1. RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) Link to this
to the Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues
What input, if any, did she have into the Budget, and what, if any, were her achievements?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD (Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues) Link to this
As Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues I had discussions with many Ministers across all of the three priority areas that the Government set, including the Minister of Finance, about funding the Government’s priority areas to ensure that Auckland has the social, economic, and environmental infrastructure to make it internationally competitive and still a good place to live.
Could she explain to Aucklanders how many cars in 2011 will be able to use the “substantially completed” Māngere Bridge on an unfinished motorway, which is the only extra roading achievement announced for Auckland in the Budget, out of an extra $1.3 billion worth of spending?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
There is $13.4 billion over the next 5 years being spent on roading and other transport projects. There is a huge list of projects, which include the Auckland northern gateway; State Highway 1, northern busway; State Highway 1, Esmonde Road interchange; major changes around the central motorway junction, including $260 million worth of work being done—
Ann HartleyHon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
After the enormous increase in the first Budget presented by Dr Michael Cullen in the year 2000, which brought in kick-start funding that saw busways all across Auckland instituted, and the first movement on rail transport in more than 30 years, this latest Budget has put in a transport package that guarantees 5 years of funding for roads—because buses actually need roads—as well as major improvements including the double-tracking of the western line to provide more reliable, integrated public transport across Auckland. That, of course, will get many more cars off the road than building just roads.
Dr Richard WorthHow does she explain the fact that in the year to November 2005, as Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues, she was the fifth-highest-spending Minister on domestic air travel, at a total of $42,083—more than the Minister of Finance—or is there more than one commercial airport in Auckland?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
Part of my job as Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues is talking to the rest of New Zealand about the fact—[ Interruption]
Madam SPEAKERHon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
Part of my role as Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues is to talk with the rest of New Zealand about the fact that without Auckland being an internationally competitive city, New Zealand’s economy and society would suffer. I am also Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Associate Minister of Commerce, and Minister of Consumer Affairs, and I now have responsibility for the National Library and Archives New Zealand—all of which are nationwide responsibilities. [ Interruption]
Members know that in fact interjections are permitted. When barracking takes over and it is impossible to hear the Minister, that is not permitted.
Keith LockeAs Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues, did she go beyond supporting currently funded projects, like the double-tracking of the western line she just referred to, and support in the Budget process the Auckland Regional Council’s new priority rail measures, such as the extension of the Britomart line underground to connect with the western line, and the electrification needed to make that a success?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
I have worked for the last 7 years, and for many years before that, with the Auckland region and with local authorities within Auckland, to develop a regional land transport strategy and the regional passenger transport draft, which was produced by the Auckland Regional Transport Authority about 2 months ago. The Government continues to work with the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, the Auckland Regional Council, the territorial local authorities, business, and communities to see the implementation of all of this. However, the Government will not provide a blank cheque to Auckland; any work in Auckland has to be of benefit to the whole of New Zealand. I am very happy to say that I kept Auckland Central while the members who are asking these questions are mostly list MPs. I am very happy to be judged by the people of Auckland.
Peter BrownIs it true that the Minister made a bid in this year’s Budget for the establishment of a dancing school in Epsom; if not, why not?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
We put forward a number of arts proposals, but arts facilities are primarily a local responsibility. I understand that Auckland sees dancing in Epsom as a relatively low priority, as do the people of New Zealand.
Could the Minister explain to Aucklanders, in the 7 long years that she has been the Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues, which Auckland issues she has identified, analysed, and solved, and does she believe that Auckland’s traffic congestion has increased or decreased since she has been the Minister?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
I have had an enormously rewarding time for the last 7 years because it is the first time that a Government has focused on Auckland’s needs. We have produced a sustainable cities plan for action, a number of transport programmes, and the Auckland regional economic development strategy, and we will continue to work with Auckland on all of those strategies. I believe that congestion in Auckland has been kept to a reasonable level, considering the fact that every 5 years the population of a city the size of Wellington moves to Auckland.
Can she explain to the House her reasons for supporting the Auckland Regional Council in its efforts to take ownership of Watercare Services Ltd from the territorial councils so that its assets could be raided for transport?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
The water issues were left out deliberately from the local government amendments in 2002. We have continued to work with all of the authorities in Auckland to make sure that Aucklanders have clean, affordable, plentiful water—as we do across all other infrastructure issues—and I will continue to work with them all.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. It is a bit tough with this Minister, because I notice that most of the time she never went near the question in terms of addressing it in her answer. But this is actually an important one, because the Minister has been pushing for the ownership of Watercare Services to be shifted. I asked her for her reasons, and she did not go near it. I suggest to you, Madam Speaker, that if question time is to be meaningful, then it is not enough when one asks a question about the ownership of Watercare Services that the Minister says water is important; she actually has to address the question about the ownership of Watercare Services.