The new Manukau bus station will open on Saturday 7 April with a free public community celebration from 10am to 2pm.
The station was funded by Auckland Council and the NZ Transport Agency at a total cost of $49 million.
Better connections
The bus station provides easy bus-to-bus and bus-to-train connections and serves as a gateway for south Auckland.
With the adjacent Manukau Train Station, it will provide a more connected network of local feeder services connecting with frequent bus and train services.
Mana whenua partnership
Auckland Transport (AT) worked with mana whenua on the design and construction of the bus station.
AT embraced the Te Aranga Māori Design Principles, which guided the design of the stormwater management system and passive temperature controls method. Natural timber and art by iwi are prominent features of the station.
Social outcomes
The bus station is AT’s first project to have a ‘social outcomes’ component in its procurement process for a contractor.
It meant that NZ Strong, which was awarded the contract, had to demonstrate how it would train and employ south Auckland Māori and Pasifika Trades Training graduates, sourced via The Southern Initiative at no extra cost to AT.
The Southern Initiative is an Auckland Council programme that promotes social and community innovation in south Auckland and equips Māori and Pasifika people in the area with skills and access to meaningful employment opportunities.
Thirteen graduates were employed during the construction phase, all of whom have now progressed to full-time employment opportunities.
