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 to SH2 west of Te Puna, taking freight pressure off SH2 from the Port of Tauranga. The $933m shown is the NZ Upgrade Programme allocation for the whole 14km 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 16 Sept 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.

Recent changes

2026-W37Major Completion slipped 1 year: 2027 → 2028.
2026-W37Notable Estimated value down 15%: $1.1b → $933m.
2026-W37Info Owner: Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency → NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

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2024Completion pushed from 2026 to 2027 at the earliest (February), an estimate since superseded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
2028expectedStage 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 →