Funding and partners
Funding
The start-up service will be funded through passenger fares, a Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency subsidy and Waikato Regional Council and Waikato District Council rates.
Through Waikato Regional Council’s Long Term Plan 2021-2031, it was calculated that for the financial year 2021/22 the Hamilton ratepayers would pay a $20 uniform charge, plus $1.26 per $100,000 of capital value capped at $5 million. Waikato District Council also approved through their Long Term Plan 2021-2031 a local share contribution for Te Huia of $220,000 for 2021/22.
The construction of Rotokauri Transport Hub and the upgrades to Huntly station were funded via a Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency subsidy and Hamilton City Council and Waikato District Council rates respectively.
Partners
Establishing a passenger rail service between Waikato and Auckland is a transformational project for the Waikato region.
It is being led by the Waikato Regional Council, with partners KiwiRail, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Hamilton City Council, Waikato District Council and Auckland Transport.
The development of passenger rail aligns with the Government’s Policy Statement on Land Transport which is committed to creating an efficient, modern and resilient transport system across all transport modes. You can read about it here.
A passenger rail connection between Hamilton and Auckland is one of a number of priority projects of the Hamilton to Auckland Corridor Plan (a joint iwi-council-central government initiative).
