Recently, I drove both to Auckland and Wellington. Driving to Auckland via the 110km/hr expressway, missing both Cambridge and Hamilton, was marvellous. Likewise, using Transmission Gully to enter Wellington allowed the traffic to flow smoothly. Both expressways were toll -free, so why is Takitimu Drive – from Tauranga Crossing to State Highway 2, which is only a Tauranga City internal bypass – still being tolled? It certainly isn't an expressway, and on much of it you are only allowed to travel at the 1948 legal speed limit of 50m/hr or 80km/hr. Come on New Zealand Transport Agency, you have punished Tauranga long enough – remove the toll now!
Jim Sherlock, Merivale.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency replies:
Tolling can replace or supplement the funding of new roading infrastructure. In the instance of Tauranga Eastern Link and Takitimu Drive, tolling was utilised to fund the roads much sooner than would have otherwise been possible.
There was considerable public support for the tolling in Tauranga. For example, during 2009, public were consulted on whether they supported Tauranga Eastern Link being a toll road so construction could start up to 10 years earlier. Tolling received significant community support (92 per cent both conditional and unconditional).There are free alternatives routes available for those who do not want to pay a toll for using these roads.
Note: Current modelling indicates tolling on the Tauranga Eastern Link will end by 2040 and Takitimu Drive by 2031.