Global law firm Ashurst Perkins Coie and New Zealand law firm Bell Gully have together advised the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) on the procurement of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) for the Warkworth to Te Hana project.
The project will establish a 26-km, four-lane motorway between Warkworth and Te Hana, with interchanges located at Warkworth, Wellsford and Te Hana. The project is a section of Ara Tūhono, which forms part of the Northland Corridor, one of New Zealand’s most significant infrastructure projects intended to improve resilience, safety and transport connectivity between Auckland and Whangārei.
The award of the PPP to the Northway consortium to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the new motorway was announced by Transport Minister, Hon. Chris Bishop on 30 July 2026. The Northway consortium comprises ACCIONA Construction, ACCIONA Concesiones and Aberdeen Investments, together with various subcontractors including AECOM and Downer New Zealand. The total overall project cost is approximately NZ$3.649 billion net present value during its 32 year construction and operating term.
Acting as an integrated commercial legal team, Ashurst Perkins Coie and Bell Gully advised NZTA on all aspects of the structuring and procurement of the project, including the contractual negotiations and finalisation of the project agreement with Northway. The work included updating and optimising the previous NZ standard form PPP Project Agreement, drawing on past experiences in New Zealand and international precedents and the PPP and large-scale infrastructure experience of Ashurst Perkins Coie and Bell Gully.
Ashurst Perkins Coie partner, Angus Foley said:
“This PPP project is truly world class. NZTA has led a procurement that harnesses global infrastructure contractor, investor and financier appetite to deliver an exceptional outcome for a project of this scale and complexity. We are pleased to have supported NZTA on a project that sets a new benchmark.”
Northland Corridor Programme Director, Derek Robertson said:
“Bell Gully and Ashurst Perkins Coie have provided sound legal and commercial advice and support throughout the PPP procurement process for this vital Road of National Significance. Their combined cross-Tasman experience, coupled with a relentless focus and commitment to meeting all of our ambitious targets over the last two years, have been invaluable in helping NZTA reach this important milestone.”
Bell Gully partner, Angela Harford said:
“We are delighted to support NZTA on this significant and intergenerational infrastructure project, which will play a material part in strengthening the New Zealand infrastructure pipeline as well as creating long-lasting benefits for Northland and Aotearoa. This continues Bell Gully’s long-standing and proud history on New Zealand’s PPP projects, having advised the Crown on nine of the 10 PPP projects in New Zealand.”
The Australia-based Ashurst Perkins Coie team was led by partner Angus Foley who was assisted by partners Jennifer Ingram and Krista Payne, and senior associate Alice Dawson (Projects, Energy, Environment & Resources).
The Bell Gully team was led by commercial infrastructure partner Angela Harford, together with construction and projects partner Ian Becke, PPP, public law partner Kirsty Dobbs, and supported by senior associate Ruth Keats and Bell Gully’s broader infrastructure team.
