National pledges 2028 start for Mill Road construction if re-elected

During a livestreamed event in Auckland, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon declared that National will commence work on stage 1 of the long-delayed Mill Road project in late-2028, provided the party wins the upcoming election. The 21.5 km, four-lane corridor linking Manukau and Drury is classified as a Road of National Significance and is slated for a $1.75 billion allocation in the 2028 budget. Transport spokesperson Chris Bishop highlighted the road’s high ranking in the Major Transport Projects Pipeline and cited a benefit-cost ratio of 3.1 without tolls.

NZTA estimates the new link will cut corridor congestion by 30 %, reduce travel times by 25 %, and lower serious injuries by over 60 %. In addition to stage 1, National will earmark $100 million to secure route protection for stages 2 and 3. Bishop stressed that South Auckland’s rapid growth has outpaced existing road capacity, making the project essential.