35229 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport

Written Question

Published date: 19 Aug 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	35229 (2026)
Question asked:	05 Aug 2026
Member asking:	Tangi Utikere
Portfolio:	Minister of Transport
Minister replying:	Hon Chris Bishop
Answer received:	13 Aug 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_35229_2026
Document guid:	e76b1430-fa00-4b40-9c4f-e01b2e6dcec9

35229 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport: What opening dates for the City Rail Link, if any, have been proposed to him or his office by Auckland Transport, City Rail Link Ltd, or KiwiRail since 1 January 2025; what were those dates, and on what date was each proposed?

Hon Chris Bishop: A range of possible opening dates, based on project completion and operational readiness timelines, were discussed with me. However no opening date was proposed to me, until project partners achieved sufficient confidence to recommend opening on 13 September 2026.