34427 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport

34427 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport: Why did the May 2026 Gateway 3 Review of Warkworth to Te Hana result in a Green/Amber rather than Green delivery confidence assessment, and what specific risks were identified?

Hon Chris Bishop: I am advised that the May 2026 Gateway 3 Review assigned a Green/Amber delivery confidence assessment because reviewers identified a number of risks requiring ongoing management attention, while having a high degree of confidence that Financial Close would be achieved on time and that the procurement process had been well managed. The risks identified were: • external political and global factors affecting stakeholder support, project momentum, and costs; • ineffective stakeholder engagement and communications leading to misaligned expectations and delays; • advisory arrangements not providing effective input or value; • reduced value for money if bids are not fully optimised before contract award; • loss of momentum through Financial Close affecting delivery timeframes; • insufficient client-side capability to manage the contractor and project risks; and • I am advised that it would be inappropriate to release the details of one further identified risk due to commercial sensitivity.