Ōtaki to North of Levin Highway: A key to unlocking Levin’s future
Published on September 24, 2025
When the first sod of the Ōtaki to North of Levin (Ō2NL) highway was turned this week, it signified far more than just the beginning of a 24-kilometre stretch of road. For the Horowhenua community, this moment marked a turning point, a step forward in a journey we’ve been on together for many years, working toward a safer, more connected, and more vibrant future.
As we all know, Levin is growing fast. Over the past decade, our population has steadily increased, and the projections show that growth is only going to continue, evident in our Council’s need to utilise the spare capacity of other organisations to keep up with our consent processing. With that growth comes both exciting opportunity and real pressure, more people, more traffic, and more strain on our town centre. Residents and businesses alike told us - through countless conversations, workshops, and consultations that Levin needs to evolve if it’s to remain the welcoming, thriving hub we all want it to be for generations to come.
That’s where the Levin Town Centre Transformation programme comes in. It’s our collective response to these challenges, a vision that reimagines the heart of Levin as a place that puts people first, a place with accessible streets, green spaces where we can gather, and a town centre where local businesses can thrive. But to make that vision a reality, we also need the right transport connections.
This is why the Ō2NL highway is so crucial. By creating a safer, more resilient road that diverts heavy through traffic away from our main street, the project provides the space and the confidence to rethink what our town centre can look like. Fewer trucks rumbling through Oxford Street, less congestion, cleaner air, these are the tangible benefits that will change how we experience our town.
As part of this change, we’re also preparing for the revocation of the state highway once the Ō2NL highway is complete, and we’re excited to welcome a major boost to our rail network. Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils have confirmed 18 brand-new hybrid train units arriving in 2029/30, which will provide four return services each weekday between Palmerston North and Wellington, plus off-peak and weekend services. For Levin, that means faster, more frequent trips to the capital and the lower North Island, giving people real alternatives to driving and supporting a vibrant, low-carbon future.
The Levin Town Centre is currently situated right in the middle of the state highway, which makes getting this transition right even more important. As heavy traffic moves out of the centre and rail travel becomes easier and more attractive, we can unlock new opportunities for business, recreation, and community spaces. This is a once-in-a-generation chance to reimagine the heart of our town - and we’re all committed to getting it right. With that foundation in place, we can now begin to redesign urban and green spaces, attract a wider variety of retail options, and build a town centre that’s vibrant and future ready, all while maintaining the regional connectivity that’s so important.
Reimagining Levin isn’t always an easy or immediately obvious task, and I understand that some might struggle to picture what the future could look like. But transformation often begins with small, simple acts - like the turning of a single sod - that, over time, add up to something remarkable. We must plan for future generations, ensuring the experiences our district has to offer can be enjoyed by today’s residents and those who come after us. It’s a challenge, but one worth embracing, because the legacy we create today will shape Levin for years to come.