New Zealand Upgrade Programme
On 29 January 2020, the New Zealand Upgrade Programme was announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The programme is a $12 billion infrastructure package to improve roads, rail, hospitals and schools around the country, of which $8 billion has been allocated and the other $4 billion is part of the infrastructure section of the 2020 budget. Contents Transport The government has allocated $6.8 billion into transport: $5.3 billion on roads and $1.1 billion on rail. Auckland will receive $3.48 billion of the transport funding. Roads Seven highway projects in the North Island will cost $4.63 billion and are to be built over the next five to eight years. Some of them were formerly 'Roads of National Significance'. Auckland will receive $2.2 billion to be put towards roads, which mayor Phil Goff says will be put toward the $1.3 billion Mill Road highway, set to begin construction in late 2022, and the $411 million Penlink toll road between Whangaparaoa Peninsula and State Highway 1, set to start in late 2021 and be complete by 2025. State Highway 1 between Papakura and Drury South would also be widened from four to six lanes. Wellington will receive $1.35 billion, including funding for the