Airport to Botany Bus Rapid Transit
Providing improved transport choice and journey times for south and east Aucklanders, including to and from Auckland Airport.
On this page
The Airport to Botany Bus Rapid Transit project will provide a fast, frequent and reliable public transport option between Auckland Airport, Manukau and Botany.
Project overview
The Airport to Botany Bus Rapid Transit project will deliver a new public transport route between the Auckland Airport, Manukau and Botany. It will improve accessibility in the southern and eastern areas of Auckland. It will also provide an important link in the rapid transit network, with connections to the rail network at Puhinui and Manukau stations and the Eastern Busway at a new Botany interchange.
This project will improve transport choice and journey times making travel on public transport to social, residential and commercial centres in the area easier and more reliable. A good public transport network helps cities evolve by providing better connections and improved accessibility. Affordable and efficient public transport has major economic, social and environmental benefits.
Te Ākitai Waiohua, Auckland Transport, the NZ Transport Agency and Auckland International Airport Limited (Auckland Airport) are working together to deliver the Airport to Botany Bus Rapid Transit project, which is part of the Southwest Gateway Programme.

Project benefits
The Airport to Botany Bus Rapid Transit Project will improve access between the southern and eastern areas of Auckland by:
- improving travel choices and journey times for people in south and east Auckland, with a reliable 35 to 40 minute journey time between Auckland Airport and Botany
- providing a 18km congestion-free rapid transit corridor with high-capacity services
- improving walking and cycling connections between Auckland Airport, Puhinui Station interchange, Manukau and Botany, with 18km of new facilities
- providing an important connection in the rapid transit network, connecting to the rail network at Puhinui station and Manukau, and the Eastern Busway at a new Botany interchange
- improving access to major employment centres, including Auckland Airport and Manukau
- supporting growth opportunities along the route - as well as for the wider south and east Auckland area.
Project Details
The rapid transit route
The bus rapid transit route will travel from Auckland Airport, along State Highway 20B and Puhinui Road to a further upgraded Puhinui Station interchange.
From here, the rapid transit corridor continues along Puhinui Road and Lambie Drive and through the Manukau centre via Manukau Station Road, Davies Avenue and Ronwood Avenue.
It then travels via Great South Road and Te Irirangi Drive to a new high-quality interchange at Botany, where it will connect with the Eastern Busway.

The project includes:
- an upgrade of Te Irirangi Drive, Great South Road, Ronwood Avenue, Davies Avenue, Manukau Station Road, Lambie Drive and Puhinui Road to accommodate centre-running BRT lanes, general traffic lanes and walking and cycling facilities
- an upgrade of Cambridge Terrace, Bridge Street and Kenderdine Road to provide for walking and cycling facilities
- a new BRT bridge at Puhinui Station, crossing the North Island Main Trunk line
- an extension of Puhinui Road to accommodate BRT lanes that are centre-running to Manukau Memorial Gardens, then south running to Orrs Road - general traffic lanes and walking and cycling facilities
- associated works including but not limited to intersections, bridges, embankments, retaining walls, culverts, stormwater management systems
- changes to local roads, where the proposed work intersects with local roads.
- construction activities, including vegetation removal, construction areas and the re-grading of driveways.
Rapid Transit Stations
New and upgraded major station interchanges will be implemented in Puhinui and Botany to support the new rapid transit line, as well as bus rapid transit stations along the route.
The stations along the route will provide easy transfers between Airport to Botany Bus Rapid Transit services and over 30 local bus routes, two heavy rail and two other rapid transit lines. They will be built in locations that are close to town centres, employment hubs and residential areas.
Puhinui Station Stage 2
Stage 1 of Puhinui Station has already been constructed as part of Stage 1 Early Improvements in 2021. It will be further upgraded as part of Airport to Botany to provide a rapid transit bridge over the rail line that will connect to the northern façade of the station, allowing easy connections for customers transferring to and from rail services. This will remove the need to detour bus rapid transit services around Bridge Street.
The station building has already been future proofed to enable the planned stage 2 station upgrade.
Manukau City Centre Stations
Two new rapid transit stations in Manukau on Davies Avenue and Ronwood Avenue will improve access to planned town centre developments, offices, housing and schools, encouraging economic growth and urban regeneration. Davies Avenue Station will connect with the existing Manukau Train and Bus Station.


Route protection status and designation conditions
Notices of Requirement were submitted to Auckland Council in 2023 to protect the land needed by Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi for the project.

