This is a letter we will send to the transport of Auckland to ask that they return to the original consulted plans in the Integration Project of the Karanga-a-Hape Police Station, after disclosing significant changes in projects last week.
If you would like to be added as a signatory, contact us at admin@grearauuckland.org.nz
Kia ora koutou katoa,
We are writing this letter to ask Auckland’s transportation to reverse his recent and unanswered changes from the Karanga-a-Hape Police Station.
The declared objective of this project from the beginning was to maximize the value of City Rail Link, a project of $ 5.5 billion that will transform this city and the Karangahape neighborhood. More than 2023 and 2024, this project followed a good process, with excellent and regular community involvement.
There were also several design adjustments and additions. Many approached people’s genuine concerns without compromising the project, while others found local aspirations to improve project results. In general, Auckland Transport’s project team did a fantastic job.
However, as it only became evident at the end of a workshop presentation to the Waitematā Local Council on April 8, 2025, Auckland Transport changed the projects supported and consulted for the distance integration project of Karanga-a-Hape, with drastic changes in Cross Street, Canada Street and East Street. This follows the recent reversal of the plans to implement a pedestrian mall at Upper Mercury Lane, citing the threat of legal action of persistent vocal interest.
None of these changes have been consulted with the main stakeholders and the general community that participated in good faith in workshops and consultations throughout 2023 to reach a well -supported design. What’s worse is that all these changes are directly opposed to the results of this careful and attentive work with the community – undoing the public’s confidence in the process and transport of Auckland.
People supported a pedestrian mall at the Upper Mercury Lane, under the special advisory requirement established in the local government law. Auckland Transport has removed this from design.
People supported Cross Street parking removal in favor of loading zones and wider and more accessible trails with attractive planters. Auckland Transport has removed them from design.
People supported the maintenance of the East St. Auckland Transport bike lane removed this from design to allow bidirectional traffic and replaced a safe bike path with a light-painted safety and accessibility.
People have asked for more green space, trees and planters, Auckland Transport has removed so much from design to allow greater access to traffic.
The plans consulted were unanimously supported by 2023 by the Waitematā Local Council and approved by the Auckland Council ruler, the Auckland Transport Council. Where additional work and adjustments were needed, the project team was involved with stakeholders of the community to contribute to the design of the project, which showed support for improving the plans consulted, removing parking to a more friendly space for people and more street amenities as planters.
The original plans are well aligned with the broader vision and strategy for the city center, described in the city center’s master plan, the city center’s action plane and access to all.
Auckland’s transportation has not yet publicly given a satisfactory justification for this extraordinary reversal of gait. We are deeply concerned about the result of the back room lobby by a vocal minority that is unhappy with the intended changes and that the AT leadership has changed the project at the last minute when it is already under construction.
We ask Auckland’s transportation to return to the implementation of the agreed and agreed plans that were highly supported by those who were involved in good faith with the project. Ignoring that public support not only impairs public confidence in advisory processes, but risks the loss of social license for any future projects.
In doing so, Auckland Transport will deliver the street atmosphere as promised, maximizing the value and impact of CRL on the Karangahape Road area, while honors the consultation process and the aspirations of the Aucklanders.
Ngā mihi
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