Eastern Busway is connecting communities and driving growth
30 July 2025
- News
- Urban regeneration
- Development
In the next few years people between Botany, Pakūranga and the surrounding suburbs will be able to reap the benefits of the new Eastern Busway.

It’s a great feeling zooming along the Northern Busway, a high-frequency rapid bus service connecting locals from Albany to Smales Farm with each other and the city centre.
In the next few years people between Botany, Pakūranga and the surrounding suburbs will be able to reap the benefits of a similar service, on the new Eastern Busway. As a vital part of the region’s public transport network, it will offer better options for cycling, walking or using the bus, and give Aucklanders the choice to spend less time in their cars.
When complete, Auckland Council land around Pakūranga Plaza and alongside the busway that is no longer needed for the project will be sold to enable the building of new well designed, long-lasting homes and spaces for new businesses. Creating more places for people to live and work close to public transport will support East Auckland’s economy, provide more homes for our growing city and make sure the investment in the busway and Rā Hihi (flyover) above Reeves Road delivers great value for all Aucklanders.
Taking a broad rather than a site-by-site approach to developing the land ensures new properties fit well with the wider neighbourhood and facilities like local parks and schools.
Through its Auckland Urban Development Office, the work by Auckland Council is focused on land in easy walking distance to the future Pakūranga Station, Te Taha Wai / Edgewater Station and Koata / Riverhills Station on Tī Rākau Drive, and Pōhatu / Burswood Station. It’s a complex process that includes property transactions, development planning, design, consenting and construction, and it will be several years before any new homes are built in these areas.
As in other regeneration locations, Auckland Council will make sure that this future development is carefully planned with our Mana Whenua partners and local stakeholders, and methodically prepared.
The Auckland Urban Development Office is involved in delivering similar urban regeneration around public transport in many Auckland neighbourhoods including Panmure, Northcote, Manukau, Onehunga and Henderson, and will build on expertise and experience gained in these locations.
Our work helps deliver smarter, better urban outcomes in Auckland. We’re looking forward to creating a community anchored by connections and improvements to the public transport service and welcoming future East Auckland families into new warm, dry and comfortable homes within easy reach of the Eastern Busway and the frequent services it will provide.
To read more about the Eastern Busway project, click here
This OpEd appeared in the final edition of the Eastern Bays Courier.