Three shortlisted for NZ$2.9-3.8 billion section of Northland Expressway

The Warkworth to Te Hana section of the route will consist of a four-lane expressway that will stretch 26 kilometres (16.1 miles) and will connect to the new Pūhoi to Warkworth expressway.

According to the New Zealand government, the indicative design for Warkworth to Te Hana includes an 850m long twin bore tunnel in the Dome Valley and three interchanges located at Warkworth, Wellsford and Te Hana.

The three shortlisted consortia are:

• Northway made up of Acciona Concesiones, abrdn Global Sustainable Infrastructure GP IV, and Acciona Construction New Zealand
• Go>North made up of VINCI Highways, John Laing, VINCI Construction Grands Projets, Vinci Construction GeoInfrastructure, and HEB Construction
• Together North made up of Plenary Origination, Webuild, WBCA, Gamuda Engineering and Service Stream Holdings

New Zealand Transport Minister Chris Bishop said, “We received very strong interest in this project from both domestic and international consortia, several of which included companies who attended the Investment Summit [held in Auckland in March 2025].

“Following NZTA’s rigorous evaluation and selection process, three of these consortia have been shortlisted to move forward to the Request for Proposals (RFP) stage, during which they will submit RFPs for the financing, design, construction, management and maintenance of the Warkworth to Te Hana section of the expressway under a public-private partnership (PPP).”

A preferred bidder for the PPP is expected to be confirmed in early 2026. A contract will be awarded in mid-2026, subject to contract negotiations.

The successful PPP consortium is expected to start detailed design and early construction works in late 2026.

NZTA is currently progressing planning and design for the remaining sections of the corridor. The emerging preferred corridor for section 2, Te Hana to Port Marsden Highway, was announced in April 2025.