Hamilton Southern Links

Project Update August 2026

4 August 2026

The route of Hamilton Southern Links (HSL) from Tamahere looking west

Hamilton Southern Links timeline reviewed

The Major Transport Projects Pipeline (MTPP) announced recently by Transport Minister Chris Bishop has projects staged over time, ready to progress as funding becomes available, and supported by a clear and practical plan for delivery.

Minister Bishop has acknowledged that transport funding has been under pressure. This emphasises the importance of having a credible and well-prioritised pipeline, with projects that are ready to progress when funding becomes available, supported by a clear and practical plan for delivery.

While Hamilton Southern Links remains an important long-term transport project for the region and for the Government, it has been decided to pause the current pre-implementation phase.

Hamilton Southern Links has always been on a longer timeline. Given the fiscal constraints the Government is facing, we have now assessed that we can pause the project without impacting on our 10-to-30-year regional growth plans in place with our Council partners.

This staged approach of the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme allows NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to maintain momentum on the RoNS and other nationally significant projects already under construction or preparing to start construction, while also continuing to progress Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS), resilience work and other important transport investments.  

The work that has been completed over the past year and a half – from developing the investment case through to conducting initial site investigations – will be of great benefit once the project progresses again in the future.

When the project resumes, we will make sure and let our communities and our stakeholders know.

Water sampling along the route of HSL

Wrapping up the initial HSL surveys and investigations

The initial stage of site investigations for Hamilton Southern Links are drawing to a conclusion, with several important pieces of work now completed.

Surveys of lizard habitat and bats have been finished, along with assessments of waterways and wetlands. A number of archaelogical surveys have been completed as well. 

Ground investigations are continuing and are expected to wrap up by September. There will be some ongoing monitoring of ground water and movement using equipment put in place this year.   

A topographical survey is also underway to help build the detailed technical picture needed to progress the design of the project.

Over the next couple of months the project team will focus on wrapping up the current work so it can be left in a position to be easily picked up again when funding becomes available in the future.

The project team would like to thank the community and landowners along the designation for their support during this investigation phase, particularly those that have kindly allowed us to access their property.

Your help has been vital in allowing us to gather crucial information for use when the next stage of the project gets underway.  

Contact Us

This is likely to be the last update until the project resumes.

In the meantime NZTA remains committed to being available to answer any questions about the project.   

If you would to get in touch with us you can email Southernlinks@nzta.govt.nz or visit our website which will be kept up to date with the latest information: nzta.govt.nz/hsl