Aucklanders most want a second harbour crossing

Aucklanders most want a second harbour crossing when asked to set priorities for four major projects being discussed by candidates for the new super city council.

New Zealanders also broadly have the same view on what Auckland’s top project priority should be.

A new nationwide ShapeNZ survey finds the second harbour crossing (either bridge or tunnel) is given top priority by 38% of Aucklanders (28% by all respondents in New Zealand).

Second is an extended commuter rail service running from Pukekohe in the south to Orewa in the north (32% Auckland, 28% NZ).

An Auckland inner city to airport rail link ranks third (29% Auckland, 28% NZ)

An inner city rail loop, including Queen Street to link with all other routes) has 28% support in Auckland (24% NZ)

The weighted ShapeNZ survey was commissioned by the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development to help guide people elected to councils at the October 9 local body elections. It has a maximum margin of error of +/- 1.6% on the national sample of 2,480 respondents and +/- 3.9 % on the sub sample of 621 people living within boundaries of the new super city. The survey was conducted between August 24 and September 19.


Results of voting for projects as a first priority:

Project NZ Auckland super city NZ don’t support Akld don’t support
Rail link central Auckland to airport 28 29 6 9
Inner city rail loop 24 28 5 6
Pukekohe-Orewa rail service 28 32 5 6
Second harbour crossing 28 38 7 5


Business Council Chief Executive Peter Neilson says the fact that New Zealanders and Aucklanders share similar views on project priorities might make it easier for central and local government decision makers to agree on what major projects should be advanced first.

Other ShapeNZ research commissioned by the Business Council shows 47% of New Zealanders most favouring the use of Public Private Partnerships to start major infrastructure projects earlier.