New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) have extended the Te Huia passenger rail service between Hamilton and Auckland for another 12 months.
The trial was meant to finish by the end of June but NZTA on Thursday agreed to support a 12-month extension of the rail service.
Waikato Regional Council wrote to the board in December last year, pushing for an extension until the end of June 2027.
Council said their support was conditional on NZTA agreeing to maintain the 60% subsidy for a further year.
“It would enable patronage to recover and test the impact of benefits accruing from opening of the City Rail Link later in 2026 as well as continued implementation of a series of measures to increase both passenger numbers and revenue,” council said in a statement.
NZTA’s all-clear on the extension means regional councillors will be asked to support continued local funding at the current rate next week.
The future of Te Huia will be decided in the 2027-2037 Long Term Plan process, next year.
Waikato Regional Council chair Warren Maher thanked the board for considering their request and “giving councillors time to consider the next steps”.
A pro-Te Huia rally earlier this month, drew hundreds of supporters - including Hamilton’s three MPs - wanting to retain the passenger service and even extend it to Tauranga.
Published in the Waikato Times on 19 February 2026
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