Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Transport

The questions we asked

• Spending Priorities
  How should New Zealand be spending the about three billion dollar annual transport budget?
• Public Transport
  Should central Government spend more money on public transport infrastructure projects, such as the CBD rail loop in Auckland?
• New Ferry Terminal
  Does New Zealand need a new ferry terminal at Clifford Bay in Marlborough?
• Roads of National Significance
  The National-led Government has identified seven highway construction projects as important for economic prosperity and has slated them for completion within ten years. Are these Roads of National Significance going to benefit New Zealand? Are they the correct projects?
• Coastal Shipping
  Is coastal shipping under-utilised in New Zealand? If so, how would you improve this?
• Road Toll
  What policy measures should be taken to lower the road toll?
• Speed Cameras
  Are changes needed for the speed camera regime? If so, what?
• Drink Driving
  Should the adult blood alcohol limit be lowered from 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood? If so, to what level?
• Older Drivers
  Should it be tougher for older drivers to keep their drivers licence?

Background information

Responses from parties in parliament

National

Declined to answer this question.

Labour

Labour will consider just how much of the $2.8 billion National Land Transport Fund might be available, and what projects might be appropriate. With fuel prices rising, consumption falling and revenue from fuel taxes going down, current projections may not be sustainable. While investment in roading infrastructure is important – particularly where it assists with primary exports – Labour believes we must also be doing much more to build the capacity of public transport. And rail and coastal shipping must play a much more significant role in moving freight around New Zealand.

Green

Currently our rail network, walking, cycling and public transport are being neglected and 80% of new investment is in motorways and roads. We can reverse this to achieve better outcomes for transport, for our economy, for the liveability of our communities, and even save money in the process. The Green Party has a costed transport plan that will boost money for better buses and trains, cycling and walking by around $400m in the first year, increasing over the following five years, without any deterioration of the road network. For decades, transport funding and planning has focused only on increasing capacity for vehicles, especially building expensive new state highways in urban areas. It is now widely understood from urban planning and transport research that this approach will never solve congestion, and in fact has a major negative impact on our economy, our towns and cities, our public health and the environment.

ACT

Has not yet answered this question.

Maori

Has not yet answered this question.

United Future

Wisely.

Mana

Investment in the development of an affordable and comprehensive public transport system is the priority for MANA. The main cities will directly own and control their own public transport systems and be subsidised to charge a one dollar a day fare which will bring about significant reductions in private car use. A rural network of affordable public transport will be established.

National

Declined to answer this question.

Labour

Labour will provide funding of $1.2 billion from the Land Transport Fund for the rail link – half the proposed cost – on the understanding that the Auckland Council is responsible for funding the other half. We will fund the $1.2 billion by cancelling National’s plan to construct the new so-called “holiday highway” between Puhoi and Wellsford. This investment will get Auckland moving. The city rail link is the next step in building a modern Auckland public transport system. Without it, Auckland will never meet its ambition of being the world’s most liveable city.

Green

Yes. The Greens would fund up to 60 percent or $1.4 billion of the CBD rail loop project, and put $250 million towards new trains to run on the enhanced network. We would also fund at least 60 per cent or $300 million for each of the light rail projects proposed in Wellington and Christchurch.

ACT

Has not yet answered this question.

Maori

Has not yet answered this question.

United Future

Present spending on public transport is appropriate

Mana

Yes. There needs to be much greater integration of bus, rail, and ferry services, and walkways and cycle lanes, particularly in major cities (and especially in Auckland), to reduce fares and increase the frequency and reliability of public transport.

National

Declined to answer this question.

Labour

While streamlining freight movement is obviously important, Labour believes the Clifford Bay ferry terminal proposal should also take account of the economic future of Picton and Blenheim. While Picton, in particular, might reinvent itself as a prime tourism destination in its own right, we would like to see how that might be achieved. We do not want these communities suffering as a consequence of these possible changes.

Green

We don’t currently have policy on this.

ACT

Has not yet answered this question.

Maori

Has not yet answered this question.

United Future

Do not have the required information to comment on this.

Mana

MANA has not yet completed policy work in this area.

National

Declined to answer this question.

Labour

While at least four of these seven highways were either planned or begun under Labour, we disagree with four more proposed projects now being added to the existing list without any public consultation. As for the existing seven projects; Labour will continue with intermediate improvements for the Wellsford-Puhoi ‘holiday’ highway which will improve both safety and travel-times. We will not support the $1.6 billion, gold-plated proposal as it currently stands. In Kapiti, Labour supports the original Western Link Road plan, not the four-lane expressway as has now been approved. We will continue to support the Transmission Gully project as it stands, including the need for tolls.

Green

No, there is no evidence that they are needed or that they will improve our economic prosperity. Several of these projects, including Puhoi to Wellsford and the Wellington Northern Corridor were announced before a business case had been undertaken, and the reports completed since all demonstrate that the costs largely outweigh the benefits. None of these projects have considered the impact of future high oil prices. The Government is wasting our scarce national resources on uneconomic motorways and locking us into a car, truck and oil dependent future. At a time when New Zealand is borrowing $50 billion annually it is fiscally irresponsible to pour more than $19 billion into uneconomic and unnecessary motorways and state highways. As outlined above, the Green Party would redirect funding away from the RONS and into more cost effective options, including better buses and trains, safe walking and cycling, and improved road safety.

