The Northland government has sought investors to help build the first section of the Northland Expressway, which will link Auckland to Whangārei with four lanes of expressway-quality road.

The first section will connect with the expressway north of Auckland, which currently ends at Warkworth, taking the road to Te Hana, a journey of 26km. It will include an 850m-long twin-bore tunnel in the Dome Valley and three interchanges located at Warkworth, Wellsford and Te Hana. The Government is set to officially open Registrations of Interest for the initial phase of the Northland Expressway. The detailed design and construction of the Warkworth to Te Hana Road of National Significance are scheduled to begin in late 2026. While the project's completion date will be determined after procurement, it is currently estimated to be around 2034. Meanwhile, NZTA is advancing the planning and design of the remaining corridor sections, including evaluating alternative routes for Sections 2 and 3, such as a potential replacement for the existing Brynderwyn Hills route.

Registered parties will be invited to submit a formal Expression of Interest (EOI). This will be followed by a Request for Proposal (RFP) in mid-2025 for up to three shortlisted bidders, with a preferred bidder expected to be announced in early 2026 and the PPP contract finalised by the middle of next year.