Investment Summit Drives Strong Bids For Northland Expressway PPP
Minister of Transport
The positive impact of the Government's Infrastructure Investment Summit earlier this year is beginning to show, following the shortlisting of three consortia for the Warkworth to Te Hana section of the Northland Expressway, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.
'The Investment Summit, which took place in Auckland in March 2025, attracted international and local companies which collectively manage over $6 trillion in capital,' Mr Bishop says.
'Ministers' presentations at the Summit left the investors in no doubt that New Zealand is serious about attracting investment into the big infrastructure projects our country needs.
'One of the projects featured at the Summit was the Northland Expressway, a critical project to boost jobs and growth in an area rich with untapped potential. During my presentation on this project at the Summit, I announced that we were inviting Expressions of Interest to deliver the first stage of the project.
'This first stage includes a 26km four-lane expressway from Warkworth to Te Hana which connects to the new Pūhoi to Warkworth expressway. The indicative design for Warkworth to Te Hana includes an 850m long twin bore tunnel in the Dome Valley and three interchanges located at Warkworth, Wellsford and Te Hana.
'We received very strong interest in this project from both domestic and international consortia, several of which included companies who attended the Investment Summit.
'Following NZTA's rigorous evaluation and selection process, three of these consortia have been shortlisted to move forward to the Request for Proposals (RFP) stage, during which they will submit RFPs for the financing, design, construction, management and maintenance of the Warkworth to Te Hana section of the expressway under a PPP.'
The three shortlisted consortia are:
Northway made up of Acciona Concesiones S.L., abrdn Global Sustainable Infrastructure GP IV Ltd and Acciona Construction New Zealand Ltd
Go>North made up of VINCI Highways S.A.S., John Laing Limited, VINCI Construction Grands Projets S.A.S., VINCI Construction GeoInfrastructure S.A.S. and HEB Construction Limited
Together North made up of Plenary Origination Pty Ltd, Webuild S.p.A, WBCA Pty Ltd, Gamuda Engineering Pty Limited and Service Stream Holdings Pty Limited
'The shortlisted consortia are all well positioned to deliver a high-quality motorway that will boost regional resilience, enhance road safety and travel reliability and strengthen vital connections for freight, tourism and everyday drivers,' Mr Bishop says.
'I want to acknowledge the huge amount of work from all respondents who provided high quality submissions, and NZTA for continuing to meet the ambitious timeframes for this procurement.
'We are now an important step closer to delivering a vital connection which will help Northland's economy grow and its communities thrive.'
The Warkworth to Te Hana section of the corridor has been prioritised for delivery as it is the most advanced section in terms of designation, consents and property acquisition.
A Preferred Bidder for the PPP is expected to be confirmed in early 2026. Subject to successful contract negotiations, the contract is expected to be awarded in mid-2026.
The successful PPP consortia is expected to start detailed design and early construction works in late 2026.
