Northern Busway Bylaw

24 October 2025

Kia ora 

The updated Northern Busway Bylaw has been approved by NZTA and was gazetted on the 1 October 2025. The bylaw will come into effect on the 30 October 2025.

The Northern Busway, the rapid transit corridor that runs along State Highway 1 from the Auckland Harbour Bridge to Albany, forms the backbone of public transport services on the North Shore and is a critical component of the wider Auckland Rapid Transit Network.  

Access to and activities on the Northern Busway are regulated under the Northern Busway Bylaw.  Given the significant growth in patronage using the busway since it was first opened in 2008 and extended in 2023, NZTA reviewed the bylaw to ensure it supports the Northern Busway’s rapid transit function and appropriately controls access to the busway.

Public consultation

Public consultation was held in late 2023 on the following proposed changes to the bylaw:

• Proposal 1: Extending the bylaw to cover the new section of the busway from Constellation Station to Albany Station.
• Proposal 2: Updating vehicles eligible to apply for busway access.
• Proposal 3: Improving operational and decision-making processes on the busway.

NZTA received 47 submissions from a range of stakeholders, including individuals, commercial operators, local boards, and government agencies.  Thanks to everyone that provided feedback on this consultation.

Many supported proposals to extend the length of the busway noted in the bylaw, improve efficiency, and prioritise scheduled public transport and accessibility buses, recognising the need to maintain the Northern Busway’s role as a rapid transit corridor. However, concerns were raised about excluding commercial operators such as airport shuttles.

Northern Busway Bylaw consultation engagement summary

Changes to the proposed bylaw

Based on feedback received, a third priority category group was added to Proposal 2 which includes airport shuttles and hospital buses. This means the following operators can apply to access the Northern Busway:

• First priority: Scheduled passenger services (public transport service buses, school buses, inter-regional buses).
• Second priority: Accessibility buses.
• Third priority: Any vehicle determined as having a third priority status by NZTA (currently airport shuttles and hospital buses).

Since public consultation, NZTA has been focused on reviewing and updating the transport planning assessment based on the feedback received through the public consultation, developing further additions to the new bylaw and operational processes to support it, and finalising and gazetting the new bylaw.

For more information, please see our webpage SH1 Northern Busway

If you are a current operator accessing the Northern Busway, Auckland Transport will be in touch to provide further information.

More information

If you have any questions regarding the consultation, contact us at northernbusway@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website nzta.govt.nz/projects/sh1-northern-busway