Open Letter to Auckland Transport about Project K
This is a letter we will be sending to Auckland Transport to ask they return to the original consulted and endorsed plans on the Karanga-a-Hape Station precinct integration project, after they released significant changes to designs last week.
If you would like to be added as a signatory, please reach out to us at admin@greaterauckland.org.nz
Let us know if you live or work in the Karangahape Road area as well (but anyone is welcome to sign on).
Kia ora koutou katoa,
We are writing this letter to ask Auckland Transport to reverse their recent and unconsulted changes to the designs for the Karanga-a-Hape Station precinct integration project.
This project’s stated aim from the start has been to maximise the value of the City Rail Link, a $5.5 billion project which will transform this city and the Karangahape neighbourhood. Over 2023 and 2024, this project followed a good process, with excellent and regular community engagement.
There have also been a number of design adjustments and additions along the way. Many addressed people's genuine concerns without compromising the project, while others met local aspirations to enhance the project's outcomes. In general, Auckland Transport’s project team has done a fantastic job.
However, as only became evident at the end of a workshop presentation to the Waitematā local Board on the 8th of April 2025, Auckland Transport has changed the supported and consulted designs for the Karanga-a-Hape Station precinct integration project, with drastic impacts for the designs on Cross Street, Canada Street, and East Street. This follows the recent reversal of well supported plans to implement a pedestrian mall on Upper Mercury Lane citing the threat of legal action from a persistent vocal stakeholder.
None of these changes were consulted on with key stakeholders and the wider community who participated, in good faith, in workshops and consultations throughout 2023 to arrive at a well-supported design. What’s worse is that all of these changes are in direct opposition to the results of that careful and considerate work with the community - thus undoing public confidence in the process, and in Auckland Transport.
People supported a pedestrian mall on Upper Mercury Lane, under the special consultative requirement set out in the Local Government Act. Auckland Transport has removed this from the design.
People supported removing car parking on Cross Street in favour of loading zones and wider, more accessible footpaths with attractive planters. Auckland Transport have removed these from the design.
People supported keeping the protected cycleway on East St. Auckland Transport has removed this from the design to allow two-way traffic, and has replaced a safe cycleway with painted sharrows - a clear downgrade of safety and accessibility.
People asked for more green space, trees, and planters, Auckland Transport have removed these from the design to enable increased traffic access.
The widely consulted plans were unanimously supported in 2023 by the Waitematā Local Board and approved by the Auckland Council Governing Body and the Board of Auckland Transport. Where further work and adjustments were needed, the project team engaged with community stakeholders to contribute to the design of the project, who showed support for enhancing the consulted plans, removing parking for more people-friendly space, and more street amenities like planters.
The original plans are well-aligned with the broader vision and strategy for the City Centre, as outlined in the City Centre Masterplan, City Centre Action Plan, and Access for Everyone.
Auckland Transport has not yet publicly given a satisfactory rationale for this extraordinary last-minute U-turn. We are deeply concerned that it is the result of backroom lobbying by a vocal minority who are unhappy with the intended changes, and that AT’s leadership has changed the project at the last minute, when it is already well under construction.
We ask that Auckland Transport returns to implementing the consulted and agreed upon plans that were highly supported by those who engaged in good faith with the project. Ignoring that public support not only undermines public confidence in consultative processes, but risks loss of social licence for any future such projects.
By returning to the plan you do have social licence for, Auckland Transport will deliver the street environment as promised, maximising the value and impact of the CRL on the Karangahape Road Area while honouring both the consultation process and the aspirations of Aucklanders.
Ngā mihi
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Thanks Connor - have emailed. Good to see Simon Wilson taking up the mantle in the NZ Herald over the weekend.