Appeals Period: Notice of Requirement (NoRs) for NoR 2 Rongomai Park to Puhinui Station
NoR 2: Rongomai Park to Puhinui Station (in the vicinity of Plunket Avenue) is currently in the appeals period.
Full information about the Notice of Requirement (NoR) is available to view on Auckland Council’s website.
- View NoR 2: Bus Rapid Transit–Rongomai Park to Puhinui Station in the vicinity of Plunket Avenue (opens in new tab)
- View all relevant documents from the public hearings (opens in a new tab).
Submitters had 15 working days in which they could appeal to the Environment Court, against the whole or any part of the decision from AT. Appeals are under Section 174 of the Resource Management Act 1991.
During this process AT works together with appellants to come to a resolution. If both parties can't resolve the appeal independently, the Environment Court can appoint a mediator to facilitate the conversation. If a resolution can't be reached through court assisted mediation, then an Environment Court hearing will take place, and the Environment Court will issue a decision on the outcome.

Confirmed Designations
The following corridors are confirmed and operative in the Auckland Unitary Plan with conditions.
Designation 1852 (was NoR 1)
Airport to Botany Bus Rapid Transit – Botany to Rongomai Park
Designation 1842 (was NoR 3)
Airport to Botany Bus Rapid Transit – Puhinui Station to SH20/20B Interchange
Designation 1843 (was NoR 4)
Airport to Botany Bus Rapid Transit – SH20/20B Interchange to Orrs Road
Alternatively, you can view the conditions in Chapter K of the Unitary Plan (opens in a new tab)
Project resources
Download key documents relating to Airport to Botany Rapid Transit and 20Connect:
Business Case Appendices
- Appendix A: A2B & 20Connect ILM
- Appendix B: Long List Assessment
- Appendix C: Short List Assessment
- Appendix D: SWGP Benefits Realisation Plan
- Appendix E: Southwest Gateway Staging Technical Note
- Appendix F: Engagement Summary
- Appendix G: Network Operating Plan & Concept of Operations
- Appendix H: Demand Mangement & Local Access Assessment
- Appendix I: Risk Register
- Appendix J: Cost Estimate with Technical Note
- Appendix K: Economics
- Appendix L: Join Consenting Strategy Report
- Appendix M: Property Aquisition Strategy
- Appendix N1
- Appendix N2: Design Philosophy Statement
- Appendix O: Design Drawings
- Appendix P: Corridor Strategy
- Appendix Q: Medium Term Strategy (with correct GA Plans 2023)
- Appendix R: Botany Interchange Assessment
- Appendix S: Botany Integration Options Review
- Appendix T: Heavy Rail Options Summary Technical Note
- Appendix U: Transit Oriented Development Land Use Study
- Appendix V: Covid-19 Sensitivity Technical Note
Information for landowners within a designation
What is a designation?
A designation is a provision made in a district plan to give effect to a requirement made by a requiring authority (in this case Auckland Transport) for a project or work.
A designation authorises AT to undertake the project or work on a specific site/route, as well as any other area where the restriction is necessary for the safe or efficient functioning or operation of the project or work. Designations form part of any relevant district plans and authorise the associated land use activities specified in the designation. Separate regional consents may still be required to authorise works.
Designations have two primary functions:
To allow the proposed public work to be carried out in accordance with the purpose and conditions of the designation.
To protect the land from activities that may compromise the proposed public work, by either preventing or hindering the work from taking place.
For more information about what it means to have a designation on your property you can view or download our landowner guide here.
What will happen to the directly affected properties?
Because there is no funding for detailed design or construction of this project, Auckland Transport is not wishing to purchase any property at the moment. This means landowners can continue to use their properties as they do now.
- If you are a landowner within a designation and would like further information about a project, please contact the Auckland Transport Consent Planning Team.
- If you are a developer and would like further information about a project, please contact the Auckland Transport Strategic Development Programmes Team.
Can I carry out works on my property if it’s designated?
If you are planning works in your property, such as residential or commercial development, you may need approval from Auckland Transport before you can undertake the works. Please contact Auckland Transport using the contact details below to discuss any development you would like to do on your property. More information can also be found here.
When will Auckland Transport purchase the designated area of land?
Auckland Transport normally only seeks to acquire land when it is actually required for works and this is generally around 2 years prior to construction starting.
What does the designation mean for business owners and operators and occupiers of properties within the designation?
A designation can impact business owners and operators and occupiers of properties in a similar way to landowners, depending on how the property is used. Check with the property owner to find out whether you need approval to make any changes to the way you use the property.
Where can I get support?
If you are a landowner and feeling anxious about the designation or the project, you can contact us to access free, confidential services. Alternatively, you can access services at one of the following services.
- Anxiety Helpline – 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY) for people with all forms of anxiety and families and friends.
- Rural Support – 0800 787 252 for people in rural communities dealing with challenges
- There are also resources available at https://mentalhealth.org.nz/