Financial Review Debate — Ministry of Transport

The Ministry of Transport has an important role in our transport sector in that it provides the advice to the Minister around transport objectives and opportunities, and it is a means for the promotion of changes in rules and regulations to make transport a much safer environment for New Zealanders who travel on our transport systems but also the importance that transport has as an economic growth agenda and a very strong part of this Government’s agenda of how we build a stronger and brighter future for New Zealanders going forward.

I would like to focus on just a couple of things of prime importance in the transport sector that the Ministry of Transport has been involved in, in providing advice to the Minister in that regard. One of those is in regard to the roads of national significance. This is probably the biggest initiative that has happened in the transport sector for the last decade. The roads of national significance are essentially a matter of identifying the main roads that in terms of economics, safety, and population demographic require substantial Government investment and funding.

If you look at those roads of national significance, they are typically situated in the large urban centres. For example, Auckland has a large number of roads of national significance. There is the Waikato Expressway through the Waikato, which you, Mr Chairperson Tisch, will be well aware of as it is through your electorate. Also we have the Wellington, Christchurch, and other roading projects.

The initiative that the roads of national significance illustrate is that they are an indication of where we have identified the prime roads that need that investment. Rather than going through a system that we have had for many years of trying to politically go from section to section in those roads, we have actually said that these are big economic growth agenda projects that are more important than just building the roads. They provide the focus and delivery of economic growth to our regions, and a connectivity between our cities. So in identifying those roads and then funding them, this Government has invested a lot of money in these times in economic growth, providing that infrastructure for the country to go forward.

I think we need to commend the ministry and the Ministers involved for the hard work that has been done in that area, and the great benefits that you are seeing in the areas where those roads are being built. That will actually benefit all New Zealanders because the economic growth that comes out of the areas that are being serviced now by this infrastructure will be vital for the economic growth of New Zealand as a country as a whole.

The other area around transport that we should probably make mention of is road safety. You have seen a number of initiatives in that area over the last few years, ranging from the drug-driving requirements to the lower breath-alcohol levels for young people and recidivist offenders to the most recent changes that we see with the give-way rules in the last week or so. I would like to commend New Zealand motorists for taking the opportunity to understand those rules and act with a sense of respect to their fellow drivers in the way that they have engaged and made that transition from the old rules to the new rules—something that in practical effect has been successful and not with a lot of accidents or anything that would be seen as untoward.

I think the Ministry of Transport needs to take credit for a lot of the work in those areas, for its ability to assist in road transport and road safety, and I think the Government organisations involved can take a lot of credit for the way that has been done. It shows that you can make practical changes on the ground level where, if you get that public education right, if you get the right promotion of the change, if you get the understanding from the sector, and if you get a cohesive approach to it, then you can deliver those kinds of changes without too much effect on the ground. That is something that I think is important for us going forward in this sector.

The road toll is another issue that is very close to our hearts.

Report noted.

Ministry of Economic Development