National's pledging to give stage one of South Auckland's Mill Road - the green light.

The party is promising $1.75 billion in Budget 2028 to begin construction between Manukau and Alfriston.

The four-lane route is designed to ease pressure on State Highway 1 as South Auckland’s population grows.

A further $100 million will go towards protecting the future route for stages two and three through to Drury.

Transport spokesperson Chris Bishop defended the project to Heather du Plessis-Allan, despite the project being cancelled by successive governments. 

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