The Green Party says the Government's decision to cancel next year's fuel excise increase will leave the land transport system short of the money it needs and shows neither major party has a serious plan for paying for transport.
"Neither Labour nor National is being serious or responsible about how we pay for transport," says Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter.
"Freezing fuel excise will make our roads worse, defer maintenance we badly need, and leave people with fewer options for getting around. It also shows that neither party is committed to the recommendations in the National Infrastructure Plan."
"Successive governments have kept fuel taxes too low, so the land transport fund cannot cover what governments have promised to build. Billions of dollars of Crown money is now going into highways instead of into health."
"The land transport system is already short of funding. A freeze puts the transport budget under more strain."
"The Green Party's position is that the scheduled increase should go ahead, and that the money should be spent on giving people alternatives to driving."
"We do not think a freeze is a good idea, but nor should the extra revenue go into expensive new highways. It should go into frequent bus services, passenger rail, and streets that are safe to walk and cycle on."
"Getting off fossil fuels with genuine transport options is the fastest way to reduce the cost of living. Every trip by bus, train, bike or walking instead of in a car is money that stays in people's pockets."
"This would lower what a household spends on getting around, and give people a real choice about whether they have to drive at all," says Genter.
