7363 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport

7363 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport: Further to WPQ 5572 (2025) what specific work has begun, on what dates, at what locations, and under what project/work-package name(s), as at 6 March 2026?

Hon Chris Bishop: An investment case for the SH1 Wellington Improvements Project was completed and endorsed by the NZTA Board in August 2025. A three-year programme of pre-implementation work (design, consenting, and property acquisition) began subsequent to the Board’s endorsement of the investment case. This has included a programme of ground investigations: • Geotechnical investigations for the second Mt Victoria Tunnel, commenced on 10 November 2025 and was completed on 20 February 2026. • A programme of hydrogeological investigations at multiple sites along the proposed route for SH1 Wellington Improvements began 9 February 2026 and will be ongoing for several months. As at 6 March 2026, boreholes to collect soil and ground water samples and enable ongoing hydrogeological monitoring have been created in Kilbirnie Park, and work to create similar boreholes in the area surrounding the Basin Reserve began on 5 March 2026.