Greater Auckland

@greaterauckland

We advocate to make our great city of Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland an even greater place to live, move around, and connect with each other. About us:

456 Following2,559 Followers659 Posts

Bluesky

Is this your profile?Claim it and greaterauckland.dirty.social is yours.Claim profile

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· 11h

While the government attempts a reset of the Waitematā harbour crossing conversation, let’s take a trip down memory lane… This Greater Auckland post by Matt Lowrie from 2019 rounds up some of the many designs put forward over the last couple of decades: www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2019/06/05/a...

Images from a 1988 study was for the Auckland Regional Authority, done by Maunsell (now subsidary of AECOM), Parsons Brinckerhoff and the Ministry of Works and Development. They show possible bridges landing in Wynyard Quarter, and at Bledisloe Wharf.

Images from a 1997 study undertaken for the Auckland Regional Council by Opus. It shows a long viaduct and bridge carving across Devonport, having already crossed Bayswater.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· 1d

This is indeed pretty lit – one for the rail fans out there! keastudios.co.nz/store/akl-ltm/

An image of the Auckland Live Train Map: a real-time light display of Auckland’s train network, designed to show live train movements via LEDs lighting up across a circuit board.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· 9d

Free tickets are now available for the Saturday 15 August “First Look” visits to Karanga-a-hape Station. 👀 See session times and themes here: crl.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/... This will be popular – it’s truly a fabulous space! Some photos from our visit in June:

Looking out from behind the ticket gates at the Mercury Lane entrance to Karanga-a-hape Station. You can see the lift to the underground platforms, and the spectacular ceiling art depicting the native kauri snails that used to live in the area (Photo from 6 June 2026 visit by the Greater Auckland team.)

The space-age vibes of the underground passageways to and between the platforms at Karanga-a-hape Station (Photo from 6 June 2026 visit by the Greater Auckland team.)

View from inside the ticket gates at the Beresford Square entrance to the new Karanga-a-hape Station, opening soon. (Photo from 6 June 2026 visit by the Greater Auckland team.)

Beautiful artwork above the escalators at the Beresford Square entrance to Karanga-a-hape Station. (Photo from 6 June 2026 visit by the Greater Auckland team.)

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· 10d

"An Auckland model train club had taken a corner to display its own stations and network of carefully crafted, small trains." 🥹 www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/54b-city-...

Part of one of the model railway sets on display at the Maungawhau station open day today, showing an AT-livery train going past a little orange grove. So cute! (Photo by the Greater Auckland deputation)

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Jul 16

In absolute terms, yep, Auckland public transport ridership is getting back up to where it once was. But in ridership per capita, a long way to go yet, to reach our mid-century magnificent maximising of mass mobility (back before the trams were torn up and the mono-modal motorway mania marched in).

A Greater Auckland graph showing public transport ridership in the city, 1920 - 2024. With the rollout of the tram network, ridership in the mid 20th C was reckoned to be one of the highest in the world, relative to population. Alas, it was downhill from there, thanks to some pretty poor decision making, which tore out the tram network and prioritised building motorways to facilitate driving and sprawl. There’s been a recent rise in absolute numbers of PT use thanks to investment in the bus network in particular, and more recently trains… but per capita we’re still a long way from the mid century maximum.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Jul 9

"Multiple sources" reckon City Rail Link may open at the end of next month? 🤨 If true, now's the time get your hands on our cute station-themed merch! A fun way to share the love *and* support your fave urbanist non-profit. Check out the goods here 👉👉 greaterauckland.digitees.co.nz/shop/categor...

A smiling model outside Karanga-a-hape station, wearing a green T-shirt with the CRL stations in classic "list of four" format:
Waitematā &
Te Waihorotiu &
Karanga-a-Hape &
Maungawhau.

A tote bag with leafy greens and a bottle of wine, printed with the CRL stations in classic "list of four" format:
Waitematā &
Te Waihorotiu &
Karanga-a-Hape &
Maungawhau.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Jul 1

Re-posting because very topical 😉🤔 These maps show: 1) land value (the economically smart & desirable places for more homes) 2) where the water infrastructure can handle it 3) climate-friendly transport options Basically: put housing where people want to live affordably, accessibly & sustainably!

A map of estimated residential land values per square metre (source: Auckland Council Chief Economist Unit). As we argue in the linked article:

"Land value is an important factor in housing development, as the areas with higher land prices are much better suited to higher density housing. Essentially, upzoning means you can create more homes on a given piece of land – and, as a consequence, these homes will be cheaper per unit to construct and thus ideally more affordable to homebuyers."

