Private companies could soon operate Bay of Plenty toll roads under a Government plan to accelerate infrastructure delivery.
The Government will begin market soundings next week with toll road investors, operators, and financiers, including discussions about the future management of the Takitimu Drive and Tauranga Eastern Link toll roads, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Chris Bishop said.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Chris Bishop. photo/ Mark Mitchell
The aim was to explore whether toll concessions – where a private company manages and maintains a toll road for a specified period – could accelerate road construction, leverage private sector expertise, and alleviate pressure on taxpayers, Bishop said
“Concessions could help us deliver new infrastructure faster by unlocking capital upfront and bringing in the skills of experienced global operators,” Bishop said.
New Zealand currently has three toll roads in operation, including two in the Bay, and three more are in development.
All future Roads of National Significance have also been flagged for tolling.
For the first time, the Government is open to private companies not just building roads but operating them, collecting tolls, and maintaining the infrastructure over several decades.
Under the model, ownership of the road would remain with the Crown.
“If it stacks up, a toll concession could allow a private partner to design, build, operate, and maintain a road, earning their return from toll revenue while freeing up government funds to accelerate other projects,” Bishop said.
The market sounding process will focus on six current or upcoming toll roads, including Tauranga’s Takitimu North Link and Auckland’s Penlink, as well as major future projects like the Waitematā Harbour crossing.
The Ministry of Transport has hired global investment bank Citi to advise on the process, drawing on its international experience with toll road concessions.
Bishop said the Government would use the insights from these discussions to determine whether to proceed with toll concessions, which ones might be viable, and how to structure them for maximum value.
Decisions on whether to move forward are expected later this year.
6 comments
Do it now!!...
Posted on 06-07-2025 13:09 | By groutby
...we need the overseas experience and coupled with local labour could be a good mix.
We cannot financially step up to do serious infrastrucure so surely the arrangement Mr Bishop had in mind could only be a good thing, and for those not wishing to use toll roads there will always be a free alternative....BUT...get on with it!..government 'stuff' always takes so long !!...I would prefer shovels in the ground later this year..not more talk...
Overit
Posted on 06-07-2025 13:38 | By overit
Are these tolls because of the Port?
deja vu
Posted on 06-07-2025 16:50 | By Duegatti
Private operators?
My first thought is regular toll rises.
And, we'll be following the same path as the electricity supply reforms.
Without guaranteed toll caps, this should be resisted.
It's all about the Marketing
Posted on 06-07-2025 17:07 | By Makkas1313
Yada yada yada . . And the real tax paying idiots believe the political marketing and once again put their hands into their now almost depleted pockets and pay for tax at the pumps and road users and registration and now tolls for roads that should have already been funded and maintained . . . A tax on getting to work to earn and pay more tax so that we can go food shopping and pay more tax and on it goes . . Proves this system does not work!!!!
Just a endless tax
Posted on 07-07-2025 08:31 | By an_alias
You know this is just a tax scam to toll and tax the cr@p out of Tauranga.
How does endless money going to private companies help productivity in Tauranga ?
Our land tax aka TGA council is bad enough, now lets tax every route in and out of Tauranga.
toll roads
Posted on 08-07-2025 08:05 | By peter pan
Nobody needs to pay as there is always an alternative freeway.
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