This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Official Information request 'Waterview Tunnels Opening Ceremony Cost'.
   
50 Victoria Street 
Private Bag 6995 
 
Wellington 6141 
 
New Zealand 
 
T 64 4 894 5400 
F 64 4 894 6100 
 
www.nzta.govt.nz 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3 October 2022 
 
 
 
 
 
 Phillip Hart  
[FYI request #20314 email] 
REF: OIA-10830 
 
Dear Phil 
 
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982 
 
Thank you for your email of 22 August 2022 requesting the following information under the Official 
Information Act 1982 (the Act): 
 
Please supply a detailed breakdown of all the costs incurred for the opening ceremony and events 
for the Waterview Tunnel in June 2017: 
 
"A number of formal and community celebration events were held in between Sunday 18 and 
Tuesday 27 June 2017." 

 
Based on currently available information, the costs for Waterview Connection public open days at the 
completion of the project in 2017 are outlined in the below table: 
  Event category 
Costs  
Cost of the opening ceremony events 
$760,000 
Events over the 5-year construction period 
$228,000 
Tunnel Boring Breakthrough Events  
$172,000 
Total 
$1,160,000 
 
For context, the total cost of the development and construction of this major infrastructure project was 
$1.4 bil ion. The opening ceremony events were spread across three days and included a limited 
viewing for the contractors who built the tunnel, following by public walk throughs and cycle trips into 
the tunnel. It also included the opening ceremony, dawn blessing and a charity event. The charity 
event resulted in a donation of approximately $80,000 to Ronald McDonald House. 
 
The costs to plan and deliver these events included temporary traffic management (TTM), transport, 
security, catering, videography / photography, portaloo hire, marquee hire and more.  
 
A number of these events were planned and delivered by the Well-Connected Alliance (the Al iance), 
which has since been disestablished. A further breakdown of the costs to plan and deliver the Al iance 
events is not available. 
 
Celebrating the completion and opening of major new transport projects has occurred in New Zealand 
for a long period of time, including for the opening of the Waterview Tunnel. The events recognise 
years of disruption for local communities and acknowledge the important contributions of partners 
such as local councils and iwi. They provide the local communities, stakeholders, project staff and 
 
  


their families a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a fully completed project up close before it 
becomes an active part of the transport network and off-limits to foot traffic. 
 
Public open days in particular are highly valued by local communities with strong demand for the 
opportunity to participate in events which often include allowing thousands of people to walk or cycle 
on new roads before they open to traffic. Planning and delivering opening events of this scale and 
managing them safely is a major logistical exercise which does come at a cost.  
 
If you would like to discuss this reply with Waka Kotahi, please contact Ministerial Services, by email 
to [email address]. 
 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
 
Karen Jones 
General Manager Engagement and Partnership