Waitematā Harbour Connections

15 April 2025

Drilling down: Waitematā Harbour geotech investigations underway

Geotechnical investigations for the Waitematā Harbour Connections (WHC) project are underway, marking an important step in determining the best long-term solution for an additional harbour crossing.

Progressing the project is a priority for the Government who confirmed the importance of the work at the Infrastructure Investment Summit recently.

The project is currently undertaking further investigations to refine the scope of the crossing for either a bridge or tunnel option, prior to seeking a decision on which option to progress in mid-2026.

Land based investigations started late last year and geotechnical drilling in Waitematā Harbour started mid-March.

The harbour investigations that will be carried out over the next 6 months are a significant milestone for the project. It’s the first time the project has undertaken geotechnical drilling in the Waitematā Harbour to this extent.

Investigations continuing to narrow down options

This phase of work is looking at the short, medium and long-term options for more efficient and resilient movement of people, goods and services across Te Waitematā, connecting people to transport options across the region and beyond. Making best use of what we already have, including the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

All of the geotechnical, environmental, and utilities investigations the project is undertaking will provide a comprehensive understanding of ground and seabed conditions.

This work will help to progress a robust level of design to understand the engineering requirements and reduce the risk profile in cost estimates, including specific work on tunnel and bridge form, location, methodology, and a detailed response to resilience issues, including sea level rise mitigations.

Find out more about the project

More information

For more information on the Waitematā Harbour Connections project, contact us at whc@nzta.govt.nz or visit our website