PHOTO: Mt Victoria Tunnel Wellington, New Zealand. FILE
Between April and June 2024, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) Waka Kotahi spent over seven times more on consultants than on its own staff for two major projects. During the same period, nearly $1.3 million was allocated to consultants, while NZTA staff costs amounted to $175,042, and contractor costs were $147,007.
In the 2023 election, the National Party promised to begin constructing a second Mt Victoria Tunnel within its first term. Following the cancellation of the $7.4 billion Let’s Get Wellington Moving plan, NZTA assumed responsibility for the tunnel’s planning, along with the Basin Reserve upgrade and the “long tunnel” concept—twin two-lane 4km tunnels from north of the Terrace to near Kilbirnie.
National campaigned on constructing a second Mt Victoria Tunnel. Photo: CC BY 2.0
Transport Minister Simeon Brown did not directly address concerns regarding the significant spending on consultants in a statement to RNZ. Instead, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the second Mt Victoria Tunnel project, noting efforts to bring the long tunnel proposal up to the same standard for comparison.
Brown mentioned that further advice on the feasibility, benefits, impacts, and costs of all tunnel options would be received later this year. Preliminary models suggested that the long tunnel could save up to 15 minutes in travel time, whereas the second Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve upgrade would save only two to three minutes.
SOIURCE: RNZ