Auckland Transport Alignment Project
Leading advice to Government on the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP), as a cross-agency partner.
Auckland Transport Alignment Project
What you need to know
Parliament has passed the Local Government (Auckland Council) (Transport Governance) Amendment Act 2026, which reforms the way that transport is governed, planned and delivered in Auckland. The new Act came into force on May 7, 2026.
The reforms will ensure greater democratic accountability for transport decision-making in Auckland and strengthen the role of the Government and Auckland Council in long-term transport planning for Auckland.
The new Act sets out a range of key changes to transport arrangements in Auckland:
· establishing an Auckland Regional Transport Committee (ARTC), with voting members comprising Ministerial appointees and Auckland Council elected members, as well as a chair jointly appointed by the Minister of Transport and the Mayor of Auckland;
· providing for the ARTC to prepare a 30-year transport plan for Auckland, the Regional Land Transport Plan (for approval by Auckland Council) and to undertake other functions as delegated by Government or Auckland Council;
· moving most local transport functions, including policy and planning functions as well as Road Controlling Authority status, from Auckland Transport to Auckland Council;
· reforming Auckland Transport into a transport council-controlled organisation (the transport CCO) focused on providing public transport services in Auckland; and
· allocating some specific transport decisions to Auckland Council’s local boards.
What is happening next?
The new Act allows for a transition period of up to six-months. New transport arrangements are expected to be in place by November 2026.
Auckland Council has established a work programme to implement the reforms to local transport arrangements. The Ministry of Transport is also supporting the Minister of Transport to fulfil the Government’s responsibilities throughout the transition.
Government responsibilities include establishment of the ARTC (in collaboration with Auckland Council), review and approval of the Auckland Roading Classification Framework, and supporting the transfer of assets and other relevant matters from the transport CCO to Auckland Council.