Racers have their day in court over Western Springs Speedway
16 July 2026
Jonathan Killick writes for the Post
A decision by Auckland Council to consolidate speedway at Waikaraka Park has been challenged in the High Court by Western Springs racing clubs, who argue the decision-making process has been a “breach of natural justice”.
The application by the Western Springs Speedway Association (WSSA) for a judicial review sought to overturn a decision by councillors in October 2024 to allocate $Il million for upgrades at Waikaraka.
Bronwyn Carruthers KC told the court, on behalf of WSSA, that Waikaraka Park was seen by open-wheel racing clubs as an unsuitable venue because its fences weren’t equipped for vehicles “more likely to flip in the air”.
“Those differences in the tendency of cars to flip or slide is in a large part driving the concern about the sultability of Walkaraka Park.”
There was an “increased risk of serious injury and fatality” because of the dilference in fences, she said.
It was alleged the viewpoint of racing clubs had not been considered in the decision-making process because the council’s stadia operator, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, had failed to consult them.
Carruthers argued, in the High Court at Auckland, that was “a breach of natural justice and presented a long paper trail which she said showed “predetermination” by Tataki.
She presented a “location analysis” study considering alternative locations for speedway which had been done, allegedly, without the knowledge of racing clubs or elected councillors.
That was backed up by an affidavit by former councillor Wayne Walker
“This first came to the council in October 2024 as an attachment to la meetingl agenda,” Carruthers said.
They [Tātaki] went on this path that started a whole snowball to where we are now.”
High Court Justice Gregory Blanchard pushed back, saying he could not “see it as objectionable to do a location analysis”.
Carruthers returned: “I say the contents of the location analysis were part of the predetermination that speedway was going.”
Meanwhile, the court heard that Tataki had met with Palmerston North Speedway Limited (PNS) – an event promoter working across both Western Springs and Waikaraka Park.
PNSI. was the final holder of a “venue hire agreement” for speedway at Western Springs.
Minutes of the meeting read out to the court suggested it agreed Tataki would provide “seed funding” for upgrades to Waikaraka Park, if PNS would not “enter a PR campaign” against the decision to shift away from Western Springs.
Blanchard asked whether, as the promoter, PNSI. was viewed as speaking on behall of the wider industry:
“But that’s not the affected community,” Carruthers argued.
As further evidence of “predetermination” Carruthers also cited a decision not to allow WSSA to present at a governing body meeting of councillors prior to the vote on the issue.
The meeting had previously been postponed following revelations that the views of Industry body Speedway NZ had allegedly been misrepresented to suggest it was in favour of a shift to Waikaraka Park.
The WSSA was also subsequently “excluded” from an expressions of interest process held by Tataki, which called for “new and innovative” ideas for the stadium.
That was because the WSSA had submitted its tender nine months after deadline although prior to a public consultation on potential options.
Carruthers submitted to the court a “guidance note” that stated Tataki “reserved the right to add vendors during the process”. She argued this demonstrated it had actively decided not to do so.
On behalf of Tataki and Auckland Council, lawyer Padraig McNamara sald the whole proceedings were “founded on mischaracterisation”.
He said it was incorrect to say that the council chose to “end speedway at Western Springs”. Instead it had decided to fund upgrades at Waikaraka Park.
Blanchard said that was “undoubtedly right”, but he sald the consolidation could have “handicapped speedway at Western Springs”.
McNamara said that by March 2023, speedway was no longer operating at Western Springs because the promoter had shifted.
“Ultimately it was the promoter’s decision as to whether they would run in that centre or not.”
Blanchard put it to McNamara that Tataki had chosen to engage with the promoter because they were willing to shift.
McNamara called that “an overstatement”.
He said there has “fundamentally been issues at Western Springs for a long time on account of the noise, which has limited the number of nights [of races]”
McNamara said the council’s decision on future use of Western Springs was only made in March 2026, following full public consultation.
“The applicants do not challenge that decision.”
McNamara also argued there were no “statutory obligations” of natural justice that applied to Tataki’s administrative decisions.
“Councillors are routinely are presented with a view [from staff], that Is a predisposition, if you like, and the key Is they keep an open mind”, he said.
At the conclusion of the two-day hearing, Justice Blanchard reserved his decision.