44 Bowen Street
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5400
F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
15 July 2025
Libby Bentley
[FYI request #30736 email]
REF: OIA-18479
Dear Libby
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email
of 25 May 2025 requesting the fol owing information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
1. Any documentation (including ministerial briefings, internal memos, or Cabinet material) that
outlines funding decisions made for the End of Life Bridges Programme — including Budget
allocations or any other decisions relating to the commitment of public funding.
2. A list of al documents held that relate to the allocation or approval of funding for this
programme since January 2023, including the titles and dates of those documents.
3. Any summaries or documents outlining the programme's scope, intent, and rationale,
particularly where they relate to government funding commitments or expected outcomes.
4. If available, a list of the bridges included in the programme and any criteria used for their
selection.
5. I also request a copy of the formal business case, if such a document exists. However, if no
business case has been prepared, I would like to receive the most relevant documents.
I wil answer each part of your request in turn.
1. Any documentation (including ministerial briefings, internal memos, or Cabinet
material) that outlines funding decisions made for the End of Life Bridges Programme
— including Budget allocations or any other decisions relating to the commitment of
public funding.
The fol owing documents in Attachments 1 – 3, and 5 – 27 detailed in the appended schedule fall
within the scope of this part of your request and are enclosed.
Certain information is being withheld in these documents under section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect the
privacy of natural persons.
Certain information in Attachment 8 has been withheld under section 9(2)(g)(i) to maintain the effective
conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinions by or between or to
Ministers of the Crown or members of an organisation or officers and employees of any public service
agency or organisation in the course of their duty.
The financial information contained in these documents are estimates based on the information at that
point of time and do not represent what the final actual costs wil be.
Note that Attachments 26 and 27 relate to State Highway 25 Pepe Stream Bridge. The single stage
business case (SSBC) in Attachment 26 was completed in 2022 and reflects the thinking at the time.
The project has since moved into pre-implementation, and some parts of the SSBC are now out of
date or no longer aligned with the current Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024.
2. A list of all documents held that relate to the allocation or approval of funding for this
programme since January 2023, including the titles and dates of those documents.
These documents are listed in the appended schedule as Attachments 1 – 3 and 5 - 25.
3. Any summaries or documents outlining the programme's scope, intent, and rationale,
particularly where they relate to government funding commitments or expected
outcomes.
Attachment 4 falls within the scope of this part of your request and is enclosed.
There is also information that is publicly available on the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA)
website at: www.nzta.govt.nz/planning-and-investment/planning-and-investment-knowledge-
base/202427-nltp-investment-requirements/202427-nltp-activity-classes-and-work-categories/local-
road-and-state-highway-improvements-2/wc-216-bridge-and-structures-renewals-2/.
4. If available, a list of the bridges included in the programme and any criteria used for
their selection.
The fol owing list of bridges make up the End-of-Life Bridges Programme:
1) SH82 Elephant Hill Bridge
2) SH25 Pepe Stream Bridge
3) SH6 Coal Creek Overbridge
4) SH25 Ramarama Stream Bridge
5) SH43 Kururau Stream Water Drive
6) SH82 Waihao North Bridge
7) SH3 Mangapepeki No. 2 Culvert
8) SH36 Hauraki Stream Culvert
9) SH27 Ohinekaua Stream Bridge.
For the criteria, I refer you to the link above in the answer to question 3, as well as the fol owing
website which goes into even more detail on the End-of-Life Bridges Programme’s process:
www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/planning/business-case-approach/docs/Bridge-replacement-at-end-of-
life.pdf.
Note that we have included documents regarding the State Highway 35 Mangahauini No 1 Bridge and
State Highway 38 Frasertown Bridge. They are not listed above as the recommendations was for them
to undergo super structure maintenance, rather than ful renewal.
2
5. I also request a copy of the formal business case, if such a document exists. However,
if no business case has been prepared, I would like to receive the most relevant
documents.
The fol owing documents, Attachments 5 – 15, and 26 detailed in the appended schedule fall within
the scope of this part of your request and are enclosed.
Certain information is being withheld in these documents under section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect the
privacy of natural persons.
