Draft decision and conditions

On 25 February 2026, the Takitimu North Link – Stage 2 expert panel issued Minute 10 releasing its draft decision and conditions.

The panel proposes to grant the approvals sought in this application. 

Under section 70 of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 (the Act), an expert panel must invite comments on the draft conditions from: 

  • the applicant

  • every person or group that provided comments under section 35 or 53

  • any local authority or other body with a statutory responsibility to enforce or monitor compliance with the conditions. 

The panel must also issue the panel’s draft decision document for each approval in accordance with section 70(2)(b). 

The panel set a deadline of 6 March 2026 for receiving this response. 

Under section 72 of the Act, an expert panel must also invite comments on the draft decision, including any draft conditions, from:

  • the Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti

  • the Minister for Māori Development.

The panel set a deadline of 11 March 2026 for receiving this response. 

Minute 10 of the expert panel (PDF, 162 KB)

Draft decision (PDF, 1.9 MB)

Appendix 1A: Draft conditions on regional consents

Appendix 1B: Draft conditions other

Appendix 2A

Ecology advice (PDF, 70 KB)

Appendix 2B

Stormwater flooding advice (PDF, 1.19 MB)

Appendix 2C

Transportation advice (PDF, 244 KB)

Comments received on draft conditions under section 70

Ngāti Taka and Pirirākau (PDF, 290 KB)

Department of Conservation (PDF, 23 MB)

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (PDF, 382 KB)

Matthew Kerr-Ridge on Behalf of Penny Hicks (PDF, 221 KB)

Western Bay of Plenty District Council (PDF, 234 KB)

Bay of Plenty Regional Council (PDF, 95 KB)

Comments received from the applicant

Comments received on draft decision under section 72

Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti and Māori Development (PDF, 422 KB)

Applicant response to comments on draft conditions

Memorandum of counsel on behalf the applicant (PDF, 222 KB)

Archaeological authority conditions (PDF, 333 KB)

Attachment 1 - applicants response to other parities' comments and the panels draft conditions (PDF, 279 KB)

LC.01 Earthworks Conditions - in response to parties' comments (PDF, 622 KB)