44 Bowen Street
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5400
F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
29 May 2025
Timothy Parker
[FYI request #29981 email]
REF: OIA-18269
Dear Timothy
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email of 1 May 2025 requesting the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
Concept or developed scheme designs of SH1 from the Terrace Tunnel to Cobham Drive,
including lane configuration plans, overview plans, potential landscaping, etc, created during
the LGWM programme. This work will have been produced to inform (a) renders and graphics
of the proposed changes used in public communications; and (b) microsimulation modelling.
The information you requested has been identified within the Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM)
Indicative Business Case and Detailed Business Case documents. As you may be aware, following
the dissolution of LGWM, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) took over the planning and
delivery of the State Highway 1 Wellington improvements project (the Project).
NZTA is currently working on the investment case for the Project, which is expected to be considered
by the NZTA Board in mid-2025. The LGWM business case documents are under NZTA’s active
consideration as part of the development of the investment case.
I am withholding the information you requested under section 9(2)(ba)(ii) of the Act 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.
The investment case is expected to provide greater clarity for the Project, including the preferred
alignment along SH1, the proposed new Mt Victoria and Terrace tunnels, and upgrades to the Basin
Reserve. At this stage, any designs, drawings, or graphic representations of the Project are likely to
form part of our engagement process in the next phase. This process will involve key stakeholders,
including potentially affected landowners within the project corridor. As such, NZTA may not be in a
position to release this information until that engagement has taken place and any property
negotiations have concluded.
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 this information. The contact details for the Ombudsman can be located at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
If you would like to discuss this reply with NZTA, please contact the Ministerial Services team by email
to [NZTA request email].
Yours sincerely
Jackie Smith
Manager Ministerial Services, Regulatory
