OIA24-421
Miss W Forest
Via email - [FYI request #28824 email]
Dear Miss Forest
I refer to your request dated 19 October 2024, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), asking:
Please provide the proposals from The Auckland Metro and Wellington which include
the budgetary requests for funding that ended up being split across the two at 48.8 /
52.9 basis.
Also please share the itemized budget items where the funding exactly must go if this
is earmarked for specific policy initiatives or whether it is left to the receiving entity to
allocate the funding as they see fit - in both Auckland and Wellington cases to see
how the local government is directing the funds precisely between the two and what
flexibility there is between the two.
The request is related to the below press release from 17 October:
"The Auckland metro rail network wil receive $48.8 mil ion, while Wellington’s
network will see investment of $52.9 million. This funding will support network
upgrades across Auckland’s metro rail lines and upgrades to the Johnsonvil e, Kāpiti,
and Hutt Valley lines in Wellington."
Please find my response below.
KiwiRail requested $107.7 million for renewals in Wellington and Auckland for FY2025. In
Budget 2024, the Government approved $107.7 million for infrastructure renewals in the two
metro networks, and $159.2 million to complete the major track foundation renewals –
known as the Rail Network Rebuild – in Auckland. This large investment in Auckland reflects
the need to raise the network of the standard ahead of the opening of the City Rail Link,
which will improve train travel times and increase service frequency across the city.
Following the Budget, KiwiRail prioritised a list of $101.7 million of renewals work in
Wellington and Auckland and presented this to the Transport Minister for approval. This
renewals programme was put together by KiwiRail, who has responsibility for the
Metropolitan Networks, in the form of “work banks”.
Attached are lists of the priority renewals work in Auckland and Wellington that will be
carried out with the Budget 2024 investment over 2024 and 2025. As the rail network is a
dynamic environment, please note that these are subject to a degree of change. Certain
information in these documents is withheld under section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the Act.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of this response by the Ombudsman,
in accordance with section 28(3) of the Act. The relevant details can be found on the
Ombudsman’s website:
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz. Yours sincerely
Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Transport
