Revealed: How much drivers could pay to enter Auckland city under new congestion plan

The number of Aucklanders driving into the city centre might come to a screeching halt within five years, as the council reveals its proposed zones and fees for the country’s first congestion charging scheme. 

Auckland Council has narrowed its proposed scheme to three options, with charges ranging from $2 to $7; depending on where and when you drive. 

The proposals could see motorists pay to enter the city centre, cross a wider central Auckland cordon, or use the city’s busiest core motorways during peak times. 

The public will get its first say on the options in November, with a final decision expected in 2028 and congestion charging potentially introduced from 2030 or 2031. 

Options and charges will be debated at a Transport and Infrastructure Committee meeting on Tuesday. 

Thirteen options were whittled down to seven, largely by cutting schemes that had significant negative social impacts, were in school zones or had poor public transport alternatives. 

That is now down to three. 

Work has begun on the three options that, if approved by councillors, will go out for public consultation in November. 

Option 1: City Centre Cordon 

This is described as the “fairest, simplest and likely most feasible scheme” in council papers. 

Drivers would pay $3-$4 to enter the city during morning peak and $2-$3 to leave in the afternoon. 

It would cover about 3.1% of all morning peak car trips, leading to a 0.8% reduction in vehicle travel and a 3.6% increase in public transport use. 

Four minutes of travel time saving would be expected. 

“With relatively low charges, this scheme would take a long time to pay for itself from revenue,” the council documents say. 

“This allows only a modest level of public transport improvements sufficient to provide capacity for the additional trips shifted from car by the scheme.” 

Analysis shows it provides good total time savings per dollar charged, but the congestion reduction and time savings benefits are narrow. 

Option 2: City Fringe Cordon 

This option would charge drivers entering a cordon including Newmarket, Newton and possibly Parnell and Ponsonby during peak times. 

Drivers would pay $5-$6 in the morning and $2-$3 in the afternoon. 

About 5% of all peak car trips would be charged, leading to a 6% increase in public transport use. 

“With slightly higher charges and larger volumes, this scheme would still take some time to pay for itself from revenue,” the documents state. 

“However, revenue is forecast to be sufficient to allow for public transport capacity increases needed to accommodate new trips along with some modest increases in services to provide enhanced alternatives.” 

This option brings Auckland City Hospital into the cordon. 

“But [it] is fairer for central city business as all key commercial areas would also be within the cordon. However, the relatively small charging area still means that the congestion reduction and time savings benefits are largely localised around the inner isthmus and lower North Shore.” 

Option 3: Core motorways and city centre 

This option includes the Harbour Bridge, to Point Chevalier and Mt Wellington. 

“Charges for the motorway section could range from about $5, which is more affordable and still produces good results, to $7 which is optimal for reducing congestion, lifting overall benefits and providing value for money to charged drivers.” 

This would likely be only one way, with the charge applied only in the peak direction – with a warning that if traffic builds up, it could apply both ways. 

If the $5 charge is implemented, 6.9% of drivers would pay it, leading to a 2% reduction in peak vehicle trips and a 6.9% increase in public transport use. 

People would save nine to 12 minutes of travel time. 

This option is described as the “most challenging”, but the Herald understands it is most likely to be supported by Mayor Wayne Brown. 

“The existing public transport network provides only some attractive alternatives to travel on the core motorway network, but this can be mitigated with new services funded by the scheme while charged drivers typically receive time savings benefits exceeding the cost of the charge. 

“Congestion reductions and overall time savings from this option are significant, extending well beyond the charged area.” 

Waitakere councillor Shane Henderson. Photo / Michael Craig 

Waitākere councillor Shane Henderson said he wanted a commitment for West Aucklanders from the Government and council to ongoing improvements to public transport, especially the Northwest Busway. 

“It is crucial we have proper alternatives if the scheme is to succeed for areas like West Auckland.” 

He said concerns had been raised about equity issues, but he was “comfortable” with how these had been addressed. 

“But I really want to know from Aucklanders what impact a time of use charge will have, and what work might need to be done in mitigation. We can also learn from schemes in other cities and what is successful there. 

“I would encourage us to take a look at it as a balance between what will actually reduce congestion, taking into account affordability and reasonable access to other transport.” 

Franklin Ward councillor Andy Baker said every scheme would take time to bed in and deliver revenue. His preference was for whatever option delivered the greatest impact for Auckland motorists. 

“We are constantly reminded of the economic, social and personal cost of congestion, and we can’t build our way out of the problem. So Time of Use Charging is something we need as a region to consider as one tool to possibly help.” 

The proposed charges have been mapped by considering what would remove congestion, and recognising traffic levels vary by time of day, which is why the morning and afternoon fees may be different. 

While a flat fee had been assumed, consideration could be given to graduated charges during the “shoulder” of the peaks, with traffic on places like the Southern Motorway between Mt Wellington and Greenlane often back-to-back at other times of day. 

A “scheme board” will consider those issues, and others such as reduced charging levels during summer holidays. 

Auckland is the first cab off the rank for the country’s Time Of Use charging, after legislation passed unanimously through Parliament earlier this year. 

Congestion is estimated to cost Auckland $2.6 billion per year, factoring in the cost of lost time and impacts like reduced business investment and consumer spending. 

The aim of congestion charging is to shift people to alternatives such as public transport, travelling outside peak times or not driving at all. 

How it will work: 

• A shortlist of options will be taken to the public in November - after the general election. 
• Public feedback will be woven into Auckland Council’s ‘Scheme Initiation’ decision to be released in March 2027. 
• A ‘scheme board’ will then develop a detailed proposal for formal public consultation in late 2027. 
• In parallel to the scheme board process, council staff and government officials will develop an investment agreement, which sets out how any net revenue from the scheme would be invested to benefit travel into and around the scheme area. The investment agreement needs to be approved by the council and ministers. 
• A final decision to be made and ratified in early 2028, with ministerial approval. 
• Congestion charging to kick in 2030/2031. 

The council paper acknowledges it may be a tough ask to get public support for the charges but hopes support will grow as people better understand the scheme. 

Katie Bradford is a Senior Correspondent at the Herald. She has been a broadcast journalist for over 20 years and was based in the press gallery for 10 years. She specialises in politics, business and Auckland issues.