7429 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport

7429 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport: Why were wetlands not identified during earlier environmental assessments of the Ōtaki to North of Levin construction site, and what review has been undertaken of the environmental assessment process as a result?

Hon Chris Bishop: I am advised that some wetlands were not identified during earlier assessments as access was not provided to some private properties. Following NZTA’s acquisition of these properties, paddocks were also destocked which meant that some additional wetlands were more easily identified due to the land no longer being grazed. The methodology used to identify wetlands was found to be technically sound and was approved by the Environment Court, so it is not proposed to review the Ecological Impact Assessment process as a result.