We've won the battle and the three things we were fighting for have been
reinstated to our new road!
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Hi John,

Some great news to end your week and take you to the long weekend!!

We've done it: we are getting the Ō2NL Expressway that we all wanted.

Up front I want to thank you for signing my petition and helping us to fight
strongly for these improvements. Together we have secured the road we wanted.

Ever since I first found out from NZTA that there might be design changes to
Ō2NL I haven’t let up; I’ve been fighting hard to save the design of our road.

I’ve been very clear from the outset that I was fighting to save three specific
changes: the Tararua Road Interchange, the Taylor’s Road Interchange, and the
Manakau Heights Drive over-bridge.

Today NZTA have announced that these will now all be reinstated to the final
design, which is still scheduled to start construction this year.



THIS IS A HUGE WIN!

I have been explicitly clear on the need for these three interchanges and
bridges from the very start of these conversations, even when others focussed on
different areas. My position and my priorities have never changed, and neither
has my determination to fight for what we need. I’m so pleased that we’ve been
able to achieve this together. 

NZTA have run an independent process and while it’s been frustrating for some as
potential changes were announced, I’m so pleased that they have ultimately
listened to me, to you, and to the strong voice of our community.

To be clear, the three reinstatements are:

* Tararua Road will be a grade-separated full interchange with on and off
ramps, and pedestrians and cyclists can cross safely underneath without going
through traffic doing 110km/hr.

* Taylor's Road at the north of Ōtaki will have a southbound on-ramp, so
traffic from Ōhau and Makanau can get onto the road without driving through
Ōtaki.

* Manakau Heights Drive will have an over-bridge to connect the houses to the
east with the village and give kids a safe way to bike to school.

The road will be four lanes all the way from Ōtaki (and of course from
Wellington) until SH57 splits off towards Palmy taking half the traffic with it.

Thank you all for your support, for your encouragement, for signing my multiple
petitions over many years and for backing me to get this right for our entire
region. 

Special thanks to my colleagues Suze Redmayne, MP for Rangitikei, and Chris
Bishop, MP for Hutt South, who have supported this all the way as local MPs
across the lower North Island, going right back to 2019 when Chris Bishop first
stood next to me as I launched my first petition to get this road built after
Labour cancelled it.

Bring on construction in just a few months!!

Enjoy your Matariki weekend,


Tim



From: Tim Costley MP
Date: Tuesday, 20 May 2025 at 9:17 PM
Subject: Help me fight for a better Ō2NL Expressway

Hi,

I'm fighting to improve Ō2NL!

NZTA have proposed changes to the new expressway
[link removed]
from Ōtaki to North of Levin (Ō2NL). I've been fighting for this road for six
years and last night I again joined Levin residents at a public meeting with
NZTA to show my support for a world-class road.

I'm sending this special email to let you know what's happening, and to ask for
your views and your support via this submissions portal
[link removed]

You can read about all the proposed changes here
[link removed]
Note that these changes are proposed by NZTA staff and will be submitted to NZTA
Board for approval in due course. These changes are not proposed or approved by
MPs. Governments can set policy (like "build this road") but not direct
individual details (like "move that onramp").

✅ I'm pleased that the construction is still on schedule to start this year. I
acknowledge that we need to stick to our budget, and some changes are necessary.
I accept pragmatic changes like two lanes across the top of Levin after SH57 has
split off along with half the traffic. We have to be responsible with taxpayer
money, but I am concerned that some proposed changes miss the mark.

❌ I'm particularly concerned about the Tararua Road Interchange, the Taylor's
Road Interchange, and Manakau Heights Drive.

‼️ My top priority is the Tararua Road Interchange, because it is the gateway to
Levin and, unlike the other areas, it will impact every single user of the new
road.

Under the proposed new plan it would mean:

* every resident in the new Tara-Ika development will have to cross through SH1
traffic to get to Levin

* every single pedestrian and cyclist will have to cross SH1 through traffic to
get to the shared path

* every car turning to or from Levin onto the new road will create congestion
rather than safe free-flowing traffic. At peak and holiday times this could
be really bad. Remember the Ōtaki roundabout?

This road will be a safe, world-class expressway when it's built. Now is the
time to make sure we get this right.

Send me your thoughts via this webpage [link removed]
and share this email and the submissions portal with everyone you know. I will
collate all feedback and I'll be taking this to NZTA in June.

You can also head to any of these NZTA drop-in sessions if you have questions,
and their team will be happy to explain them to you. Please be nice to the NZTA
staff - they are doing their best and we want to fight the decision, not their
community staff.



[link removed] [link removed]

I may not be allowed to direct NZTA what to do, but I will absolutely fight for
our community and for our road.

Best wishes,




[link removed]

www.national.org.nz [link removed]

41 Pipitea Street
Thorndon, Wellington 6011
New Zealand

Authorised by Tim Costley, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

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[link removed]