City Vision elected members and candidates are proud to have played a crucial role in ensuring that Auckland Transport restores the people-focused outcomes of the Karangahape Precinct Integration Project (known as Project K).

In April, community backlash erupted after backroom lobbying by a small number of people resulted in a large number of changes to the widely supported project which would have undermined the goal of a safe, inviting street environment for thousands of passengers using the new Karanga-a-Hape CRL station. These changes included removing a cycleway, leaving Cross Street with a deep trench on one side and only one footpath, and opening up the area to a steady stream of traffic outside the new station entrance.

Today, the Waitematā Local Board endorsed plans that largely reinstate the original designs, while providing for loading zone access on Cross Street.

Waitematā Local Board candidate Connor Sharp, who has been working in recent months to bring attention to the issue, is pleased Auckland Transport has done the right thing and fixed the project. “While a vocal minority of people almost succeeded in destroying the core goals of the project, it’s heartening to see Auckland Transport listen to the wider community. They’ve done a great job returning the project to deliver what was promised and, in the end, Aucklanders will get a pretty decent result,” Mr Sharp says.

Waitematā Local Board member Alex Bonham has been fighting for a great, people-friendly public space around Karanga-a-Hape Station since 2021. She says, “The original proposals for the streetscape on Mercury Lane and Pitt St were pretty dreary and I knew we could do better to leverage the investment in the CRL, and staff recognised that too. With the increased foot traffic coming, we needed to improve pedestrian safety and experience, boost local business while also celebrating the culture and spirit of Karangahape Road. It was great to see Project K evolve and be supported by the local board and the whole community. It was a shock to see AT’s changes appear without widespread consultation, and it is great to be able to approve today’s scope of works.”

Patrick Reynolds, Waitematā and Gulf candidate for City Vision, sees this result as fantastic for getting the area ready for the CRL’s opening. “Project K, like the CRL itself, is a change programme. Both are intended to lead and support improvements to land use in the whole area by uplifting its accessibility, functionality, safety, and appeal for people. To help repair the decades of decline brought on by treating these streets as nothing more than official rat-runs for drivers to other places. It's great to see Auckland Transport's plans realigned to this valuable higher strategy.”

A good result here was no accident. Thankful for the many people who made an effort to reach out to Auckland Transport, Connor Sharp says, “This demonstrates the power we all have to prevent plans from being watered down or cancelled—if we speak up.”

City Vision candidates look forward to the project’s completion, and to working hard to ensure all projects are delivered as promised for Aucklanders.

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