TRANSPORT

Takitimu North Link Stage 1: Tauranga to Te Puna

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi · Bay of Plenty

A 6.8km four-lane expressway from SH29 Takitimu Drive, Tauranga, to SH2 west of Te Puna, taking freight pressure off SH2 from the Port of Tauranga. Renamed from Tauranga Northern Link in September 2020 by NZTA with its six hapu Treaty partners. Stage 1 of a 14km corridor; Stage 2 to Omokoroa (about 7.7km) was fast-track approved in March 2026 but has no construction funding. The $933m shown is the NZ Upgrade Programme allocation for the whole link, not a Stage 1 figure. Tolled from opening.

Strongest delivery signals Data: High

Delivery Confidence Score, 0 to 100, higher is better: a ranking of how strong this project's delivery signals are, not a probability. It blends eight factors, including the election risk and policy alignment shown below.

Breakdown▾

Data current as at 13 Jun 2026, when the pipeline was last checked against its source.

Key facts

Region: Bay of Plenty
Sector: Transport
Status: Under Construction
Estimated value: $933m
Indicative completion: 2028
Funding status: Fully Funded
Lead organisation: NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
Election risk: Low

Election risk assessment

Under construction with committed funding. Road of National Significance.

Government priority alignment

HIGH: RoNS freight route serving the Port of Tauranga, a strong policy fit.

Chronology

2015Tauranga Northern Link first scoped as part of Bay of Plenty transport strategy
2019Business case approved; route designation confirmed through Te Puna Valley
2020Crown commits funding. Procurement process begins. Renamed Takitimu North Link (3 September) by NZTA with its six hapū Treaty partners
2021Stage 1 construction begins
2024Completion pushed from 2026 to 2027 at the earliest (February), an estimate since superseded
2026Stage 1 major structures largely complete, all bridge construction scheduled to finish this year. Stage 2 (Te Puna to Ōmokoroa) granted all statutory approvals by fast-track on 19 March, construction funding still awaiting availability
2028Stage 1 due for completion, opening tolled to freight and general traffic

Source

NZTA: Takitimu North Link ↗ · Beehive: Takitimu North Link Stage 2 fast-tracked (Mar 2026) ↗ · Beehive: Milestone reached for Takitimu North Link Stage 1 (Feb 2025) ↗

View Takitimu North Link Stage 1: Tauranga to Te Puna on the live map →