A map by Watercare showing the water network capacity in Auckland. As you might guess, the central isthmus (and a few outlying areas) is where the existing pipes can actually handle more housing, with the lowest need for investment in new and improved water infrastructure to add more homes. Given the topic of overloaded pipes and waterways often comes up in housing debates, we all need to be across the latest and best evidence in order to have top quality conversations about this stuff.

A map of car dependency across Auckland, developed by Dr Tim Welch. Check it out here: https://ataa.tfwelch.com/ Once again, the central isthmus is the place where more people can live sustainably and affordably, with the greatest proximity to jobs, schools, shops and other amenities of daily life, and the greatest access to non-driving options for transport.

If some streets of arguably "characterful" single-family homes require upzoning in order to accommodate people in the smartest, most sustainable areas to live – especially if parts of the city are being downzoned because they're flood prone - then that's a reasonable trade-off, and these three maps tell us where that should happen. The old kauri "workers' cottages" (and frankly, how many of them currently house workers?) can always be moved to somewhere else in the city, where homes are needed and space is not at such a premium.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Jun 18

Oh hey, we hear you like public transport caps? And T-shirts and totes? A fun way to share the love, with a small portion of each purchase going towards supporting our work. PS Print-on-demand = no returns, so double-check your sizing before you buy!🙏 greaterauckland.digitees.co.nz/shop/categor...

A gorgeous model, pictured outside Auckland's soon to open Karanga-a-hape station, wearing our CRL themed T-shirt in the "fab four" format: Waitematā & Te Waihorotiu & Karanga-a-hape & Maungawhau

A tote bag with the CRL stations in the iconic "fab four" format: Waitematā & Te Waihorotiu & Karanga-a-Hape & Maungawhau.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Jun 3

As we head into winter, the number of people cycling in & out of Auckland's city centre remains high, and rising. Thank the new connections—and build more! Here's data from 13 "city cordon" counters, from 2017 to today, showing a solid recent upward trend: www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2026/06/04/a...

A chart showing the 12 month rolling average of bike trips to and from Auckland's city centre, as recorded by Auckland Transports 13 "city cordon" automatic counters. The chart statrs in January 2017, and shows the expected dips for the arrival of COVID-19, and significant stretches of working from home, but has been on a steady upward trend since mid-2022 and is now at an all time high of over 1.7m trips per year.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Jun 3

How's Auckland's public transport recovery going, since the advent of COVID-19? Here's ridership as a % of February 2020. Buses are (almost) back, baby! Ferries are getting there! And trains are set to truly take off, soon as the City Rail Link is all go: www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2026/06/04/a...

A chart by Matt Lowrie for Greater Auckland, showing public transport (split by mode: bus, ferry, train) as a % of ridership in February 2020, before the shock of the pandemic and a mass shift to work-from-home. Buses are close to back to "normal", at around 95%. Ferries are around 80%. Trains are the most dampened, still, at an annual average of 63%, but more recent monthly ridership is around 75% across March and April this year. Once the City Rail Link testing is finished and those new connections are open for travel, expect that % to bounce up.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Jun 3

The fuel crisis has already bumped Auckland's public transport ridership back towards our pre-COVID all-time highs. With the imminent completion of the City Rail Link bringing an end to rail disruptions, we can expect it to keep rising, writes Matt Lowrie: www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2026/06/04/a...

A graph by Matt Lowrie for Greater Auckland, showing Average Weekday Boardings on Auckland Public Transport (bus, train, ferry) for three selected years: 2019 in yellow (pre-COVID highs), 2025 in green (last year, for comparison), and 2026 in blue (to the end of June). Current ridership is higher than last year – and still not quite as high as 2019, but certainly trending towards it. (And, this is with reductions in rail ridership due to ongoing construction and then testing for the City Rail Link, which will open in coming months, no date confirmed yet...)

Another graph by Matt Lowrie for Greater Auckland, showing average monthly public transport ridership in Auckland by mode from January 2003 to June 2026. Ferries, in blue, are consistent, and the lowest PT mode by ridership. Trains, in yellow, track steadily upwards as improvements to the network are made, taking a dive during the work from home era, but now steady and expected to rise once the CRL is complete and the new timetable kicks in. And buses, in green at the top of the chart, show similar growth to trains over the 2000s and 2010s, a similar but deeper impact from the work-from-home period, and are now back up to almost pre-COVID levels – likely to reach those levels later this year or early next year if current trends continue.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· May 28

Up zone your city, and build more housing!

