Ma te huruhu ka rere te manu - adorn the bird with feathers so it may fly.
Tēnā koutou, talofa lava, mālō e lelei, kia orana, bula vinaka and warm greetings.
Welcome to the first Māngere Walking & Cycling Projects pānui / newsletter, where we gather updates from across the various projects working to make Māngere a better, more connected place to move around. You are receiving this update as you have opted to receive updates from either the Māngere West Cycling Improvements Project or the Streets for People Māngere Project.
In this first edition, you’ll find: ✨ project updates for Māngere West Cycling Improvements and Streets for People. 🎉 Free bike courses for the community that you won’t want to miss. 💛 A spotlight on a local café doing amazing things. 🚲 Plus, we celebrate a hundred trips by bike to the Māngere Bridge Family Festival!
There’s a lot to look forward to and we’re excited to have you with us on this journey.
We’ve chosen the whakataukī “Ma te huruhuru ka rere te manu – Adorn the bird with feathers so it may fly” to guide us. It speaks to the heart of this mahi: when our communities are supported with the right infrastructure, they can move freely, grow stronger and thrive.
Ngā mihi maioha
Auckland Transport
Construction Updates: Māngere West Cycling Improvements
Construction of the Māngere West Cycling Improvements is well underway. Our contractors are usually working in two sections at once. This approach helps us deliver the work more quickly by focusing our efforts and means disruption will be limited to one or two sections at a time.
Please note timelines and staging plans are indicative and may change.
Stage One works are 90% complete.
Kiwi Esplanade & Woodward Avenue:
- Traffic calming measures have been installed.
- New street lighting is awaiting connection.
Coronation Road (between Hastie Avenue and 146 Coronation Road):
- New bus drop-off zone for Māngere Education Centre is complete.
- Bus stops have been upgraded
- Road markings are complete for the new two-way cycleway.
- The concrete separators for the cycleway are expected to be installed in May.
Works are underway outside Māngere Bridge School.
Stage two works outside Māngere Bridge School have begun ahead of the April school holidays. We expect this work to be completed by early May.
WHAT'S NEXT: We'll be starting work on Stage Three soon.
Construction is going well which means we are able to kick off planned works for stage three ahead of our original May schedule.
Soon, we'll be informing people in the local areas of the detailed timing of what to expect on their streets. We will include more detailed information on this section in future updates.
We understand that construction can be disruptive, particularly around schools and key traffic routes. Traffic may be slower at times, and we truly appreciate your patience and understanding as we carry out this important mahi to improve transport options for our community.
Streets for People: Coronation Road Trial - Phase One moves to permanence.
Construction is scheduled to start next week on the section of the trial between Ngā Hau Māngere Bridge and Kiwi Esplanade.
This work follows the decision made in June 2024 to retain this section of the trial. This section worked well during Trial Phase One, from January 2024 to March 2024. Now this work will convert these temporary features to permanent ones.
The works taking place include:
- Replacing the planter boxes, bollards, and blue lines with a permanently extended kerb.
- A new “Paired Zebra” crossing near Kiwi Esplanade which prioritises pedestrians and people on bikes crossing the road.
- New asphalt surfacing.
Please note that the planned construction does not include changes to the Phase Two section of the trial cycleway between Kiwi Esplanade and the Church Road Roundabout – the results of the Phase Two Streets for People Trial are expected to be announced later this month.
Community Courses & Events
Over two Saturdays, more than 70 local people, ages 5 to 65, attended free cycle skills training courses at Māngere Bridge School.
To help prepare people for the new cycling facilities being delivered by the Māngere West Cycling Improvements, AT is providing free adult and children's cycle skills training courses and free e-bike guided rides.
There's much more to come! From basic skills training to building confidence on the road or giving an e-bike there's plenty of opportunities for local people to get involved.
For more cycling events & activities, connect with your local bike groups!
Triple Teez
Triple Teez has been helping Māngere 'keep the wheels spinning' for over a decade.
Triple Teez are based in Māngere Town Centre where they run the Māngere BikeFIT Hub. Head to the hub for bike advice, join one of their regular community rides or visit their pop-up at the Māngere Town Centre Market
Bike Māngere Bridge
Bike Māngere Bridge is an inclusive and fun local group looking for ways to make our neighbourhood a fun and safe space for people of all ages to get on their bikes.
Over the next few months, Bike Māngere Bridge will be leading some local group rides and other fun activities in the Māngere Bridge area.
Local Business Spotlight: The Gaff Cafe
A cosy villa cafe at the heart of Māngere Bridge.
Nestled in a beautifully restored villa across the road from Māngere Bridge School, the Gaff Cafe is more than just a local coffee spot—it's a community hub.
At the heart of it all is owner Ryan and his whānau, who bring warmth, generosity, and genuine hospitality to everything they do. Whether you're a regular or popping in for the first time, you're always greeted with a smile and made to feel at home.
Must-try: Everything is YUM! but our favourite is The Big Gaff Breakfast, their donuts and their huge selection of freshly baked and homemade cabinet food.
The Gaff Cafe also serves dinner from Wednesday to Friday. While construction is happening nearby, The Gaff Cafe remains open - so next time you're in the area, pop in, grab a coffee, and support this wonderful local business.
100 trips made by bike to The Bridge Family Festival.
On Saturday, Auckland Transport came along to the annual Māngere Bridge Family Festival, offering free bike valet parking for those who came by bike!
We parked 100 bikes at the valet - and it was great to get to meet with a wide range of Māngere Bridge locals.
The bike valet was so popular that the team has been invited to offer it again at the upcoming Village Lights event on April 26th.
From the 275: Local Stories & Celebrations
🛠️ He Pātai, He Whakautu – This Month’s Most Asked Question
Why is the bus stop in the traffic lane?
This type of stop is called an in-lane bus stop, which means the bus stays in the traffic lane rather than pulling over to the side of the road. It’s a common design used across Auckland, based on the Auckland Transport Design Manual and guided by national standards from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
Why in-lane stops are being used:✅ More reliable bus services – Buses stay on time because they don’t need to wait for a gap in traffic to pull back in. ✅ Safer for passengers – It's easier and safer for people using wheelchairs, prams, or with limited mobility to get on and off the bus. ✅ Calms traffic – When vehicles briefly stop behind a bus, it can help slow traffic in busy areas near schools and homes, improving safety for everyone.
Why is there a new crossing near BP on Coronation Road?
A new signalised crossing is being installed near the roundabout by BP petrol station to make it easier and safer for people walking or biking to cross the road. The crossing is demand-activated, so it only stops traffic when someone needs to cross.
This crossing connects to the new cycleway on the park side (east side) of the road, keeping cyclists away from the busy BP driveways and nearby church. From there, the route continues along the same side, crosses McKenzie Road at the lights, and connects to Bader Drive — heading toward Māngere Town Centre. It also links with the SH20 cycleway, providing a continuous path all the way to the airport.
Thank you for staying connected 🙏
We know construction can be disruptive, so we want to sincerely thank you for your patience and understanding as we carry out this important mahi. Our team is working hard to complete the improvements as quickly and safely as possible to minimise any impact on your daily routine.
Feel free to share this newsletter with your friends, whānau, and neighbours who might be interested in the project. If they’d like to get future updates straight to their inbox, they can email us at projects@at.govt.nz or sign up using the link below
Ngā mihi nui,
Auckland Transport