Auckland harbour crossing just 'electioneering'

Prime minister Chris Hipkins announced the government's preferred option for an additional Waitematā Harbour crossing on Sunday. (Image: NZME)

Oliver Lewis

Tue, 08 Aug 2023

If you’re going to announce a multi-decade project worth tens of billions of dollars, it’s usually prudent to wait until all the facts are in hand.On Sunday in Auckland, prime minister Chris Hipkins and transport minister David Parker told New Zealand their preferred option for an additional Waitematā Harbour crossing: two road tunnels and a looping 21-kilometre light-rail tunnel burrowed under the harbour.The cost? A staggeringly expensive $35-$45 billion (for context, in 2021-22 the transport agency, Waka Kotahi, valued the entire...

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