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· May 27

Feast your eyes! At last, a brilliant bridge designed to solve Auckland's missing modes: walk, bike & rapid transit (bus now, rail later). It also smartly balances access for local trips vs. state highway thru-traffic. More here on Nicolas Reid's proposal: www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2026/05/27/b...

A render of Nicolas Reid's proposal for a Waitematā Bridge, to the east of the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge. As seen from above Northcote Point, looking towards downtown.

A render of Nicolas Reid's proposal for a Waitematā Bridge to the east of the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge, as seen from above Maungawhau/ Mt Eden.

A render of Nicolas Reid's proposal for a Waitematā Bridge to the east of the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge, as seen from Devonport Wharf

A render of Nicolas Reid's proposal for a Waitematā Bridge to the east of the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge, as seen from Meola Reef in the inner harbour.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Apr 6

"Invest in PT, walking, cycling & rail, and rapidly electrify the vehicle fleet. It'll save us money, shield us from fuel shocks and give us cleaner air, safer streets, less congestion, more freedom of choice. What’s not to like?" Op-ed by @connorsharp.bsky.social: www.thepost.co.nz/business/360...

A screenshot from The Post homepage, of the headline of Connor Sharp's op-ed today. The headline reads: "Iran war, oil shock crisis reveals the folly of a system reliant on fossil fuel", below an image of rows of vehicles queuing two deep in a single lane, with a van parked on the grassed berm.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Mar 2

"Per household in Auckland/ Northland, it's over $30k. Like, if you put a $30k solar system on every house... you'd still have a billion dollars left over!"🤯 @connorsharp.bsky.social talks @bernardchickey.bsky.social through the cost of the latest Road of National Significance (Northern Expressway)

Bernard Hickey (L) talking to Connor Sharp (R) about newly revealed documents on the costs & timing of the Northern Expressway, starting with Stage 1, Warkworth to Te Hana and eventually going all the way to Whāngarei. They're laughing ruefully, in disbelief at the numbers involved.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Feb 25

Interesting poll. NZers support infrastructure investment – but strongly prefer flood-protection, renewable energy, and rail... ...vs. Roads of National Significance, a new harbour crossing, and an LNG import terminal. 🤨 Charts from www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360... via @bernardchickey.bsky.social

Results from a new Freshwater Strategy poll for The Post, in the wake of warnings from the Infrastructure Commission / Te Waihanga about the affordability of current and future plans. The question: Do you believe the government should place more, less, or about the same level of focus on delivering large national mega projects. The response:
12% said "much more"
32% "somewhat more"
34% "about the same as now"
13% "somewhat less focus"
4% "much less focus"
and 5% were unsure.

Futher results from a new Freshwater Strategy poll for The Post, in the wake of warnings from the Infrastructure Commission / Te Waihanga about the affordability of current and future plans for infrastructure. The headline: "Voters are more likely to support all prompted projects, though a second Auckland harbour crossing and import terminal for LNG are more likely to be divisive."

This somewhat buries the lede, in that there are three projects that fewer than 50% of respondents support (although all projects on the chart show "Net Support" when considering just support/ opposed).

The least supported projects are:

The Roads of National Significance Programme (49% support, 26% neutral, 15% unsure and 11% opposed. Net support: +38)
A second Auckland Harbour Crossing (39% support, 28% neutral, 7% unsure, and 26% opposed - the highest level of opposite of any of the projects shown. Net support: +13)
An import terminal for Liquified Natural Gas (30% support, 33% neutral, 18% unsure and 19% opposed. Net support: +11)

At the top of the chart, with strong support:
Large scale flood protection works for regional cities (77% support, 13% neutral, 3% unsure, and 7% opposed. Net support +70)
A national renewable energy "super grid" (61% support, 23% neutral, 8% unsure and 9% opposed. Net support +52)
Increased electrification of the national rail network (55% support, 25% neutral, 9% unsure and 11% opposed. Net support +44)
A new, faster, interisland transport link at Clifford Bay (54% support, 26% neutral, 6% unsure, and 15% opposed. Net support +39).

Note that even in terms of net support, when it comes to transport projects "electrifying rail" and "new interisland transport link" outrank the RONS programme and the next Auckland Harbour Crossing.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Feb 12

Posted without comment... but with emojis 🧶🪱🤔🤨 (From the fast-track application for Auckland's NW busway: www.fasttrack.govt.nz/projects/nor... )

From the current design for the NW busway along SH16 in Auckland. Showing the busway as it approaches the city, rising up over the top of the existing Waima St footbridge, then plunging down to go under the Newton Rd viaduct, and then somehow joining Ian McKinnon Drive at the dip... where the existing cycleway way is proposed to become... an underpass below the busway?? Questions, questions.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Feb 12

It's there - but not highlighted, as there's no change to it other than this access:

A close-up of plans for the NW busway, showing a proposed relocated access point to the NW cycleway at Triangle Road.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Jan 19

Oh snap.

