Waikato Regional Council seeks a one-year Te Huia rail trial extension to June 2027 to recover from delays and align with Auckland’s City Rail Link launch.

Waikato Regional Council is seeking a one-year extension of the Te Huia rail trial to June 30, 2027, to recover from service disruptions and align with the 2026 City Rail Link launch. The trial, delayed by pandemic and Auckland engineering work, has not yet completed its original five-year span. The council supports maintaining a 60% NZTA funding rate, with a final decision expected in February 2026. If approved, the service would operate for four years and nine months. Public engagement would follow in the 2027–2037 Long Term Plan process; otherwise, consultation would begin in 2026/27.