3. DARIEN FENTON (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Transport
What decisions have been taken recently to further the Government’s aim to provide a world-class transport network, which moves people and goods safely, sustainably, and efficiently, as a centrepiece of its drive to transform the New Zealand economy?
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Transport) Link to this
A very good question. Following the Government’s substantial funding allocation announced in the Budget, the Land Transport New Zealand board recently approved funding for several land transport projects, all of which contribute towards a world-class transport network. Those projects include funding for the construction of the State Highway 2 Dowse to Petone project, two major projects in the Waikato region, and the Kerikeri Heritage Bypass. Funding was also approved for the design and construction of ramp signalling in Auckland, and the design of the State Highway 1 Cambridge bypass. But there is even more. Funding has also been approved for the travel plan programme for Auckland, and for investigations into the State Highway 16 Te Atatu Road to Royal Road six-laning project.
Land Transport New Zealand will allocate $2.3 billion towards land transport activities this year. The Government is spending $360 million on passenger transport this year alone. This is a huge increase from the 1990s, when funding for passenger transport was frozen at $40 million for almost a decade.
Peter BrownIs the Minister aware that 99-plus percent of New Zealand’s external trade comes and goes by ship, and does she, therefore, accept that if we want a world-class transport network and all that goes with it—as outlined in the principal question—the Government really needs to do something positive to expand our shipping industry?
Jeanette Fitzsimons Link to this
Does the Minister agree that with rising oil prices and accelerating climate change, a world-class transport network must include a world-class rail system capable of moving people and goods between major cities; if so, how much of the $2.3 billion being spent this year on land transport is she spending on upgrading the rail system?
This Government has committed a considerable amount of money to rail. First of all, we have bought back the rail lines of this country. We are spending $600 million on rail in Auckland over the next 5 years, and we have committed $200 million to improving rail transport around New Zealand. I would have thought the Greens would welcome that. Certainly, this Government is committed to rail—something that was not happening under the previous National Government.
Jeanette Fitzsimons Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. There was only one question in my question, and that was how much of the $2.3 billion being spent this year is being spent on upgrading the rail system. I got a lot of figures about previous years, but I did not get any figures about this year’s spend.
Hon Dr Nick Smith
Madam SPEAKERWe will call that a draw. There should have been no interjection on the point of order, and there should have been no retaliatory comments. We will start again.
Jeanette Fitzsimons Link to this
The Minister referred to repurchasing the rail track. That decision was made in 2003. She referred to the decision to spend $200 million to upgrade the rail track, which was made at that time. Very little of that figure remains to be spent in this Budget year—I think something like $180 million out of that $200 million has been spent so far. I am really searching for an answer to my question about how much of this year’s Land Transport New Zealand budget will be spent on the rail system.
In my answer I outlined the $600 million we are spending on rail over the next 5 years in the Auckland area. I outlined the $200 million that will go—and some of it has already gone—into rail. But it is done over the course of a 5-year appropriation.
Do the Minister’s comments today to the Maritime New Zealand conference that the “Maersk review has implications for you and for the whole transport sector” indicate that she is supportive of New Zealand coastal shipping, and will she, therefore, ensure that it plays a positive role in feeding cargo from provincial ports to the ports that Maersk would ultimately choose to serve?
My comments about Maersk today relate to the fact that a decision by Maersk needs to take account of all modes of transport, because moving freight around New Zealand—if Maersk decides to use two ports—would affect rail, road, and sea transport. We need to take account of all modes of transport, if that decision is made.
Jeanette Fitzsimons Link to this
Does the Minister agree with the purpose clause of the Land Transport Management Act that transport should be responsive to travel demand; if so, what has she done this year to re-balance spending in order to respond to the hugely increased demand for public transport—a more than 30 percent increase in patronage of commuter rail in Auckland, for example—and the reduced demand for new roads, with traffic levelling off and declining over recent months?
It is not just this year that the Government is taking account of the need to improve passenger transport; the Government has been doing so in each year that we have been in Government. As I said in an earlier answer, the National Government froze funding for passenger transport at $40 million a year; it is now $360 million. That has happened in the term of this Government. The commitment is to improve passenger transport, but one has to have roads on which buses can travel, as well as improving the transport system in terms of rail.