The New Zealand Transport Agency is planning to build a new highway in 2014 for NZ$1.3bn (US$950m).

The Auckland-Puhoi motorway will extend to Te Hana on Northland’s southern boundary and will have interchanges linking it to two towns in the region.

The project, which will be constructed in stages, will be fully funded by the New Zealand Central Government, according to northernadvocate.co.nz.