Minister of Transport Simeon Brown has this morning announced the Government will introduce a Roads of Regional Significance project. 

Roads of National Significance and Roads of Regional Significance will replace the NZ Upgrade Programme (NZUP). 

“Expanding this programme to roads that are regionally significant will ensure that our cities and regions are well-connected, and our economy thrives. Similar to Roads of National Significance, Roads of Regional Significance will single out essential routes that require prioritisation,” Brown said. 

Brown has made a series of transport announcements in the past few months, including relating to airport security, a new NZTA app for driver licences, the Roads of National Significant strategy and proposals for a new Wellington tunnel and a new speed limit on the Kapiti expressway. 

“The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s most successful State Highway corridors, reducing congestion and improving safety,” Brown said. 

“NZUP was subject to significant cost blowouts that resulted in project cancellations and delays across the country 

“When we came to government, we were advised that there would be a significant funding gap of up to $1.5 billion to deliver the NZUP projects. This is in addition to the cost increases which resulted in major project cancellations under the previous government, such as Mill Road. 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Transport Minister Simeon Brown say they have agreed to delegate all decision-making responsibilities around project scope and delivery to the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA). 

Brown said Ministers will no longer be determining transport project scope and funding decisions because he believed it was leading to project delaysunder the previous government. 

“We are therefore changing how decisions are made on these projects and NZTA will be progressing with two RoNS and ten RoRS. Two further projects will now be incorporated into the Mill Road and Whangarei to Port Marsden Roads of National Significance listed in the draft Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024,” Brown said. 

“In order to continue to deliver these projects, difficult decisions were made to keep costs within the existing $6.54 billion funding. We have made clear to NZTA that it must deliver these projects within the existing funding envelope, as there will be no additional Crown funding. 

“Our Government will deliver a transport system that boosts productivity and economic growth and allows New Zealanders to get to where they want to go, quickly and safely. Prioritising the delivery of roading investment across New Zealand is part of our plan to boost productivity and rebuild the economy.”