Mayor's column – A road that must connect more than places

Published on 20 April 2026

A fortnightly column by Whangārei Mayor Ken Couper.

The future connectivity of Northland is tied to one critical piece of infrastructure: a safe, reliable, four-lane highway between Warkworth and Te Hana. 

How we fund it, how we build it and how it is delivered will shape our region’s future and define the partnership between Northland and Central Government. 

Auckland’s regional deal shows what is possible when the Government and a region align around a shared direction. Northland is ready for that same approach, with this road as its centrepiece. 

There is no question the Warkworth to Te Hana highway is essential. It is Northland’s primary connection to Auckland, supporting access to employment, education, specialist health services, freight movement and our visitor economy. This is not a discretionary route. 

I want to acknowledge and thank the Government for its commitment to delivering it. Northland has waited a long time for this investment and it matters. 

We also need to be realistic. Infrastructure of this scale costs money. As a country, we are going to have to pay for it, and that is why Whangārei District Council supports tolling in principle, provided it is fair and affordable for our region. 

For Northland, tolling reflects the reality that there are no viable alternative routes for the highway. This is about access, not choice.

For some time now, I have said our region is ready to move from talking about potential to delivering real outcomes. We have infrastructure projects within reach that can lift Northland, but only if we work to anchor a long-term funding and investment partnership with the Government. 

That partnership must be grounded in a clear understanding of Northland’s realities and a shared commitment to solutions that work for our communities and the country as a whole. 

Importantly, this momentum is not coming from local government alone. Industry and business across Northland are already working to unlock the key enablers for growth, including the Knowledge, Education and Arts (KEA) Hub proposal, port and rail infrastructure, and the industrial capacity at Marsden Point, so our region can contribute more to New Zealand’s economy. What is needed now is infrastructure that supports that ambition. 

What is genuinely eye watering, however, is the total cost currently being discussed for building the Warkworth to Brynderwyn corridor. That level of cost demands a constructive review of how major roads are planned, costed and delivered in New Zealand. 

NZTA Waka Kotahi has a central role in this. The way business cases are developed, the time it takes projects to move from concept to construction, and the efficiency of delivery all directly influence the final price tag. 

We also need to ask whether we are striking the right balance between safety, resilience and cost. In some cases, there may be opportunities to deliver fit-for-purpose infrastructure more efficiently without compromising outcomes. 

Time is money, and delays and inefficiencies inevitably drive up costs for communities and taxpayers alike. 

This matters because the cost of building the road flows directly into how it is funded. If tolls are part of the solution, then getting the build cost right is essential. 

Affordability matters at both ends. High construction costs place pressure on funding models, and that pressure flows through to tolls that Northland communities may struggle to absorb. 

With no realistic alternative routes, tolling here is a necessity, and that reality must be reflected in how it is designed. 

The way forward is collaboration. The Government, NZTA and Northland need to work through this together. 

If we get this right, the Warkworth to Te Hana highway can become more than a road. It can be the backbone of a stronger partnership and a more prosperous future for Northland.