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Auckland Transport has released its Whangaparāoa Peninsula Future Public Transport Options Study, setting out how services could change once O Mahurangi Penlink opens.
The study, commissioned in September 2023 after consultation on the draft Regional Public Transport Plan, assesses four scenarios for buses and the Gulf Harbour ferry. More than 3000 submissions were received on the draft plan, with over 1200 opposing the proposed removal of the ferry.
Current services on the peninsula include the core 982 and 983 bus routes and the 988, which connects Coast Plaza with the Gulf Harbour Ferry Terminal. The future options range from enhancing these existing services to extending the NX2 bus to the city via Penlink and altering or reducing ferry operations.
Scenario 1 would retain the current structure of bus and ferry services but increase frequency. Auckland Transport says this would improve accessibility and waiting times, but it would not take advantage of Penlink. Journey time improvements would be moderate.
Scenario 2 proposes extending the NX2 service via Penlink to a new Whangaparāoa bus station and withdrawing the Gulf Harbour ferry. This option would provide direct and frequent bus connections to the city centre and North Shore, with significant reductions in journey times. It also has the lowest operating cost of the four scenarios. However, it does not reflect public feedback favouring retention of the ferry.
Scenario 3 would retain the ferry and introduce a new frequent bus service, the 99, running the length of the peninsula, alongside improved local bus frequencies. Auckland Transport says this balances ferry retention with stronger local connections, although it would not fully use Penlink for public transport.
Scenario 4 described as a hybrid approach, combines elements of the other options. It would extend the NX2 via Penlink, introduce the new 99 service, and retain ferry services at peak times only. Peak sailings currently account for 51 per cent of total ferry patronage.
Auckland Transport has recommended Scenario 4 as its preferred option. The study concludes that it offers the highest overall accessibility and significant journey time reductions, primarily due to faster bus services, while still retaining a peak ferry service valued by the community.
Although only three per cent of peninsula residents reported working in the Auckland city centre in the 2023 Census, down from nine per cent in 2018, the ferry was described in the study as highly valued. Reasons cited include onboard facilities, the ability to work while travelling, independence from traffic conditions and network resilience. However, the ferry has comparatively high operating costs and lower daytime and evening patronage.
Under the recommended option, new and revised bus routes would provide more frequent and flexible services. The proposed 99 would travel the full length of the peninsula, the 980 would improve local access, and the 988 would have an expanded role beyond ferry connections, improving links to Gulf Harbour and Shakespear Regional Park.
Auckland Transport says infrastructure improvements would be required to support the preferred scenario.
Albany Ward Councillor John Watson says although the preferred option brings a significant increase in bus services, motorway congestion remains an issue, especially with the reduction in ferry services.
“The Gulf Harbour ferry will be reduced to three sailings in the morning and three sailings between 4pm to 6pm in 2028, he says.” We are told this is driven by budget constraints but it ignores the fact that all the traffic north of Albany (along with the rapidly increasing population) is being funnelled into the Northern motorway. The ferry alone offers the best solution to increasing congestion, which also impacts buses.
“There is one comment in the report, however, that is more hopeful and that is a statement that the new ferry contract from 2028 could offer a new operator the flexibility to run additional commercial ferry services without AT funding at other times including weekends and evenings. With community support and a motivated operator looking to increase ferry patronage that would offer more flexibility and services that residents want. That has happened elsewhere in Auckland.
“So all up a future network from 2028 that with the right decisions going forward will significantly enhance public transport travel overall on Whangaparāoa Peninsula.”
