Office of the Mayor
Media release
10 November 2011

Mayor talks tunnels in China

Advanced tunnelling technologies and major transport projects are the focus of a fact-finding trip the Mayor is taking to China.

The Mayor is departing tonight, travelling as a guest of the New Zealand Transport Agency as its engineers investigate transport and infrastructure development.

During the five-day trip, Len Brown will also pay a courtesy call to Auckland’s sister city of Guangzhou and City of Shanghai senior officials.

“Auckland Council has identified key transport infrastructure projects which are critical to Auckland’s development, managing future population growth and unlocking our economic potential,” says Len Brown.

Amongst these are two significant underground projects, including the city rail link, which will open up a congested rail network and provide a fully integrated public transport system, and an additional harbour crossing

“These projects will be a significant financial investment, and it is important that we are fully aware of the latest technology and options. China is a world leader in tunnelling technology, and is developing new approaches to building urban tunnels which could save millions of dollars on major transport projects. There is much we can learn from their experience and expertise.”

“Auckland and New Zealand have strong and growing relationships with China, and Auckland has long had a significant Chinese community, many from the Guangdong region. We place great value on these relationships, and I am looking forward to my first visit to China.”

NZTA State Highways Manager, Auckland and Northland, Tommy Parker is leading the delegation of five, which also includes Auckland Transport Chief Infrastructure Officer, Kevin Doherty.

“NZTA is working in collaboration with Auckland Council and Auckland Transport on the Additional Waitemata Harbour Crossing project,” says Tommy Parker. “We will explore combined road and rail options for this project, and gain a good understanding of relevant large-scale complex Chinese transport projects.”

The main programme for the visit includes site visits to the Maglev Transportation Project, Shanghai Metro Company, Shanghai Changjiang Tunnel and Bridge Project, Wuxi tunnel boring machines manufacturing site, and the Tsing Ma Bridge in Hong Kong. In addition to his courtesy call to the Mayor of Guangzhou, Len Brown will also visit mass transit projects in Guangzhou.

For the Mayor, this visit is also a precursor to a business mission he will lead to China in April 2012.

Confirmed Mayoral Itinerary (in China standard time - 5 hours behind NZT)

Friday 11 November

10am Visit to Shanghai Urban Construction and Communications Commission to discuss Shanghai’s transport development

12 noon Lunch meeting with New Zealand Consul General based in Shanghai and China Director, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

2pm Visit to Shanghai Metro Company

Saturday 12 November

9:15am Visit Shanghai Changjiang Tunnel and Bridge Project

1pm Depart for Wuxi

3.15pm Visit Juli Tunnel Boring Machine manufacturing site

4.30pm Visit to Wuxi metropolitan tunnel construction site

6pm Dinner with Wuxi transport project and Municipal Foreign Affairs teams

Sunday 13 November

11.30am Depart Shanghai for Guangzhou

2:10pm Arrive in Guangzhou

4:30pm Visit to Canton Tower (also known as Guangzhou TV tower)

6pm Courtesy call with Mayor of Guangzhou, Mr Wan Qingliang

6:30pm Civic dinner hosted by Mayor Wan Qingliang

8pm Pearl River night cruise

Monday 14 November

8am Interview with Guangdong TV

9:15am Visit to Guangzhou Metro Company

10:30am Visit to Guangzhou Construction Commission

11:15am Meeting with China Southern Airlines

12:30pm Lunch with New Zealand business community in Guangzhou

4:40pm Depart Guangzhou for Hong Kong

5:40pm Arrive in Hong Kong

8pm Dinner with the New Zealand Consul General in Hong Kong and key local
contacts

Tuesday 15 November

9am Visit to Eastern Harbour Crossing traffic centre

2pm Visit to Tsing Ma Bridge

7:15pm Depart Hong Kong for Auckland

Ends

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