Damian Light

This should help with the flow of traffic but is still only a single lane from Tī Rākau Drive which appears to be creating a bottleneck.

Locals have raised concerns about the traffic lights at the Tī Rākau Dr turn onto the Waipuna Bridge. I contacted Eastern Busway who've confirmed that they have worked with AT to review this sequence, removing the red-light unless there is a pedestrian using the crossing.

RNZ has reported that (according to AT's data) Tī Rākau Dr's average speed in the morning in Feb was 12km/hr (making it the 6th slowest) and only 11km/hr in the afternoon (making it the 3rd slowest).

Considering it carries around 30k vehicles a day, the impact is massive!

Auckland's most congested roads and peak travel times Rush hour traffic is a familiar sight to most in the city, but some routes are more snarled than others.

It's not news to locals but coverage of the terrible congestion along Tī Rākau Drive has finally hit the national media.

See the full article here: www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Please keep an eye out for warnings and signage as there will be areas cordoned off where work is taking place during each phase.

Works planned to start Mon 16 March 2026 and take 6 weeks, weather permitting.

There will be minor reduction in space for public parking to accommodate the contractor’s plant and equipment compound. Howick Sailing Club and Howick Coastguard operations should not be impacted.

Includes:
🚧 Demolition of existing failed shotcrete wall
🚧New grouted rock wall to match existing seawall
🚧 New underpinned footing to existing wall
🚧 New rock at the top of one wall to provide resilience to wave overtopping
🚧 Minor landscaping to reinstate reserve

The seawall in these locations has become weakened and is no longer able to adequately protect the reserve behind. To provide ongoing protection to the reserve edge and ensure safe public use of the beach, Auckland Council has engaged expert contractors to fix the seawall.

📢 Construction works to replace damaged sections of stone seawall at Howick Beach start Mon 16 March.

Erosion from coastal processes has undermined the seawalls to east and west of the Howick Sailing Club, has resulted in loss of material from the reserve behind the wall.

I agree, SEART is painful and not sure the flyover has helped (or just moved congestion faster).

Always good for AT to hear it from residents directly. Hopefully you'll be doing a submission!

Thank you! Very helpful.

Hope Farm Ave would be useful alternative, especially as lower traffic route. I'll ask where it's at.

Where's this from?

Hourly is hopeless - I'm lucky to primarily rely on 70 which is so frequent I don't need to consult a timetable, I just turn up. More frequent buses is a must!

Would love Sylvia Park to Pakūranga (or similar) as I travel this route every week via Panmure.

Auckland Transport are also hosting drop in sessions: 📅Sat 14 March 2026 10:00 am to 11:30 am at Howick Village (Picton Street outside Jetts gym)
📅Sat 14 March 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Botany Town Centre Library
📅Wed 18 March 2026 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm at Panmure Station

East Auckland Bus Service Changes New and Improved Bus Services East Auckland

🗣️Public consultation closes on Sunday 5 April.

You can find out more about the proposals, including how to have your say, online at akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/east-aucklan...

🟩NEW 706 Ormiston to Panmure in peak times in peak direction (AM to Panmure, PM from Panmure) every 15 mins creating combined 7-8 min frequency between Ormiston, Botany and Panmure (alternating with 35)

From 2028/2029
🟧CHANGE AirportLink service will be extended to Botany

From 2027 (when Eastern Busway is completed)
🟩MORE 70 will run every 10 mins until 9pm
🟩MORE 72C/72M will run every 20 mins to create bus every 10 mins
🟧CHANGE 72X half will depart/end Howick and Meadowlands (not Botany or via Litten Road)

From Dec 2026
🟩MORE 35 improved evening frequencies to 30 mins and later services on Sun
🟩MORE 353 start earlier on weekdays & Sun
🟩MORE 711 every 20 mins during peak in peak direction
🟩MORE 712 every 15 mins during peak in peak direction
🟩MORE 733 / 734 / 735 every 30 mins

From mid-Late 2026 (dependent on new local roads and infrastructure)
🟩NEW 356 Ormiston to Manukau Station, Ōtara, and Middlemore Hospital (via East Ormiston)
🟥REMOVED 314 replaced with 356

From April 2026
🟩NEW 37 Manurewa to Highbrook via Clendon, Puhinui Station, and Preston Rd
🟧CHANGE 352 will travel via Greenan Drive, Bellingham Road and Accent Drive

Map of East Auckland Bus Network Changes

📢Auckland Transport is currently consulting on some proposed changes to the bus services in East Auckland. Some are coming because of the new Eastern Busway, but there’s also improved access for Flat Bush & East Tamaki which is great! 🚌

akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/east-aucklan...

Strongly agree with you there - it's completely backwards. Definitely a disconnect between Ministry of Education and Council (planning, transport, funding etc). Great we're building schools and communities faster but need infrastructure to keep up - we can only do so much (and retrofit is harder)

See the full list of potential projects, including draft diagrams and the rest of the proposed AT programme here: aucklandcouncil.resolve.red/portal/Meeti...

❓Path between Murphys Rd & Bushfield Dr
❓Shared path Valderama Reserve to Silvana Park
❓Barry Curtis Park cultural pathway
❓shared path for Ostrich Farm
❓Bus stop upgrades for Opp 290 Murphys Rd, 51 Thomas Rd, and/or 38 Hikuawa Rd.

This week AT will be talking options for our $4.9M budget:
❓Minerva Tce / Paparoa Rd pedestrian
❓Ti Rakau Dr active modes between Botany & Chapel Rds
❓Drumconnel Dr shared path (Tir Conail Ave to Greenan Dr)
❓Haddington Dr shared path (Bonnette Rd to Pencaitland Dr)

Each term, local boards are provided a small budget (LBTCF) to priortise local transport projects and generally we've focused ours into safety projects near local schools.

Another 3 road safety projects delivered thanks to Howick Local Board partnership with AT.

Safer access to/from school with crossings:
🚧Flat Bush School Road (near Te Uho o te Nikau Primary)
🚧Kerrykeel Drive (near Ormiston Primary)
🚧Sunnyview Ave (near Shelly Park Primary)

📅 Thu 12 March: Bucklands and Eastern Beaches Residents and Ratepayers Association AGM
📅Sat 14 March: Annual Plan consultation drop-in session at Botany Library 10:30-11:30am

This coming week:
📅 Wed 11 March: East Auckland Tourism Board
📅 Thu 12 March: HLB Workshop (see aucklandcouncil.resolve.red/portal/meeti...) 📅 Thu 12 March: HLB and Howick Youth Council annual meet and greet
📅 Thu 12 March: Annual Plan consultation drop-in session at Botany Library 5:30-7pm

And on Sunday I went to the Howick Historical Village LIVE Day with my whānau.
bsky.app/profile/dami...