5. SUE MORONEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Transport
What investment has the Government made in transport in the Waikato region?
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Transport) Link to this
Since 1999 the Government has invested close to $1.2 billion in land transport in the Waikato region. In 2007-08 the Government forecasts to invest a further $200 million. This is a 70 percent increase on what the National Government invested in the region in 1999, as demonstrated by this graph that I am showing the House now. This is the investment into Waikato under a Labour Government.
Martin Gallagher
Paula BennettI heard an interjection from the backbench member, saying “Desperate!”. It was desperate times under a National Government, because certainly the Waikato region could not get any investment into transport. I have seen comments from David Bennett, National Party MP, saying that the Government lacks commitment to the Waikato region in respect of land transport. I do not know where he has been; it is obviously not in his own electorate. This Government has invested considerably into infrastructure in the Waikato region, and all the National Party built was stone walls. I ask the member Rick Barker to hold up this graph, which shows this Government’s investment into transport as a percentage of GDP. [ Interruption] That has got those members going, because there are the facts and they do not like the facts.
Has Land Transport New Zealand in effect withdrawn funding for two sections of the Waikato Expressway?
No, it has not, because funding for Hamilton and the Huntly bypass has not yet been allocated. In fact, Land Transport New Zealand has not received formal funding applications for either project. Land Transport New Zealand has asked Transit to go back and have a look at these very high-cost projects before it submits its final funding applications, in order that we get value for money. I would have thought that every person in this House would want value for money, or is it just National Party rhetoric when its members talk about that?