Aucklanders will be invited to give feedback on three initial time of use charging scenarios, which were approved for public engagement by the council's Transport and Infrastructure Delivery Committee on 25 August 2026.
This is the next step in exploring how time of use charging could help ease Auckland’s traffic challenges. The options are designed to help the council gather feedback on the approaches Aucklanders believe could work to improve travel around the city. Public engagement is expected to open in November.
What problem is this trying to solve?
Auckland has the worst congestion out of cities in New Zealand and Australia – considerably more than Sydney and Melbourne, even though both cities have roughly triple Auckland’s population.
As a result, it’s predicted that on average, Aucklanders are losing 17 hours a year just sitting in traffic; that's almost a full day away from whānau, from work, from learning. For regular commuters, the time lost in congestion is even higher.
The cost of lost time adds up. Congestion drains an estimated $2.6 billion from Auckland’s economy every year, through lost personal time, reduced business investment and lower consumer spending.
What are the benefits of time of use charging?
It only takes a small reduction in the number of vehicles on the road to deliver meaningful improvements in travel time.
While only 3-7 per cent of trips would be charged under the options being explored, modelling suggests up to 31 per cent of drivers would benefit from more reliable travel times across the network.
Modelling also shows that those paying the charge could save up to 12 minutes per trip at peak times. They would experience a more reliable trip with less need to allow time for the uncertainty caused by congestion.
People talk about how much quicker road journeys are during the school holidays – modelling suggests time of use charging could help make that the norm in the area it is operating.
How does time of use charging work?
Time of use charging is a type of congestion charging, but drivers only pay a fee when travelling on the roads at specific times. It gives road users an option to change when they travel, take a different route, or switch to public transport to avoid paying the fee.
Money collected from time of use charging would be used for transport upgrades and improvements, including public transport, into and around the charge area.
What stage of the process are we at?
At this stage, the council is seeking Aucklanders’ views on a range of possible scenarios. If a proposal is taken forward, the final design must go through a public consultation process, so Aucklanders can have their say before any final decisions are made.
Which areas are covered in the options for engagement?
The options target areas that are well-connected by public transport and where modelling indicates time of use charging could improve journey times across Auckland’s road network. They cover the city centre, city fringe, and key spots on central motorways.
Is there enough public transport in place to support this?
In a few weeks’ time, the CRL is set to open, doubling the number of people able to reach Auckland city centre by public transport within 30 minutes. The city centre, which is already the densest residential and employment area in the country, is going to be accessible by more trains, connecting directly to more neighbourhoods.
Elsewhere, investment is happening across Auckland - into dynamic lanes, bus lanes, new and improved cycleways and the region’s rapid transit network, like the Eastern Busway, giving more ways for people to get to their destinations quickly and easily. On top of this, the team is investigating extra public transport services to support each option.
This is in addition to the major transport improvements Auckland has seen over past decades, with frequent electric trains, congestion-beating busways in the north and north-west, the introduction of low emission ferries, and integrated fares allowing free transfers across the network.
How much will it cost?
While modelling has tested charging from $2 to $7, the highest illustrative charge for engagement is around $5 which modelling suggests would deliver time savings benefits as high as 12 minutes for some drivers. Further analysis and public feedback are needed to understand affordability and broader impacts before pricing is considered.
How would money collected by time of use charging be spent?
Money collected by time of use charging would be set aside and used only for land transport activities that help people travel to, from, within, and around the scheme area.