Wellington’s next big transport shake-up has suddenly come into sharp focus — and it’s got Green MP Julie Anne Genter demanding answers.

The spotlight is back on Waka Kotahi NZTA after it quietly sent letters to about 200 property owners across the city, warning them their buildings could be affected by new tunnel plans. Two Wellington City Council staff were even made to sign non-disclosure agreements while the agency worked behind closed doors.

For Genter, that kind of secrecy is unacceptable. She says the government and its transport arm are “more interested in pushing through mega projects than creating a vision that works for Wellington’s future”. In her view, the lack of transparency is a symptom of a wider problem — one where roads get built first and the city’s transport needs get considered later.

Still, there’s plenty she doesn’t yet know. Like which exact homes and businesses have been targeted, or how much land NZTA plans to buy. Even councillors admit they don’t have those details. They’ve been told only that 200 “directly affected” owners were contacted, including some whose properties may end up with a tunnel running underneath them.

What’s clear so far is that the government’s massive State Highway 1 upgrade includes a second Mount Victoria Tunnel, an expanded Terrace Tunnel, and new three-lane sections on Vivian Street and Karo Drive. There’s also talk of widening Ruahine Street and Wellington Road out to the airport.

The total price tag? Somewhere between $2.9 and $3.8 billion. But for now, only around $200 million has been confirmed — enough for early design and land acquisition. Everything else will depend on future funding rounds.

Genter’s point is that the project’s numbers don’t stack up. She’s argued that the Wellington roading plans have “the worst cost-benefit of any of the Roads of National Significance” and that it’s “not affordable without big tax hikes”. She’s also criticised the government for keeping the council in the dark until the last minute.

Yet there’s another side to this story. Genter’s position lines up neatly with her long-held opposition to major new highways. The Greens have always pushed for investment in buses, cycling and light rail instead of more car lanes. So while her call for transparency makes sense, her criticism also fits her political worldview. It’s not just about how open NZTA has been — it’s about what kind of transport future Wellington should have.

And that’s where things get complicated. The tunnel project could reshape how people move around the capital. Extra lanes on Vivian Street could ease congestion for through-traffic, but they’ll likely mean fewer parks and more pressure on smaller council roads. Some fear the project will funnel even more cars into the city centre instead of encouraging alternatives.

Councillor Geordie Rogers, who represents the Pukehīnau/Lambton ward, says even the council has been blindsided. “Our team is incredibly disappointed,” he said. “We would have expected a heads up.”

NZTA told the council it had contacted property owners in mid-October, and confirmed the NDAs signed by staff no longer apply now that the investment case has been made public. A council spokesman said it was told only at the end of that week that letters had already gone out.

So while Genter’s frustration is shared by many, the full picture still isn’t clear. NZTA says the project is only in its “pre-implementation” stage — meaning years of design, consenting and land deals lie ahead before construction can even start. The agency insists work is progressing, but most funding will need to be approved later.

For Wellingtonians, the uncertainty is the real issue. Who’s affected, how much disruption is coming, and what kind of city this will create — those are the questions still hanging. Genter wants answers, but she’s also framing the debate around her own vision for a greener, less car-dominated capital.

That’s politics, of course. But as the tunnel plans move from secret letters to public scrutiny, Wellington deserves more than half the story.