Thumbs up from local MPs Tim van de Molen, left, and Louise Upston, right with Chris Bishop and Nicola Willis.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered a direct message to Cambridge residents after the Government confirmed $1.773 billion in funding for the Waikato Expressway.
Waikato MP Tim van de Molen points towards and Taupō MP Louise Upston explains where the new expressway stretch will be while Transport and Finance ministers Chris Bishop and Nicola Willis watch on. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Cambridge News 4 June 2026
Speaking to The News on Sunday, she acknowledged the town’s role in pushing for the 16-kilometre Cambridge to Piarere extension
She said Cambridge was a tier one growth area with an important role in the national economy and pressures that come with that.
“… I would say to the people of Cambridge, you’re a big part of the productive economy that’s kept New Zealand going these past few years.”
Noting the town’s contribution from exporters, the primary sector and racing industry and the fact families and businesses were under pressure from higher fuel costs, she forecast some relief ahead.
“What Treasury are forecasting is that as the crisis in the Middle East abates, we will see prices for fuel coming back down again, and with that, we can expect our economic recovery to take pace again.”
Local MPs Louise Upston (Taupō), left and Tim van de Molen (Waikato), right with a pleased Waikato Chamber chief executive Don Good whose organisation lobbied hard for the extension. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Cambridge to Piarere was years in the making but stalled under the previous Labour government. It was named one of 17 roads of national significance by National in September 2024.
Groundwork is now visible, trees have been felled, properties purchased and sites cleared – including a service station at Karapiro and, metres up the road, land once used as an alpaca farm and now owned by the New Zealand Transport Agency.
It was there on Tīrau Road, where there are no longer any alpacas but stabling remains, that Willis, Transport minister Chris Bishop and MPs Louise Upston (Taupō) and Tim van de Molen (Waikato) held a media get together.
Willis said the key change in the Budget was certainty.
“NZTA have been preparing to deliver this road, knowing that it’s on the government’s list of priority projects. But the new thing at this budget is that they’re able to hit go,” she said.
Bishop said tolling could be considered for the new stretch of expressway. Government policy is for all new roads to be assessed on a user pays basis.
The road is expected to be completed early in the next decade.
Taupō MP Louise Upston with a busy Tīrau Road behind her is relieved after years of lobbying that Cambridge to Piarere is going ahead fully funded. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Asked by The News about Southern Links, the planned connection south of Hamilton to Tamahere and one of the other roads of national significance, Bishop said it remained some distance from construction.
While acknowledging property purchases and earlier work, he said the project is “some years away from construction readiness, let alone construction funding.”
Bishop said New Zealand does not have the capacity to build multiple four‑lane expressways simultaneously and the focus instead is on rolling out projects in sequence.
For Upston and van de Molen the funding announcement is a milestone.
They said the extension would make travel safer, faster and more reliable for families, freight and businesses.
The new four-lane expressway will connect Cambridge to the SH1 and SH29 intersection at Piarere. It will include bridges, an interchange at Karāpiro Road and safety features.
Van de Molen said the project is expected to significantly improve safety and reduce serious crashes on a route that carries thousands of vehicles each day.
Standing in front of Tīrau Road which will become a local road are, from left Tim van de Molen (Waikato MP), Chris Bishop (Transport minister), Nicola Willis (Finance minister) and Louise Upston (Taupō MP). Photo: Mary Anne Gill
It’s a thumbs up from Waikato MP Tim van de Molen, left, and Taupo MP Louise Upston, right with the news from Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Finance Minister Nicola Willis that Cambridge to Piarere is all go. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
