National still holding back rail

National has put key rail projects in Auckland on the backburner, choosing to delay light rail to the airport for a decade and a possible rail line to the North Shore for another two, the Green Party said today.

The Government and Auckland Council this afternoon laid out a decade by decade plan outlining the major transport projects it wants to progress over the next 30 years.

"With rapid population growth and the urgent need to cut climate pollution, now is the best opportunity to accelerate investment into a rapid rail network for Auckland," said Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter.

"But this plan puts off the inevitable. If you live on the North Shore or Mangere you're looking at decades before you get a quality rail connection.

"National is telling a huge number of Aucklanders that they will be stuck in traffic, with few quality public transport options for another 10 to 20 years.

"The sooner we build these rail line, the sooner Aucklanders can benefit from them, whether they take the train or use the roads.

“Simon Bridges has refused to back away from his low-value, billion-dollar motorway and that’s come at the cost of light rail to the airport and the North Shore rail link.

“For the cost of just one of National's pet motorway projects we could have had light rail to Mount Roskill, major expansion of Auckland’s cycle network and of the double-decker bus fleet.

“National has ignored the fact that Aucklanders overwhelmingly support a rail line to the North, and light rail to the airport.

“The extension of electric rail to Pukekohe is good news, but it’s hard to see why the government hasn't prioritised better public transport in high growth areas in Central and South Auckland," said Ms Genter.

Action

How to get involved - Treaty Principles

Information on how to make a submission, volunteer or run your own event.

Action

Submit for Climate Action

Submit today to ask the Government to commit to strong Climate Change targets.

Action

Treaty Principles - Make a submission

Join our submission. Let's make it clear that we do not support the Treaty Principles bill.

Action

Ditch the Bootcamps - Sign our petition

Sign our petition demanding an end to bootcamps for children.

Action

Build Dunedin Hospital

Take our poll on how the Government should spend its money, and email Christopher Luxon telling him your thoughts.

Action

Oil & Gas Quick Submissions 2024

Sign the quick submission to save the oil & gas ban!

Action

Stop Fast-track Destruction

Join our call to stop the Fast-track Approvals Bill.

Action

Protect te reo Māori

Sign our petition asking Minister Erica Stanford to keep prioritising the teaching of te reo Māori.

Action

Cut the Coal Petition | Join the movement

Fight back: Tell the government that coal mining is not our future.

Action

Protect Our Freshwater

Join our Green MPs in calling for the government to protect freshwater. Proposed changes to the Resource Management Act threaten New Zealand's...

Volunteer

The Greens are proud to be driven by passionate people like you. Today we need your help to take action on the biggest issues facing Aotearoa. Volu...

Action

Expand Voting

Now more than ever, young people in Aotearoa are impacted by Government decisions, and they deserve to have a say. We are calling on all Members of...

Action

End Intensive Winter Grazing

Sign the petition to Labour Ministers, to move faster in bringing regulations into force and end intensive winter grazing.

Action

Healthy Oceans 2022

Join our Healthy Oceans Crew to help us keep the health and protection of our oceans high on the Labour Government’s political agenda.

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

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...

Raising speed limits will cost our communities

The Government’s move to disregard all evidence and increase speed limits will result in serious harm.

Govt transport plan deepens fossil fuel fix

The Green Party says the Government’s new National Land Transport Programme marks another missed opportunity to take meaningful action to fight the...

Greens launch petition against speed limit increases

The Green Party has launched a petition urging the Government not to push ahead with blanket speed limit increases that will come at an incredible ...