Kerre Woodham: The Government is focusing on getting us from point A to point B

The coalition government has announced the next three years of transport projects, and it should come as no real surprise there's nothing for speed bumps.  

Simeon Brown: We're cutting the funding for speed bumps. We're, in fact, I call it an infestation of speed bumps that we've seen across our roads, whilst potholes have been remaining unfilled. So actually I want to see that money going into filling potholes. Not making it inconvenient for, for motorists trying to get around. 

HDPA: Is it a zero? like it's a zero for the speed bumps?  

SB: That is correct, there's no further funding for speed bumps under this national land transport. The reality is, I think Kiwis are sick and tired of councils up and down this country simply trying to slow them down and cause congestion, rather than actually increase the efficiency of their local roading network. So that's the focus of this National Land Transport Programme. You know councils are road controlling authorities, they can still go and do other things on their roads, they just won't be receiving a subsidy from the government for that.  

So there you go, councils can still spend on speed bumps if that is their heart's desire, if that's what they believe ratepayers truly want – nothing from the government. That was Simeon Brown talking to Heather du Plessis Allan last night. And again, no real surprise that there's not a heck of a lot for cycleways either.  

“We campaigned on building and maintaining our roading network and reducing the amount of money going into cycleways. People voted for that and that's what we're delivering.” 

That was Simeon Brown talking to Mike Hosking this morning.  

So where will the $32.9 billion go? Well, you can see for yourself if you go to the NZTA's website. You’ll need a couple of clicks, it's not all laid out there for you, but a couple of clicks and you'll be there. But much of the money will build roads of national significance as already announced, and roads of regional significance. A good deal will go to pothole maintenance and repair.  

Now you would think if you listened to the Greens and to Labour's transport spokesman that there was nothing going towards the buses or the ferries, but there is: $6.4 billion, almost as much as they're spending on the roads of national significance, will go towards public transport. Well, almost as much as going into state highway improvements officially. But that is not enough for the Greens. I don't think anything would be enough for the Greens, I think they are a maw of wanton need. Julie Anne Genter said the money was well below the investment needed to sustain growth and cut emissions.  

$1 billion was announced for the rail network - Labour says that's not enough. Tangi Utikere says the investment is about $800 million lower than advertised. Labour's already put money towards the lower North Island rail investment package, they did so in last year's budget, and he says, in effect, Simeon Brown's re-announcing an announcement. Which, of course, other political parties never do. Remember the announcement of an announcement? Remember the infestation of that, along with the potholes? So, any transport plan from the coalition government was never going to please the Greens, never, ever, ever. I don't think any transport plan, even from Labour, pleased the Greens, ever, ever, ever. But Simeon Brown says they were elected to focus on roads and highways to make New Zealand's transport networks more efficient, to be able to get us from point A to point

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the carry wood of morning's podcast from
News Talk sed B.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Coalition government has announced the next three years of
transport projects and it should come as no real surprise.
There's nothing for speed bumps.

Speaker 3 (00:23):
We're cutting the funding for speed bumps. In fact, I
call it an infestation of speed bumps that we've seen
across our roads whilst potholes have been remaining unfilled. So
actually I want to see that money going into filling potholes,
not making it inconvenient for motorists trying to get around.

Speaker 1 (00:39):
In fact, is it a zero, like it's a zero
for the speed bumps.

Speaker 3 (00:42):
That is correct, there's no further funding for speed bumps
under this National Land trend. Then the reality is I
think Kiwis are sick and tired of councils up and
down this country simply trying to slow them down and
cause congestion rather than actually increase the efficiency of their
local roading networks. So that's the focus of this National
Land transport program. You know, councils are of the road

(01:04):
controlling authorities. They can still go and do other things
on their roads, they just won't be receiving a subsidy
from the government for that.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
So there you go. Councils can still spend on speed
bumps if that is their heart's desire, if that's what
they believe. Rate payers truly want nothing from the government.
And again that was some membron talking to Heathertoplicy Ellen
last night. And again no real surprise that there's not
a heck of a lot for Psycho ways either.

Speaker 3 (01:28):
We campaigned on building the building and maintaining our roading
network and reducing the amount of money going into cycleways.
People voted for that, and that's what we're delivering.

Speaker 2 (01:37):
That was some membran talking to Mike Costking this morning.
So where will the thirty two point nine billion dollars go? Well,
you can see for yourself if you go to the
NZTA's website. Need a couple of clicks, you need to persevere.
It's not all laid out there for you, but a
couple of clicks and you'll be there. But much of
the money will build roads of national significance as already announced,

(01:59):
and roads of regional significance. A good deal will go
to pothole maintenance and repair. Now you would think if
you listened to the Greens and to Labour's transport spokesman
that there was nothing going towards the abuffers or your furies,
But there is six point four billion dollars almost as

(02:22):
much as they're spending on the roads of national significance
will go towards public transport, well almost as much as
going into state highway improvements officially. But that is not
enough for the Greens. I don't think anything would be
enough for the Greens. I think they are a more
of wanton need. Julian Jeners said the money was well

(02:46):
below the investment needed to sustain growth and cut emissions.
One billion was announced for the rail network. Labor says
that's not enough. Tangy Ked says the investment is about
eight hundred million lower than advertised. Labor's already put money
towards the Lower North Island rail investment package. They did

(03:07):
so in last year's budget, and he says, in effect,
Simmy and Brown's re announcing an announcement, which of course
other political parties never do. Remember the announcement of an announcement,
Remember the infestation of that along with the potholes. So
any transport plan from the coalition government was never going

(03:27):
to please the Greens ever, ever, ever, I don't think
any transport plan, even from labor please the Greens ever
ever ever, But sime And Brown says they were elected
to focus on roads and highways to make New Zealand's
transport networks more efficient, to be able to get us
from point A to point B in a more expeditious fashion,

(03:50):
and that is what the coalition government is doing.

Speaker 1 (03:53):
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