James Shaw with the level headed take:

The Green Party has called the plan bonkers.

Co-leader James Shaw said the government seemed to have a tendency to choose the most expensive and over-engineered plans possible.

"I don't think that six lanes of traffic are going to solve Auckland's congestion problem. Frankly, during a climate crisis it's a bit bonkers to be building more roads and inducing more traffic and more car dependency."

Shaw said at the very least, the light rail tunnel should be built first to reduce congestion, and indicate what roading demand there is.