Fuel shortage highlights need for better public transport

Decades of underinvestment in Auckland’s public transport and minimal uptake of electric vehicles under National are being highlighted by the looming petrol shortage, the Green Party said today.

“If more Aucklanders had access to reliable trains, buses, safe cycle routes or an electric car, this temporary disruption to petrol supplies wouldn’t be such a big deal for commuters,” said Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter.

“The fact is, many Aucklanders still don’t have access to fast, reliable public transport so they’re seriously inconvenienced whenever there’s a crash on the motorway, severe congestion and a disruption like this to the fuel supply.

“The Green Party has pledged to build light rail down Dominion Road to Mangere and the airport by 2021, as well as light rail out towards Hellensville, and a rapid busway to Howick and Botany.

“If National had followed the lead of other countries and offered real incentives for people to buy electric cars there would be far fewer people competing for the limited supply of petrol right now.

“The Greens are the only party promising to actually prioritise clean transport options, as opposed to the petrol-reliant, business-as-usual plans put forward by everyone else,” said Ms Genter.

Latest Transport Announcements

Story

Families Will Pay More Without Clean Car Standard

The Green Party says scrapping the Clean Car Standard will mean New Zealanders end up paying more to run their cars.
Read More

Story

Govt caves to industry on Clean Car commitment

The Green Party says the Government’s move to cave in to industry by gutting the Clean Car Standard scheme is a reminder why National can’t be trus...
Read More

Story

Govt gets it wrong with cancelled ferries

The cost of cancelling the iRex ferries shows the wastefulness and short-term thinking of the Coalition Government.
Read More

Story

Greens launch petition for regional passenger rail

The Green Party has launched a petition calling on the Rail Minister Winston Peters to reinstate passenger rail services across the country.
Read More

Story

Raising speed limits on undivided highways invites trouble

The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serio...
Read More

Story

One year on, still no progress on new ferries

Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network.
Read More