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Eastern Busway Resolution

The Eastern Busway is designed for convenient, well-connected and accessible transport that makes journeys more reliable and frequent. For this to happen, Auckland Transport proposes that the Eastern Busway's terms of operation (and the authorised vehicle hierarchy permit system) be the same as the NZTA Northern Busway Bylaw 2025.  

This will ensure a consistent approach to the operation of busways in Auckland, regardless of which organisation is the road controlling authority. It will create one set of rules for operators and customers on every Auckland busway. Parts of the Eastern Busway that are already built are operating as a bus lane. It's time to update this, and all sections of the busway present and future, to formally operate as a busway. This means only authorised vehicles that have applied to use the busway will be able to access it. 

Consultation is open from 26 August to 27 September 2026. 

We are especially keen to hear from bus operators or potential bus operators.

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Proposed priority of access and use

The proposed busway usage priority aims to mirror the existing Northern Busway system. This proposal ensures that there are consistent rules about priority of access and use across all busways in Auckland. The proposed priority ranking is as follows:  

  • First: Scheduled Passenger Services  
  • Second: Accessibility Buses 
  • Third: Any Vehicle having a third priority status from the relevant authority 
1.  

Would you like to provide feedback on the Eastern Busway mirroring the Northern Busway priority levels?

Authorisation conditions

It is proposed that the authorisation conditions for the Eastern Busway be like those for the Northern Busway. This is to ensure consistency across the network on how busways operate. The proposed conditions that can be set are as follows:  

Restrictions on the maximum number of vehicles that may operate under the Authorisation Permit on any given day at any given time 

Specifications for the vehicles that can operate under the Authorisation Permit, including:  

  • Vehicle makes/models 
  • License plates 
  • Signage or other means of identifying the vehicle 
  • Vehicle registration, servicing and certification requirements 
  • Communication and training requirements  


Specifications for drivers that may operate under the Authorisation Permit, including training and licensing requirements 

2.  

Would you like to provide feedback on the Eastern Busway mirroring the Northern Busway authorisation conditions? 

Busway user manual

The Busway User Manual designed for the Northern Busway was written in a way that it can be used on all Auckland busways. It is proposed to use the same Busway User Manual for the Eastern Busway, so that drivers on the busways across Auckland operate under the same set of rules, allowing the network to function cohesively.  

This Busway User Manual covers:  

  • Roles and responsibilities  
  • Driver safety rules   
  • Standard procedures for drivers  
  • Operator instructions for incidents and breakdowns  
  • Operator instructions for standard procedures  
3.  

Would you like to provide feedback on the Eastern Busway mirroring the Busway User Manual created for the Northern (and future) Busways?

Eligibility to Apply for an Authorisation Permit  

The proposed eligibility to apply for an Authorisation Permit on the Eastern Busway will mirror the Northern Busway Bylaw. This is to ensure that there is a consistent approach to who can apply for an Authorisation Permit on the busways in Auckland. The Northern Busway Bylaw states:   

Only Operators of the following vehicles may apply for an Authorisation Permit:  

  • Scheduled Passenger Services 
  • Accessibility Buses 
  • Any other type of Vehicle the relevant authority approves as being eligible to make an application (for example: airport shuttles and service vehicles to fix a broken-down bus)  
4.  

Would you like to provide feedback on the Eastern Busway mirroring the Northern Busway's eligibility for applying for an authorisation permit?

5.  

Do you believe that operators/vehicles outside of the current list should be permitted to apply for an authorisation permit?