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"Stuck in never-never land": The problem with how land is acquired for public works

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 16 Jun 2026, 1:21pm
(Photo / NZ Herald)
(Photo / NZ Herald)

The way the Government acquires land under the Public Works Act is being labelled unfair.  

Grey Lynn locals are the latest to deal with their land potentially being bought for a major Auckland busway.  

The Transport Agency plans to build the 18 kilometre Northwest Busway, to link the CBD with the city's western suburbs.  

It will soon be acquiring half of the homes on Ivanhoe Road, to tear them down for the multi-billion dollar project.  

Lawyer Adina Thorn told Kerre Woodham the projects can take 10, 15 years to eventuate, which means the people who own the designated land are stuck in never-never land. 

She says their property has been completely devalued through no fault of their own, and you’re also stuck in the politics of the day – unsure whether the project will go ahead or not.  

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