The two guys on a bus meme, with similar vibes and colours to the composite image at the top of the quoted article in The Press, which pictures two diverging visions for Wellington:
1) a shadowy Chris Bishop, with an image of cars and people disappearing into some stark concrete tunnels
2) a brightly lit Julie Anne Genter, with an image of colourful light rail and people enjoying a streetscape with trees and shops.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Nov 14

“Upgrade station access”… but you can’t actually access the station unless you’re in a car.😖 What gives, NZTA?🤨 Pedestrian access was clearly shown in earlier planning docs—but now there‘s “no space”? Is this removing footpaths to add more turning lanes? Or what? www.gets.govt.nz/NZTAHNO/Exte...

A screenshot of an NZTA tender description for a station access “upgrade” for the new planned Ngākōroa station (formerly known by the placeholder name Drury West) in South Auckland. The highlighted line reads: “Due to the restricted space available, no pedestrian facilities or crossings have been included.” And yet…

From earlier planning docs, showing the intersection that’s to be “upgraded” at top right. Promised design definitely includes footpaths + crossings for human beings on feet and on wheels.

A closer look at the intersection in question, from earlier plans - it definitely includes crossings and shared walk/ bike facilities. These have now been deemed “not included” in the October 2025 tender callout. Because of “restricted space”. Show us your working, NZTA.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Oct 9

"Auckland Solutions for Wellington Problems" 🙃 @scootfoundation.bsky.social – the semi-serious and proudly Auckland-based candidate for mayor of Wellington – proposes a southern "city rail link", connecting the airport to the heart of the city. A capital idea! How about it, cousins?

A tweet by ScootFoundation, aka Scott Caldwell, who is running semi-jocularly for Mayor of Wellington. It contains an image of a proposed Wellington City Rail Link, and the text: "Auckland and Wellington faced the same problem: the train system doesn’t take you into the heart of the city The difference? Auckland is doing something about it: the CRL.
As mayor, I promise to bring Auckland Solutions for Wellington Problems.
Vote scoot #1 today!"

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Sep 29

Three major crashes today on roads where the current NZ govt *increased* the speed limit (previously lowered for safety reasons) in pursuit of "productivity"? Serious injuries. Lengthy closures. Costly disruptions to lives, whānau, the transport network, our health system. This is not productive. 😞

"Pedestrian seriously injured after being hit by car, Botany Rd in East Auckland closed." Screenshot of a news story in the NZ Herald from Monday 29 September 2025. The first line of the story reads: "A worker close to the site where a pedestrian was struck by a car in East Auckland said he heard a loud “bang” noise before a rush of sirens."

This year, Botany Rd was one of over 1400 Auckland streets that had its speed limit raised by order of the current government, in this case, from 50km/h back up to 60km/h. In a move that runs counter to evidence and good practice, the government's new Speed Rule (authored by Simeon Brown and rolled out by Chris Bishop) *reversed* speed reductions implemented since 2020 on the spurious grounds that safer speeds impacted "productivity".

The speed reductions were aimed at making roads safer for everyone using them, whether in a car or not. A quick search of "Botany Rd serious crash" explains why Botany was one of them.

Today's crash seems to have happened along a stretch of Botany Rd that has shops and bus stops on both sides of the road, but the nearest signalised crossings are around half a kilometre away in either direction.

"Six hurt in SH1 crash near Taupō." Screenshot of a Radio NZ news story from Monday 29 September 2025. This stretch of State Highway 1 recently had its speed limit raised back up to 100kmh from 60kmh. The speed limit had been lowered due to a history of serious and fatal crashes along this key route.

Many locals were appalled by the reversal, as the highway runs through popular and busy holiday towns. For context, see this story from June 2025, in which the Taupō District Council's deputy mayor describes it as "grossly inappropriate”. https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/360717092/holiday-communities-livid-about-speed-limit-reversals and this NZ Herald story https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/new-speed-rules-100kmh-through-a-lake-taupo-campground/G2VZI4VSJZCTLKP3K444D6H2VU/ which describes some of the worst crashes in this area. "Until 2020, the speed limit remained 100km/h. Between 2000 and August 2023, there were 284 crashes reported on the 10km stretch of road from Motutere to Hallets Bay. Nine were fatal and 22 others were serious."

