The mana whenua representatives on Te Ahu-a-Tūranga Project Alliance Board have taken a strong stance opposing the government’s proposed tolls on the newly-built replacement road in Manawatū Tararua.

The coalition government has been accused of being “money-hungry” by implementing tolls on a road that was never meant to have them following a $200m cost blowout.

Now, a letter has been co-written and signed by representatives from local iwi who helped with the rebuild project that started almost a decade ago: Ngāti Kahungunu ki Tāmaki-nui-a-Rua, Rangitaane o Manawatū, Rangitāne o Tamaki-nui-ā-Rua, Ngāti Kauwhata, and Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga.

Rangitāne o Tāmaki Nui a Rua chair Mavis Mullins was one of the people who signed the letter, and told Te Ao Māori News the tolls were never part of the development.

“This was never part of the conversation ever, and yet there were a lot of scenarios that we all worked through together.

“I think that if a toll road had come forward earlier, there would have been the opportunity to work through it, we wouldn’t have the angst and frustration that’s going on now.”

The proposed tolls between Ashhurst and Woodville would cost light vehicles $4.30 per use, with heavier vehicles (over 3500kg) paying double.

In comparison, the current most expensive toll road, Auckland’s Northern Gateway, charges $2.60, marking a nearly 60 per cent increase for the Ashhurst-Woodville road.

Danielle Harris, Rangitaane o Manawatū chair, called the tolls abhorrent.

“For me, it’s actually destroyed the fundamental principles that were behind the project for building Te Ahu a Tūranga highway.

“It’s just another example of the Crown passing on cost to us, the community and users.

“Some of our whānau travel over the track three times a day and there is no way they’re going to be able to afford to pay a toll tax to travel over our maunga.”

The new road is built over the sacred tīpuna maunga Ruahine, with mana whenua representatives granting access to Waka Kotahi.

In light of that permission, Harris said it was a “slap in the face” adding the tolls.

“We’ve opened up our maunga to the destruction that’s happened upon it over the last years to create a new safe and durable road for our community,” she said.

‘Forced to use unsafe roads’

In early 2017 a major slip left the state highway through the Manawatū Gorge impassable, forcing many in the area to take more dangerous alternative routes.

“We have lost whānau over the last eight years as they’ve been forced to use unsafe roads. We’ve paid, we’ve already paid and you’re going to make us pay yet again. Again it’s just disbelief, hōhā," Mullins said.

In the letter addressed to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Transport Minister Simeon Brown, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka, and Waka Kotahi chair Simon Bridges, it said they would stand with the communities’ opposition to the proposal.

“When we originally supported Te Ahu-a-Tūranga, with all its impacts on our whenua and our taiao, we did so on the basis that it was providing a public good.

“We see the replacement highway as a saviour to our rural communities, ensuring safety in travelling between Tararua and Manawatū and providing an economic lifeline to towns such as Woodville, Pahiatua, Eketahuna, and Dannevirke and the other 15 rural communities that make up Tamaki-nui-a-Rua.

“For our whānau and community to now have to pay a toll, a tax, to use an essential road is anathema to us," it said.

‘Insult is added to injury’

Waka Kotahi tolling consultation ended on October 7, with Palmerston North City Council, Tararua District Council, and community members' submissions largely opposing the move.

“Insult is added to injury when we consider the mahi toi that we have gifted to the project and the nation. Across Te Ahu-a-Tūranga, mahi toi is being installed to tell our stories, our whakapapa, to those who travel the route.

“For us to have to now tell our mokopuna, rangatahi, kaumātua and hapori that they will have to pay the government for the privilege of seeing these representations of their own whakapapa is extraordinarily offensive,” the letter said.

Not a replacement road

In response, Transport Minister Simeon Brown told Te Ao Māori News it wasn’t a replacement road, but instead a major upgrade.

“This four-lane expressway will have significant travel time and safety benefits for those who use it, and it will be far more reliable and fuel-efficient than the alternative routes. It is expected to save travellers between 12 and 14 minutes of travel time.

“For motorists who don’t want to pay the proposed toll, there will be two free routes available. Maintenance on both of these routes has been undertaken by NZTA since the Manawatū Gorge Road was closed due to slips.

“Where there is a toll in place, there is a requirement for an alternative un-tolled route. Nobody will be forced to pay a toll to get to where they want to go,” he wrote in a statement.

Brown laid the project’s $200 million cost blowout at the feet of the previous Labour government and said the toll would be there to recover what had been lost and for future maintenance.

“Tolling should be considered as a way of covering the cost. Tolls will also be considered to help bring forward the construction of new infrastructure.”

This was supported by the Director of Regional Relationships, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Linda Stewart.

“In August 2024, the Minister of Transport gave approval for NZTA to consult with the public on the tolling proposal.

“The proposed tolling revenue would contribute towards maintenance and operations of Te Ahu a Turanga and to repaying debt.”

Stewart added that the relationships built between Iwi and Waka Kotahi have been a “commitment” to them basing their approach on the “principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.”

“Iwi are involved in operational decision-making at all levels in the project team, including having representation on the Project Alliance Board, the Alliance Leadership Team and in the project’s iwi directorate, Te Putahi.

“Te Putahi ensures iwi interests and outcomes are achieved across a range of areas at an operational level. This includes delivering outcomes in areas such as education and training, procurement and employment, design, ecological and cultural outcomes and te reo Māori and tikanga initiatives.”

The consultation for the proposed tolls is closed, with NZTA considering submissions before taking their recommendations to Brown.

Cabinet will then make the final decision.

The new road is expected to be completed by mid-2025.