44 Bowen Street
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5400
F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
16 February 2026
John Armstrong
[FYI request #33538 email]
REF: OIA-20845
Dear John
Extension of time to respond to request made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email of 18 January 2026 requesting the fol owing information under the
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
1. Safety and Risk Assessments
Please provide copies of all risk assessments, engineering reports, technical
analyses, modelling, expert advice, memoranda, briefings, or internal assessments
relied upon by NZTA in forming the view that protest activity on the Auckland Harbour
Bridge is unsafe, including but not limited to:
a. Assessments relating to pedestrian loading, vibration, oscil ation, sway, or
dynamic loading of the bridge and clip-on structures
b. Assessments addressing structural integrity, fatigue, or long-term damage risk
c. Any comparative analysis between protest activity and other permitted events
involving pedestrians or vehicles
d. The dates, authors, qualifications, and commissioning instructions for each
assessment
2. Decision-Making and Risk Thresholds
Please provide:
a. The criteria, standards, guidelines, policies, or thresholds used by NZTA to
determine whether pedestrian or protest activity on the Auckland Harbour Bridge
presents an unacceptable safety risk
b. Any internal decision records, approval notes, or risk matrices applied when
declining permission for protest activity
c. Any documentation distinguishing between “control ed” and “uncontrolled” events,
and how this distinction is defined and applied
3. Permits, Applications, and Comparators (1 January 2024 – present)
For the period 1 January 2024 to the date of this request, please provide:
a. A list of al applications, requests, or notifications received by NZTA seeking
access to the Auckland Harbour Bridge or motorway network for protests, marches,
demonstrations, convoys, or public events
b. For each, whether approval was granted, declined, or not required
c. The reasons for approval or refusal and the supporting safety rationale
d. Copies of any permits, conditions, or refusals issued
This includes (but is not limited to) protests, marches, convoys, and major events
such as the Auckland Marathon.
4. Auckland Marathon and Other Approved Events
In relation to the Auckland Marathon and any other permitted events involving
pedestrian or event access across the Auckland Harbour Bridge, please provide:
a. The risk assessments and safety evaluations relied upon to approve such access
b. Any load, crowd density, or movement modelling undertaken
c. Any post-event safety or structural reviews
d. Any documentation explaining why these events were assessed as acceptable
when protest activity was not
5. Communications With Other Agencies
Please provide copies of correspondence, briefings, or joint planning documents
between NZTA and:
a. New Zealand Police
b. Auckland Council and/or Auckland Transport
relating to protest activity, enforcement planning, safety risk, or access decisions
concerning the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
6. Unauthorised or Unpermitted Activity
Please provide:
a. Records identifying any marches, protests, or events during the last 12 months
that proceeded without NZTA approval on or near the Auckland motorway network
b. Any assessments or reports on safety outcomes arising from those events
c. Any guidance or criteria used to determine when enforcement action is
recommended or required
This letter is to advise you that NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is extending the 20
working days available to respond to your request, as allowed for under section 15A of the Act.
We require an additional 15 working days and wil send you a response on or before 9 March
2026.
The deadline is being extended as your request necessitates a search through a large quantity of
information. In addition, the consultations necessary to make a decision on your request are such
that a thorough response cannot reasonably be made within the original 20-working-day limit.
Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to complain to the Ombudsman about the
extension. More information about the Ombudsman is available online at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
If you would like to discuss the extension with NZTA, please email the Ministerial Services team
via email to [NZTA request email].
Yours sincerely
Jackie Smith
Manager – Ministerial Services
