connections, provides better access to economic and employment opportunities and is resilient to withstand extreme weather events.

The next 10 years are expected to underline Auckland’s performance as the fastest growing major city in Australasia.

Waikato’s significant contribution to growing New Zealand’s social and economic wellbeing underlines the importance of a regional land transport system that provides access, is resilient and provides journeys that are safe and reliable.

The transport system in the Bay of Plenty supports a strong and growing economy by providing access that is safer, more resilient and efficient across the region.

For the population of Gisborne/Tairāwhiti, having a resilient transport network is crucial. The region’s relative isolation means it relies on the state highway network and local roads to connect its communities, to get goods from farm gates and forests to markets, and to support growth in tourism.

Primary production is the big economic driver for the Hawke’s Bay, with investment in the region’s transport system focused on making it safer and easier to get goods to market and to support new tourism opportunities.

Taranaki’s strong export-based economy means the region’s major transport focus is on improving access. They need to be safe, reliable and resilient within and between regional connections to get goods to market.

The Manawatū/Whanganui region is a transport “crossroads” where critical road and rail corridors important for regional and national economic prosperity intersect.

The Wellington region’s transport challenges are dominated by the region’s concentration of population in the metropolitan cities, its importance as the nation’s capital, constrained access corridors along SH1 and SH2 and the significant economic role its port plays to connect the North and South Islands.

Population growth is putting pressure on the Nelson and Tasman transport network. Where investment in the 2018-21 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will look at delivering better transport choice in the Top of the South with improvements to both cycling and the public transport network.

Building resilience into the state highway network remains the focus for investment in the West Coast’s transport system to ensure the region’s main economic driver, tourism, continues to flourish.

Safer and more resilient routes to cater for the growth in freight volumes and increasing tourist numbers remain the two biggest drivers for investment in the transport system throughout Canterbury.

Safe, reliable and resilient access to remote communities and farming, forestry and tourism, is important to encourage economic growth and prosperity in the Otago and Southland regions.

The Chatham Islands are located about 800 kilometres to the east of the South Island and have a resident population of about 600 people. With a road network of about 180 kilometres across a number of islands spread over a 40-kilometre radius, road maintenance and improvements at this remote territory are an ongoing challenge.