Govt can and must fund rail fairly

The Green Party is calling for the government to fund rail infrastructure from the National Land Transport Fund, following statements by KiwiRail boss Peter Reidy that the government “hasn't really considered the rail freight challenge” in its 30 year planning for Auckland's transport system.

KiwiRail Chief Executive Peter Reidy said today that freight on Auckland’s rail lines is clashing with passenger rail services. He described the Auckland transport network as at a "crunch point".

“Rail infrastructure is chronically underfunded because the Government doesn’t treat it as part of the land transport system. This has an easy fix, which would result in much better outcomes for transport, especially in Auckland,” said Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter.

“The disjointed approach to transport funding means National is spending four times more on expanding Auckland’s motorways than on all of New Zealand’s rail network, although the economic and transport benefits of rail investment would far outweigh current spending.

“Improving Auckland’s rail would mean fewer big freight trucks on our main streets, dramatically improving congestion and making our roads safer.

“It’s ridiculous that the Government isn’t including rail in its 30 year plan for Auckland’s transport system.

“The transport budget should go towards projects that move people and freight the fastest and reduce congestion – and that’s rail. Spending the money on motorways is wasteful because it won’t solve the problems in the medium term. Most likely it will make them worse.

“Peter Reidy is exactly right to say that "we can't build a way out of this" with bigger and bigger motorways. Now is the time for Government to fix transport funding," said Ms Genter.

Action

Tell us your stories about our special places

Share with us your stories about the places threatened by being fast tracked for mining permits.

Action

RENAME, REWRITE, and REJECT the Regulatory Standards Bill

Submit your suggested changes to the Regulatory Standards Bill! Tell us how you'd change the bill and we could take it to the House!

Action

Anniversary of the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill Referendum

If we were to legally regulate cannabis in Aotearoa, what kind of rules would you want to see around access, possession, use, regulations on sale, ...

Action

Save our Polytechs: Campaign Packs

Want to see more supports for our Polytechs? Use these resources to support the campaign!

Action

Save Our Polytechs Petition

Sign our petition today and join us in calling on the Minister for Vocational Education, Hon Penny Simmonds, to Save our Polytechs!

Action

Protect our tamariki - Sign the open letter

Every child in Aotearoa deserves to grow up with safety and stability, wrapped in aroha. Sign our open letter today and help make that a reality!

Action

Stop Growing Homelessness

Sign our petition asking Luxon and Bishop to take action to stop homelessness increasing in Aotearoa.

Action

Local Events

We have activists across Aotearoa / New Zealand who are working hard to build a brighter future for our kids and grandkids. This page lists upcomin...

Latest Transport Announcements

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.

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.

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...

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.

Public transport fare hikes a disaster

The Government’s directive to councils to increase bus and train fares substantially over the next few years is a bitter pill to swallow for commun...

Coalition Govt’s expensive tunnel vision for Wellington comes at the expense of the regions

A second Mount Victoria tunnel, a duplicate Terrace tunnel alongside highway widening will dump more traffic in the centre of Wellington and result...