Funding tick to complete Eastern Busway Funding tick to complete Eastern Busway
Date: 12 February 2026
Cost savings and additional funding will allow the final stretch of the Eastern Busway to be built, enabling buses to directly connect to Botany Town Centre on a corridor separate to other traffic.
The final section of busway to be built from Tī Rākau Drive through Guys Reserve Whakamaumahara was previously unfunded, with a plan to provide an interim bus route in general traffic for the final section where Tī Rākau Drive meets Botany Town Centre.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and Auckland Council have confirmed $101 million in funding to enable construction of the Botany link route at Guys Reserve. Significant overall programme savings and efficient delivery have helped contribute towards the funding.
AT’s Eastern Busway Alliance will start construction in March.
Auckland Council Transport and Infrastructure Delivery Committee Chair Andy Baker says: “The council has made a significant contribution to the overall Eastern Busway project. It’s one of the largest investments we’ve made, outside of the City Rail Link, so it’s good to see progress is being made to complete this route.”
“It is a key part of Auckland’s rapid transit network connecting East Auckland to the wider region, meaning passengers will, in future, be able to use the busway from Botany to Panmure and transfer to trains accessing City Rail Link stations or other destinations across Auckland,
Howick Councillor Maurice Willamson says: "I have been advocating for major transport improvements for East Auckland for a number of years, so it is great to have opened the Reeves Road Flyover last year and now to be able to confirm the full completion of the Eastern Busway."
“This will give Aucklanders more choices to either drive or catch rapid, reliable buses that they've never had access to in the past, making it easier to get to work, school and see family and friends."
Auckland Transport Eastern Busway Programme Director Andy Huang says completion of the final section of the busway has been made possible by delivering the project ahead of schedule to date and under budget.
“Auckland Transport and our alliance partners have focused on strong up-front planning, efficient delivery and innovation. This, along with additional Government and Auckland Council funding, has helped us to be able to deliver the Eastern Busway’s full benefits when it opens in 2027.
“People in Botany will be connected to Pakūranga and Panmure by buses that don’t get stuck in traffic. Botany to Auckland's city centre will take a reliable 40 minutes by bus and train.
“The Eastern Busway is a key part of Auckland’s rapid transit network connecting East Auckland to the wider region, providing quicker and more reliable journeys.
“It’s part of a plan to give all Aucklanders more travel choices to make their everyday lives better, including easier access to jobs, education, essential services, recreation, whānau and friends.”
Completing the full busway to Botany Town Centre allows it to integrate with the future Airport to Botany Busway, expanding public transport accessibility for South and East Auckland residents.
“More than just a transport project, while completing works, the team will enhance the stormwater pond in Guys Reserve Whakamaumahara to support the growth of native plants and construct a 600-metre walking and cycling path, enhancing access for the Huntington Park community,” says Mr Huang.
Delivered in partnership with mana whenua, Whakamaumahara, meaning to remember or remembrance, was named by Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki. The name honours their tūpuna, maunga, whenua and awa, and reflects the important histories and events connected to this place.
Work continues at pace to deliver the rest of the Eastern Busway along Tī Rākau Drive.
Following the opening of Rā Hihi flyover in October 2025, the complex upgrade of Tī Rākau Drive/Pakūranga Highway intersection was delivered in just two weeks in late December and early January.
In mid-February, construction along Tī Rākau Drive will move into its next milestone configuration as traffic heading towards Botany shifts temporarily onto the new busway lanes, opening up the next construction area for work to begin. As the alliance continues to construct the busway along Tī Rākau Drive, two lanes will always remain open in each direction for vehicles.
The Eastern Busway is delivered by an alliance of Auckland Transport with Fletcher Construction, ACCIONA, AECOM and Jacobs, in partnership with mana whenua.
Project details
The Eastern Busway will open in 2027. By 2028, the busway is expected to carry 18,000 passengers per day with projections rising to 24,000 passengers per day by 2048.
The project includes 12km of dedicated walking and cycleways, 7km of busway and 5 new stations. It will deliver wide-ranging benefits for the area, increasing access to jobs and education, and attracting investment and growth.
People can already use the busway between Pakūranga and Panmure Station, where they can connect to trains to the city and the south. When the City Rail Link opens in the second half of this year, people will be able to easily get to even more places on a bus and direct train such as Eden Park, New Lynn and Henderson.