Petone to Grenada

Monthly update

5 December 2025

Aerial photograph of the Petone to Grenada Valley ​

Route protection for Petone to Grenada

In October, we shared that the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Board has approved funding to progress the next stage of the Petone to Grenada project under the Fast-track Approvals Act (FTAA). This phase is called route protection – the identification and protection of land for future public works.

What's happening

• We're applying for statutory approvals including consents and a notice of requirement to secure route protection under the FTAA.
• We're engaging with directly affected landowners, local councils, Mana Whenua and other key stakeholders under the FTAA requirements.
• We're carrying out ground and environmental investigations to inform planning and design.

Why this matters

• We’re sharing an early view of the preferred route to keep everyone informed.
• Progressing design work, investigations, and securing statutory approvals now helps lay the groundwork for smoother progress ahead. 
• Using the FTAA is a one-stop-shop. It helps coordinate statutory approval more efficiently for important infrastructure projects that benefit both the region, and the country.

The preferred route: what's confirmed and what's still being refined

Route protection focusses on obtaining the statutory approvals needed and enabling the legal protection of land through a designation (not construction). It is an essential step before any detailed design work begins, and provides the general area or "footprint" that may need legal protection for future transport use. It happens early in the project. 

What has been funded

• Work to secure route protection and the necessary statutory approvals through the FTAA process.
• Planning activities that refine the design of the preferred route (more detailed design is still to come).
• Geotechnical and ecological investigations to assess the conditions in the ground and surrounding environment. 

What has not yet been decided

• The final detailed design of the route.
• Construction timelines and delivery details.

Preferred route: high-level map

How we're preparing for Fast-track

We’re moving forward with the next stage of the project under the FTAA. Our referral application, which authorises the use of the FTAA, will be submitted by the end of the year.

We'll then aim to lodge a substantive application that bundles resource consents, notices of requirement, and other statutory approvals by the end of 2026. Once submitted, an independent panel will review the application and invite feedback from landowners and occupiers directly affected by the proposal, including those on adjacent properties.

Learn more about the FTAA process here

Why this project matters for Wellington

The project benefits the entire region by unlocking housing growth, economic growth, travel time savings and productivity:

• People and businesses will have much better connections between the major urban centres, with up to 23 minute travel time savings between Hutt City and Porirua City in peak periods.
• It will provide better connectivity between Lower Hutt and destinations to the north e.g. Palmerston North logistic and distribution hubs.
• The new connection supports planned housing growth of 3,000 dwellings directly and 30,000 dwellings in adjacent areas.
• The new route also removes traffic from existing highways and creates an alternative route for when major events and incidents occur.

What we're investigating next

We’re carrying out a series of ground and environmental investigations in Grenada, Newlands, Woodridge, Horokiwi and Petone.

Investigations have started and will continue over the coming months at different locations along the proposed route. Investigations will be paused between 24 December 2025 and 4 January 2026

These investigations help us understand soil, land, and environmental conditions along the preferred route. This information is essential for progressing planning and design work, and ensures the final road alignment is based on accurate data and that the effects assessments which support the substantive application are strong. You can learn more about this on our website.

You may notice drilling rigs in locations around Grenada, Newlands, Woodridge, Horokiwi and Petone.

Environmental protection: how we're reducing impacts

Reserves and parks were considered while developing and assessing route options for Petone to Grenada. In the next phase of investigations, we’ll take a closer look at potential effects on areas such as Seton Nossiter Park and Gilberd Bush Reserve to ensure the effects from the proposed route are carefully reviewed. 

To support our planning work, we’re carrying out ecological work in Waihinahina Park, Seton Nossiter Park, and Gilberd Bush Reserve. These activities help us understand and manage environmental impacts and support the planning and design work for our FTAA substantive application.

Image: Artificial Cover Objects (ACO) to detect ground-dwelling terrestrials like lizards

Your questions answered

Some common questions about the project:

Q) Is engagement only with people directly impacted by the preferred route?

At this stage, we’re prioritising engagement with landowners who may be directly affected by the preferred alignment, as required under the FTAA. However, we’re committed to keeping the wider community informed throughout the process. You can stay up to date by visiting the Petone to Grenada project website for regular updates, and we welcome your questions anytime via our dedicated Petone to Grenada inbox. 

Q) What steps are being taken to minimise environmental, cultural, and community impacts?

The preferred route was chosen through the investment case process, balancing impacts, costs, and benefits. We’re still in the early stages of design and assessing environmental, cultural, and community effects remains a priority. This includes ongoing engagement with mana whenua and continuing to assess impacts throughout project planning.

Q) When will you start buying properties?

Land purchases typically occur 2–3 years before construction begins. At that stage, NZTA will contact property owners to start negotiations under the Public Works Act 1981. Currently, the Crown is not actively purchasing land as the project is focused on route protection.

What to expect in 2026

We’re committed to keeping you informed as the project progresses. Here’s what’s coming up:

Ongoing investigations

Site investigation work will pause over the Christmas and New Year period and resume on 5 January 2026. Specialist teams will continue geotechnical and ecological investigations to better understand the ground and environment along the preferred route. 

Community information sessions

We'll be hosting information sessions in 2026 to share updates and answer your questions. We'll let you know once these are scheduled.

In case you missed it

Summaries of the Investment Case and the presentation to the NZTA Board are now available on our website. 

We'll be sharing more information about the Petone to Grenada Investment Case, along with a more detailed map of the preferred route in the coming weeks.

Have a question?

For more information on the Petone to Grenada project, contact us at petone2grenada@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/petone2grenada