Good afternoon Andrew,

 

The planned rail upgrades between Kauri and Otiria are currently paused,
pending the Government's decision about building the Marsden Point Rail
Link (MPRL). Reopening the mothballed line was added to the MPRL project
business case in 2024 - see more in the press release we put out at the
time.

[1]https://www.kiwirail.co.nz/media/rail-up...

This does mean that the budgeted spend, and any further allocations are
subject to further decisions on the line.

 

However, we have completed the stormwater improvement works to the Otiria
rail yard, and have carried out track / bridge inspections to get an
understanding of the state of the infrastructure assets between Kauri and
Otiria.

 

KiwiRail submitted an updated detailed business case to build the MPRL /
reopen Kauri - Otiria to the Government in July 2025. At the request of
the Rail Minister, we then explored market interest in the design,
construction, operation, funding, and/or ownership of the MPRL and
launched an Expression of Interest process. The outcome of that process
will be reported to the Minister in the coming months.

 

Essentially Kauri - Otiria and the MPRL are dependent on Government
funding decisions. The stock piles of concrete sleepers between Kauri and
Otiria have remained in place, pending a decision.

 

Thanks,

 

Dave

Dave Allard  | Senior Government Relations Advisor

DDI: 027 201 8182
Level 4, Wellington Railway Station, Bunny Street, Wellington 6011 | PO
Box 593, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

[2]Description: Description: cid:image001.png@01D46098.E77643D0

[3]www.kiwirail.co.nz

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Andrew Jones <[4][FOI #33810 email]>

Sent: Monday, February 23, 2026 11:32 AM

To: KiwiRail <[5][email address]>

Subject: Official Information request - Northland Rail Line beyond Kauri

 

CAUTION EXTERNAL EMAIL: Do not click links or open attachments unless you
know the content is safe.

 

Dear KiwiRail,

 

Can you provide an update as works for the upgrade between Kauri & Otiria,
as since 2023 no work has been witnessed on the line, and while concrete
sleepers have been placed along the line, in many places no further work
has been completed.

 

Given that along the line it has been noticed that many of the weeds have
returned, and in some places that trees have are started to grow in the
trackbed, what is the timeline for the upgrades to the track and how much
of the allocated money has been spent, and how much money remains for the
upgrades to the line moving forward.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Andrew Jones

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[6][FOI #33810 email]

 

Is [7][KiwiRail request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to KiwiRail? If so, please contact us using this form:

[8]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[9]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.kiwirail.co.nz/media/rail-up...
3. http://www.kiwirail.co.nz/
4. mailto:[FOI #33810 email]
5. mailto:[email address]
6. mailto:[FOI #33810 email]
7. mailto:[KiwiRail request email]
8. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
9. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections