Urban Development News from the media | 4 August 2026 | New Drury and Paerātā stations open for South Auckland

New Drury and Paerātā stations open for South Auckland

The new Drury and Paerātā railway stations have been formally opened today, with services beginning tomorrow and weekday peak trains running every 10 minutes, Rail Minister Winston Peters and Transport Minister Chris Bishop say.

The stations will serve Drury, Paerātā, Franklin and South Auckland, with each station providing two platforms, 350 car parks and bus connections.

“Around 130,000 more people are expected in this part of Auckland over coming decades, and infrastructure must come before growth – not years afterwards, as too often happens in this country,” Mr Peters says.

“These stations are here because we funded them when last responsible for rail, as part of our wider commitments to unlock capacity, lift train frequencies, invest more than $500 million to get the network up to standard, and enable electric trains from Britomart right down to Pukekohe.

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-drury-and-paer%C4%81t%C4%81-stations-open-south-auckland

Better tools to fund and finance new infrastructure

The Infrastructure Funding and Financing Amendment Bill has passed in Parliament, aiming to provide developers and councils with improved mechanisms to fund and finance essential infrastructure. Housing Minister Chris Bishop noted that the changes address a critical barrier to housing growth: the lack of council borrowing capacity to deliver necessary roads and water infrastructure, even when developers are ready to build. The amendments are designed to make the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act faster and simpler to use by removing bureaucratic hurdles and streamlining the levy approval process.

The updated legislation allows private investors to finance infrastructure, which is then repaid over time through levies on properties that benefit directly. Notably, the Bill broadens the scope of eligible projects to include those delivered by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and new water organisations, and it permits ongoing operational and maintenance costs to be funded through levy revenue. This legislative update is a positive step for the development sector, potentially unlocking stalled projects and providing greater certainty by preventing unnecessary holdups by infrastructure authorities.

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/better-tools-fund-and-finance-new-infrastructure

Property market's 'longest and deepest downturn' in 30-40 years

According to property data firm Cotality, New Zealand's housing market is experiencing its most prolonged and severe downturn in 30 to 40 years. The latest data indicates a 0.3% fall in the national median value in July, dropping to $804,303, following a similar decline in June. While some regions like Dunedin and Christchurch saw slight increases, major centers including Auckland, Wellington, and Tauranga experienced declines.

The data indicates that first-home buyers currently represent a record share of the market, taking advantage of lower prices and increased stock. However, investor activity remains subdued. Property economist Kelvin Davidson attributes this to concerns over flat rents, rising costs (rates and insurance), and uncertainty surrounding the upcoming election—specifically regarding potential changes to tax policies like a capital gains tax and interest deductibility. For developers, this extended downturn and cautious investor sentiment underscore the importance of robust project fundamentals and careful market positioning as buyers currently hold the balance of power.

https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/08/01/property-markets-longest-and-deepest-downturn-in-30-40-years/

📰 Subscribe to this newsletter 📰

📒 Check out our complementary practice notes 📒