20 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Auckland 1010
Private Bag 92250, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
+64 9 355 3553 | at.govt.nz
18 June 2025
Isaac Morrison
[FYI request #30876 email]
Kia ora Isaac
The information you requested – CAS-1105925-L2G3J7
Thank you for your request for information dated 1 May 2025 asking for consultation
documentation, correspondence, strategic alignment, cost benefit analysis, design process
records, and technical reports in relation to Project K.
Please find our response below.
Consultation documentation
This information is available on our website. Please see the links particularly towards the bot om of
these pages:
-
https://at.govt.nz/projects-initiatives/city-centre-projects-and-initiatives/karanga-a-hape-station-
neighbourhood-and-bus-improvements-project.
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https:/ at.govt.nz/media/bhgbz2he/karangahape-road-precinct-community-engagement-summary-
report.pdf
Correspondence
Thank you for refining this part of your request on 29 May 2025 to
“What I am wanting to
understand is how these changes came to be implemented seemingly out of nowhere, what
conversations and considerations took place. How did a project with popular broad and public
approval get changed into something that flies in the face of not only local support but international
practice”.
Please refer to document titled Correspondence redacted.pdf. Some information in this document
is withheld under sections:
-7(2)(a) of the LGOIMA, to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased
natural persons.
Strategic Justification The Single Stage Business Case (SSBC) identifies the strategic alignment of the project with
relevant strategic documents at the time of writing. These include among others; City Centre
Masterplan 2020, Access for Everyone, Karangahape Road Plan 2014-2044, Transport Emissions
Reduction Pathway (TERP), Vision Zero. A copy of the SSBC is attached.
Design changes were considered in late 2024/early 2025, in response to stakeholder feedback
including from people who are directly affected by the project. Ongoing engagement is an
important part of any project, and Auckland Transport is committed to listening and responding to
feedback from project stakeholders. The proposed changes were to be taken to the Local Board
for feedback. However, we received significant feedback about the proposed changes and have
listened to this further feedback, and we are in the process of reconsidering any changes to ensure
alignment to strategic direction. We wil be reporting back to decision-makers on this process and
the outcomes later this month.
Cost Benefit analysis
Benefit-cost ratios for the project were primarily focussed on benefits for pedestrians, cyclists, bus
users and for safety, in comparison to the pre-existing City Rail Link design for the area. The total
benefit assessed for these elements was between $52.2m to $58.8m. At the time it was anticipated
that the disbenefit to people in cars for all the changes proposed in Minimum Viable and Preferred
Options may be up to -$6.8m to -$15.0m.
A further cost-benefit analysis was not completed during the period where design changes were
considered. Cost-benefit analyses typically apply at the project level and are completed during the
investigation (business case) phase. As outlined above we are currently revisiting the design
changes including how they align to the project business case.
Design process records
When the Waitematā Local Board endorsed the project in August 2023, it was with the
understanding that there was stil further investigation and stakeholder engagement to be done for
the final design of the ‘interim’ streets. For Cross St, the investigation looked at how to create
additional footpath space. On East St it focused on replacing the consulted design with a low-
speed, low-traffic street design that is safe for cyclists, due to the strong feedback from local
business and property owners. These recommended decisions are included in the
Karanga-a-
Hape Neighbourhood and Bus Improvements Engagement Feedback Report (
FINAL Karanga-
a-Hape Neighbourhood and Bus Improvements Engagement Feedback Report Final.docx). The
proposed design change outcomes as a result of these investigations were discussed internally
before being presented to the Local Board in April 2025 for discussion. The Local Board meeting
ran out of time to address this item, however, as the contents of the meeting were publicly
available, they were unable to provide feedback before this became a public issue.
The project is aware of its obligations for accountability and to its funders. There has been
significant review and feedback provided through on-site meetings, online meetings and in-person
meetings with the wider council group, the Waitematā Local Board, Council ors, the Karangahape
Business Association, the City Centre Advisory Panel and others. We have listened to the
feedback we have received, including that the project needs to clearly align to the City Centre
Masterplan, and this is being incorporated into the current work to revisit the recent design
changes.
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Technical reports justifying claims that redesigned features support particular outcomes
The project’s objectives are to make the station precinct safer, more accessible, more connected
and more attractive for all users. It extensively expands on what the CRL project was to deliver
beyond the station entrances. Differing requirements from different users and stakeholders have
created significant challenges for the project.
There are no ‘technical reports’ specifically related to the aspects you have requested. All of the
options improve on what CRL would otherwise have delivered within the precinct (see attached pdf
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CRL urban realm designs for Karanga-a-Hape Station, June 2021). As we have outlined above,
we wil release the outcomes and a report outlining the process we have fol owed, once we have
completed our work to review the recent design changes and had the opportunity to share these
with the Local Board.
Should you believe that we have not dealt with your request appropriately, you are able to make a
complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman in accordance with section 27(3) of the LGOIMA Act
and seek an investigation and review in regard to this matter.
Ngā mihi,
Phil Wrat
Engagement Manager
Customer Care
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