North West Rapid Transit

Project summary

Develop a rapid transit link and associated infrastructure and connections between Brigham Creek and Auckland City centre, which may be progressed in one or more sections of new or existing road between those two points.

This description has been updated by the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Act 2025.

Project location

Alongside State Highway 16 Northwest Auckland to Auckland central.

Project listing application

North West Rapid Transit application – Ministry for the Environment website

Completeness decision

The substantive application by New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi was deemed complete on 18 February 2026. The application complies with the requirements of section 46 (2) of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024. The application was lodged on 15 December 2025.

Decision on completeness and scope – North West Rapid Transit substantive application (PDF, 81KB)

Memorandum on Completeness and Scope (PDF, 383 KB)

The Fast-track team will check for any competing applications / existing resource consents, before providing the application to the panel convener. 

Competing applications decision

The substantive application by New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi was deemed to not have any competing applications or existing resource consents on 4 March 2026. This decision is required under section 47 of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024. 

Record of decision on competing applications − North West Rapid Transit substantive application (PDF, 84 KB)

The application has now been referred to the panel convener for determination by a panel.

Decision of appointment of panel and timing of panel decisions

On 1 April 2026 the panel convener issued Minute 3 regarding:

• the appointment of the expert panel

• the timeframe for panel decisions for the North West Rapid Transit project under clause 2 of section 79 of the Act.

The minute can be viewed on the Correspondence page for the North West Rapid Transit project.