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.
In line with NZTA policy, this response will soon be published on our website, with personal
information removed.
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
3
OIA-18479 Document Schedule
Ref
Document
Date
Description
1.
MIN-4378 - Summary of proposed change to
5 February
Released in full.
Maintenance, Operation and Renewals activity
2024
classes
2.
MIN-4378 - follow-up queries
5 February
Released in full.
2024
3.
MIN-4378 – Supplementary questions regarding
8 February
Released in full.
bridge maintenance vs replacement
2024
4.
Bridge-replacement-at-end-of-life
1 February
Released in full.
2021
5.
FINAL - SH6 Coal Creek Overbridge SSBC Apr
11 February
Certain information withheld
2025
2025
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
6.
FINAL - SH25 Ramarama Bridge Replacement
19
Certain information withheld
SSBC lite
September
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
2024
7.
FINAL - SH27 Ohinekaua Stream Bridge SSBC
23
Certain information withheld
September
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
2024
8.
FINAL - SH35 Mangahauini No 1 Bridge
18 July 2024 Certain information withheld
Recommendation Report July 24
under section 9(2)(a) and
section 9(2)(g)(i) of the Act.
9.
FINAL - SH36 Hauraki Stream Culvert SSBC
23
Certain information withheld
September
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
2024
10.
FINAL - SH38 Frasertown Bridge Recommendation
27 June
Certain information withheld
Report 27 June 24
2024
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
11.
FINAL - SH82 Elephant Hill Bridge
13
Certain information withheld
November
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
2024
12.
FINAL - SH82 Waihao Nth River Bridge SSBC
20 October
Certain information withheld
23Oct2024
2024
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
13.
FINAL SH3 Mangapepeki No 2 Culvert SSBC
8 August
Certain information withheld
2024
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
14.
FOR REVIEW - Boundary Creek Bridge SSBClite
13 March
Certain information withheld
13Mar24
2024
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
15.
Kururau Stream Water Drive SSBC lite
29 August
Certain information withheld
2024
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
4
16. 4 .0_POE_National_State_Highway_End_of_Life_Br
21
Certain information withheld
idge_Replacement_Package_-
September
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
_Endorsed_by_Katie_Mayes_-
2023
_Approved_by_Howard
17. 8 .0 To inform - Next Phase SH3 Mangapepeki No.2
1 October
Certain information withheld
Culvert - approved by Kevin Wright 1 October 2024
2024
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
18. 9 .0 Next Phase Ramarama Stream Bridge (002) -
1 October
Certain information withheld
approved by Kevin wright 1 October 2024
2024
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
19. 9 .0 To inform - Next Phase SH43 Kururau Stream
1 October
Certain information withheld
Water Drive (002) - approved by Kevin Wright 1
2024
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
October 2024
20. 1 0.0 Next Phase SH27 Ohinekaua Stream Bridge
1 October
Certain information withheld
(002) - approved by Kevin Wright 1 October 2024
2024
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
21. 1 0.0 To inform - Next Phase SH25 Boundary Creek
9 May 2024
Certain information withheld
Bridge - Approved by Howard Cattermole
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
09.05.2024
22. 1 1.0 Next Phase SH36 Hauraki Stream Culvert
1 October
Certain information withheld
(002) - approved by Kevin Wright 1 October 2024
2024
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
23. 1 5.0 To inform - Next Phase SH82 Waihao North
14
Certain information withheld
River Bridge - approved by Howard Cattermole
November
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
14.11.24
2024
24. 1 8.0 To inform - Next Phase SH82 Elephant Hill
12
Certain information withheld
Stream Bridge - Approved by Howard Cattermole
December
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
12.12.24
2024
25.
Next Phase SH6 Coal Creek Overbridge - Approved 30 April
Certain information withheld
by Howard Cattermole 30.04.2025
2025
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
26.
SH25 Pepe Stream Bridge SSBC_for IQA
April 2022
Certain information withheld
under section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
27.
Excerpt from 220602 TS Business case and funding 15 June
Released in full.
decisions - Minutes Final
2022
5
