44 Bowen Street
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5400
F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
5 March 2025
Isaac Morrison
[FYI request #29427 email]
REF: OIA-17133
Dear Isaac
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email
of 3 December 2024 requesting information on the Roads of National
Significance (RoNS) under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). We have responded to part of
your request on 5 February 2025. I have addressed your remaining questions and my responses
below.
2. Specifically for the Hawke's Bay Expressway four-laning project:
- The ful business case
- Detailed BCR analysis
To provide some context to your request, the BCR for Stage 1 of the Hawkes Bay Expressway project
was approved by the NZTA Board in December 2024 as part of its considerations of the Stage 1
investment case. As this is part of a wider project, the BCR wil be progressively built upon as
investigations into other stages of the project are undertaken.
The NZTA Board has considered the Stage 1 BCR, as one part of the broader project and the benefits
an entire four lane corridor wil bring the region. This project has been identified as one of the priorities
in the Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024. In making its decisions, the Board wil
consider the project’s benefits as a whole.
As the business case and BCR for the ful project is stil under development, I am refusing this part of
your request under section 18(e) of the Act as the information request does not exist.
- Economic benefits assessment
The Economic benefits assessment has not yet been completed for the Hawkes Bay Expressway.
This wil not be completed until al corridor investment cases are finalised and approved by the NZTA
Board. This is expected to take place by the end of 2025. Therefore, I am refusing this part of your
request under section 18(e) of the Act as the information requested does not exist.
- Construction timeframes
Stage 1 (between Taradale Road and Pakowhai Road/Links Road roundabouts) is due to start in
September 2025 and completed by December 2028. Please note these dates are indicative until the
NZTA Board approves implementation funding. The timing for stages 2-4 wil be decided upon as the
project progresses. Indicative timeframes are available on the NZTA website at
www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/sh2-hawkes-bay-expressway/.
- Cost estimates
I am refusing this part of your request under section 18(d) of the Act as the information is publicly
available on the NZTA website at
www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/hawkes-bay-expressway-improvements/. As noted in our response of 5 February 2025, please also find enclosed
Woodend Bypass Economic
Assessment v03a. Certain information has been withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect
the privacy of natural persons, and section 9(2)(ba)(i ) to protect information which is subject to an
obligation of confidence or which any person has been or could be compelled to provide under the
authority of any enactment, where the making available of the information would be likely otherwise to
damage the public interest.
With respect to the information that has been withheld, I do not consider there are any other factors
which would render it desirable, in the public interest, to make the information available.
Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision to
withhold some information and refuse parts of this request. The contact details for the Ombudsman
can be located at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
In line with NZTA policy, this response wil soon be published on our website, with personal
information removed.
If you would like to discuss this matter further with NZTA, you are welcome to contact the Ministerial
Services team by email at [NZTA request email].
Yours sincerely
Robyn Elston
National Manager System Design
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