NZTA is currently progressing planning and design for the remaining sections of the corridor. The emerging preferred corridor for section 2, Te Hana to Port Marsden Highway, was announced in April 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
'It doesn't cost the government anything' - Wayne Brown calls for bed tax rethink
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown is at odds with the government over a bed night levy. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi Auckland's mayor Wayne Brown is renewing his call for a bed levy for the supercity , as it deals with some serious economic troubles . Its unemployment rate of 6.1 percent is the highest of any region. National Minister and Auckland-based MP Paul Goldsmith told Morning Report on Wednesday there's been a long Covid hangover. "The economy's flat, everybody's feeling it. Of course there's two speeds, down in the south and in rural New Zealand we're getting some growth and some upbeat economic news from the regions but of course it's a real struggle in Auckland so that's what our real focus is on." Brown agreed the government would be focused on the city because it was where the election in a year's time would be decided. He was adamant that what he was advocating for was a bed levy - not a tax - and it wouldn't go to the government. "They [the government] use the word tax so they can say no more taxes. It's just dumb, it's not a tax any more than it would be a targeted rate. The people who've asked for it are the industry it would be collected from." He wanted it to be set at 2.5 percent which would raise $27 million which would be enough to attract the likes of a Taylor Swift concert or a State of Origin match. Cities need around $3 million to $4m to attract concerts by artists such as Taylor Swift, the Auckland mayor says. Photo: AFP Cities needed to pay upfront around $3m-4m to bring in each major event. It would enable Auckland to compete against the likes of Sydney which has a bed night levy, he said. "It doesn't cost the government anything. ... It doesn't make sense ..." When Auckland held large events and the hotels filled up, another $100 could be added to the cost of a hotel room "so noone's gonna miss it". It was also "bollocks" for the government to blame the cost of living crisis, Brown said. Those most affected couldn't afford $500 Taylor Swift concert tickets or to stay at the top hotels. He said the government was focused on tourism but had raised the international tourist levy so it was "cheeky" to deny Auckland a bed levy. Brown believed the government would "cave" on the issue, in part because Auckland was the region that decided the fate of the government at elections. He had built a good working relationship with some of the ministers, such as Chris Bishop and Shane Reti. "We have had a number of wins." He believed it was ACT that was the main handbrake on the government agreeing to the bed levy. Councillor Kerrin Leoni, who is standing against Brown in the city's upcoming mayoral election, said she also supported a bed tax. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Auckland needs a bed levy to attract major events, mayor Wayne Brown says
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown is at odds with the government over a bed night levy. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi Auckland's mayor Wayne Brown is renewing his call for a bed levy for the supercity , as it deals with some serious economic troubles . Its unemployment rate of 6.1 percent is the highest of any region. National Minister and Auckland-based MP Paul Goldsmith told Morning Report on Wednesday there's been a long Covid hangover. "The economy's flat, everybody's feeling it. Of course there's two speeds, down in the south and in rural New Zealand we're getting some growth and some upbeat economic news from the regions but of course it's a real struggle in Auckland so that's what our real focus is on." Brown agreed the government would be focused on the city because it was where the election in a year's time would be decided. He was adamant that what he was advocating for was a bed levy - not a tax - and it wouldn't go to the government. "They [the government] use the word tax so they can say no more taxes. It's just dumb, it's not a tax any more than it would be a targeted rate. The people who've asked for it are the industry it would be collected from." He wanted it to be set at 2.5 percent which would raise $27 million which would be enough to attract the likes of a Taylor Swift concert or a State of Origin match. Cities need around $3 million to $4m to attract concerts by artists such as Taylor Swift, the Auckland mayor says. Photo: AFP Cities needed to pay upfront around $3m-4m to bring in each major event. It would enable Auckland to compete against the likes of Sydney which has a bed night levy, he said. "It doesn't cost the government anything. ... It doesn't make sense ..." When Auckland held large events and the hotels filled up, another $100 could be added to the cost of a hotel room "so noone's gonna miss it". It was also "bollocks" for the government to blame the cost of living crisis, Brown said. Those most affected couldn't afford $500 Taylor Swift concert tickets or to stay at the top hotels. He said the government was focused on tourism but had raised the international tourist levy so it was "cheeky" to deny Auckland a bed levy. Brown believed the government would "cave" on the issue, in part because Auckland was the region that decided the fate of the government at elections. He had built a good working relationship with some of the ministers, such as Chris Bishop and Shane Reti. "We have had a number of wins." He believed it was ACT that was the main handbrake on the government agreeing to the bed levy. Councillor Kerrin Leoni, who is standing against Brown in the city's upcoming mayoral election, said she also supported a bed tax. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Newsroom
5 hours ago
- Newsroom
Obstacles to making NZ great again at infrastructure
Opinion: Infrastructure New Zealand billed last week's Building Nations conference as 'New Zealand's premier event for the infrastructure sector'. The conference's aim was to show that 'New Zealand is a global exemplar of smart, sustainable, cost-effective infrastructure'. After the Government's recent $6 billion infrastructure package, with a further $200b worth of projects in the pipeline, and the Infrastructure Investment Summit last March, it was further evidence of a renewed emphasis on extending and upgrading national infrastructure.
