Estimates Debate — Vote Transport

Vote Transport has made significant gains, and I would like to suggest the Greens had a role in that. As a consequence of our commitment to working with Labour on transport policy implementation over the last 3 years, there have been substantial improvements in public transport, rail, and cycle and pedestrian initiatives. Rail-track is back in the hands of New Zealand taxpayers once again, and over the next 10 years $200 million of public money will be spent on upgrading that track. The $200 million will be matched by Toll’s investment in rolling stock. For the first time in decades there is a rail strategy. Toll is now able to plan with confidence—most obviously, perhaps, with the deal with Fonterra in Waikato where the rail link to the Waitōtara dairy factory has been reopened and dairy freight has been consolidated and large numbers of heavy trucks are now off the road.

That is a safety issue. It is not just a transport issue, not just an energy issue, or a means of getting freight to the right place more economically. It is a safety issue. Folk out there in their cars know there are fewer big trucks they have to share the road with.

The Green influence is also obvious in last year’s release of the national walking and cycling strategy, and the first-ever dedicated fund for walking and cycling, which is $6 million this year.

We are also encouraged to see the funding for passenger transport. Funding is up from $53 million in 2000-01 to $240 million in just 5 years—up 350 percent. Public transport funding is up 5.5 percent to 15.2 percent of transport funding. We have seen as a consequence skyrocketing public transport patronage, and again the advantages are advantages to everybody, not just those folk who are transport disadvantaged—those who cannot drive, or do not drive—but it is an advantage to those who do drive, with now more room on the roads. I can recall sitting on the train coming in from Porirua and looking out and seeing queues of traffic moving rather slowly.

Progress reported.

Report adopted.

The House adjourned at 5.55 p.m.