"'Significant delays' afer stock truck rolls on SH5 Napier Taupō Road." Screenshot of a Radio NZ news story from Monday 29 September 2025. SH5 had its speed limit raised this year back up to 100km/h from 80km/h, as a priority of the current government.

Speeds had been reduced to 80km/h due to the ongoing history of serious and fatal crashes on this highway, which is the only link between Napier and Taupō. The return to 100km/h sparked concern from road safety experts.

For further context, see this story from February 2025: "An independent study released after the drop to 80km/h concluded the lower speed limit on Napier-Taupō Rd prevented 34 crashes in the first 12 months following its implementation. Crash data also showed there had been fewer crashes on Napier-Taupō Rd since the drop to 80km/h." https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/napier-taupo-rd-speed-limit-rise-to-100kmh-sparks-safety-debate/5QTIH2LPTFGAFAAOWTME3AD7IE/

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Sep 24

"Wtf is going on?" You can count on @haydendonnell.bsky.social to ask the major questions – and today's live-blog of Auckland Council's housing debate was no exception. (Includes faithful transcription of some highly questionable metaphors.) thespinoff.co.nz/politics/24-...

Text from the linked Spinoff article by Hayden Donnell. This snippet reads:

Wtf is going on

Waitematā councillor Mike Lee is speaking against today’s proposed plan change. Or at least I think he is. He’s talking about the Byzantine emperor Theophiles, who reigned from 829 to 842AD. “The emperor was processing from one end of Constantinople to another as he did every week and he was stopped by an elderly widow who complained to the emperor that a relation, I think it was his brother-in-law, was expanding the palace so much so to block all her light,” he says. “And the emperor responded by having his brother-in-law tear down the palace. And I think we should take an example from that.”

Something to think about, for sure.

Another snippet from Hayden's coverage of today's meeting, this time Maurice Williamson's choice of metaphors for the two options. It reads:

Incisive stuff. But then, a controversial moment. “We’ve been almost given the choice between the firing squad and a lethal injection,” says Williamson. There’s a hubbub around the council table. It’s not the first time councillors have used questionable metaphors when opposing dense housing, with Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa councillor Christine Fletcher comparing the townhouse law to “gang rape” in a meeting four years ago. “I’m asking for the violent language to stop when we talk about housing,” says committee chair Richard Hills. “It’s a metaphor,” grouses Williamson, though he agrees to amend to “two ghastly options”.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Sep 8

"How have we allowed the humble bicycle to be weaponised? How have we created a property right in curb-side parking? [...] Transport policy is not just about least-cost now. Policy choices shape where we live and how we live our lives." A good read from Rod Carr: www.thepost.co.nz/business/360...

The image shows a bike flag made by a child: handmade paper banners attached to a bamboo wand, saying: "We want bike lanes", "BIKES ARE CHOICE", and "ANYWHERE" (with a cool picture of a ringed planet).

The picture was taken at an all-ages rally held in February 2018, when hundreds of kids & adults biked the route of the planned local cycle network through Auckland's Grey Lynn, as a public show of support and a demonstration of the scale of local suppressed demand. Video of the ride is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A67JPfe5tH0

At the end of the ride, Auckland Transport's then-CEO expressed "unwavering commitment" to delivering the network. Almost eight years later, the then-primary school child who made these banners is at university, and the bike lanes are yet to be constructed. Meanwhile, Auckland is seeing climate change impacts at street level... including a swathe of local houses lost to flooding in recent extreme weather events. (Ironically, the space where they stood will become a short blue-greenway walk/bike link.)

In a small piece of good news, a section of the original plan (Surrey Crescent, past Grey Lynn School as far as the Bullock Track) is set to be installed before Christmas 2025, as part of a scheduled road renewal that's taking a "build back better" approach. This has strong support from community members, the residents' association, business association and schools. That will leave Old Mill Rd and a section of Garnet Rd, and once complete, this local section will connect the Great North Road bike lanes at the city end to the recently constructed Meola Road/ Westmere Village/ Pt Chev local bike lanes at the other.

The bit about to get underway is a win, and better late than never. And yet it's still just one part of a much larger and necessary picture – as per the linked op-ed, which calls for "more affordable, more sustainable, and more resilient transport technologies in New Zealand". (Image credit and alt text: Jolisa Gracewood)

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· May 1

Got a great idea. at.govt.nz/about-us/new...

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Apr 19

Always

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Dec 13

Wild that "extent to which this project is bigger than it needs to be" was a key criteria driving light-rail decision making. A sorry tale of a good project sadly becoming rotten to its core over time.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Nov 25

We still need wayyyy more housing.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Nov 18

Never forget what they took from you.

Greater Auckland@greaterauckland· Nov 8

😍