ACT

Has not yet answered this question.

Maori

Has not yet answered this question.

United Future

Yes, particularly Transmission Gully as it is included in UnitedFuture’s Confidence and Supply Agreement with National.

Mana

No. Investing in public transport development is not only much more environmentally responsible, but also generates significantly higher levels of employment.

National

Declined to answer this question.

Labour

Labour wants to improve the prospects of coastal shipping. Total freight movements are expected to more than double by 2040, putting huge pressure on the transportation system. Shipping has a vital role to play in meeting this expected growth in freight movement, and it is a key part of an integrated transport network. Labour will revisit our “Sea Change” strategy we launched in 2007, which aimed to revitalise and transform coastal shipping in New Zealand. Labour’s view is that we need a more inter-modal approach to handling future freight growth. There will be an expanded role for both rail and coastal shipping because we believe freight must be moved as efficiently as possible with everyone paying their fair share.

Green

Yes, we support local well regulated coastal shipping and believe that it has been underutilised. The current situation where foreign owned vessels with poor safety and labour standards dominate the trade needs to be addressed. We need to ensure that there are robust regulations and sufficient investment in our emergency maritime services so that they are prepared for potential accidents occurring. We support expanding our domestic shipping industry, and making it safer and more environmentally friendly, is a key part of our transport plan.

ACT

Has not yet answered this question.

Maori

Has not yet answered this question.

United Future

In light of recent events the role of coastal shipping will come under scrutiny and potentially regulation improved if needed.

Mana

Yes. MANA supports the need for port reform to ensure an efficient and competitive port network, and where investment is targeted at bluewater ports that are fully integrated with rail networks and inland ports.

National

Declined to answer this question.

Labour

Labour has set an ambitious target for reducing the number of road deaths and injuries. We will introduce a range of road safety measures aimed at reducing road deaths and serious injuries. We will invest in road safety advertising campaigns to support the police by focusing on the highest areas of enforceable risk. This includes speeding, drink driving, intersection behaviour and safety belts.

Green

Green Party policies that reduce vehicle kilometres travelled are the best way to improve road safety outcomes. Walking and using public transport are two of the safest modes of travel currently available. Furthermore, the Green Party would: Reduce the danger posed by heavy trucks on our roads, by encouraging freight to be shifted onto rail and coastal shipping; Support lower driving speeds in urban areas, particularly around schools, hospitals and shopping areas; Establish a dedicated network of safe cycleways; Help schools and communities make walking and cycling safer for children, through initiatives such as walking school buses; Support innovative methods for improving safety on stretches of dangerous highways.

ACT

Has not yet answered this question.

Maori

Has not yet answered this question.

United Future

Current policy is working as the road toll is consistently decreasing.

Mana

MANA has not yet completed policy work in this area.

National

Declined to answer this question.

Labour

National had slammed Labour for the number of speed camera tickets being handed out under our watch, claiming it was just a cynical "revenue-gathering" exercise and not about safety. But under National, the number of infringements last year almost doubled to 627,000. Labour believes the priority should be given to placing cameras in areas where there is a history of speed-related accidents, so motorists are encouraged to slow down. The suggestion from AA that sign-posted speed cameras would do more to improve road safety should also be considered.

Green

The purpose of speed cameras should be to reduce speeding, not to gather fines, and we support making them more visible. We also support ‘self-explaining’ street design which is much more effective at influencing driver behaviour to be slower and safer. We support enforcement of red lights with cameras, but redesigning streets and reducing traffic lights in the city is an important part of reducing dangerous driving, start-stop traffic which increases emissions, and waiting time at lights. This must be done in a way that is sensitive to the needs of those travelling on foot, bicycle, public transport, taxis and commercial service vehicles.

ACT

Has not yet answered this question.

Maori

Has not yet answered this question.

United Future

No.

Mana

MANA has not yet completed policy work in this area.

National

Declined to answer this question.

Labour

Labour will reduce the legal blood alcohol limit from 0.08 to 0.05. We do not subscribe to the view that more research is needed, because existing information already provides a compelling case that 17-36 lives can be saved annually through the reduction.

Green

Yes, the Green Party supports lowering the blood alcohol level to 50mg per 100ml. Research shows that adult drivers are four times more likely to have a fatal crash with a blood-alcohol level of 80mg than 50mg. A majority of New Zealanders support reducing the adult blood-alcohol limit. The Government has failed to make the right call on this issue, and our roads are less safe because of it.

ACT

Has not yet answered this question.

Maori

Has not yet answered this question.

United Future

Yes, to 50 milligrams.

Mana

MANA has not yet completed policy work in this area.

National

Declined to answer this question.

Labour

Older drivers benefited from Labour’s policies in our last term of office. This included the opportunity to brush up driving knowledge and skills with the ‘Safe with Age’ driver refresher. Extra funds were provided for older driver education. That was part of a package of changes to make the driver licensing system more responsive to the needs of older New Zealanders. We also abolished the mandatory driving test for those aged 80 and over, putting an end to a practice which had caused much concern for older drivers. Labour is concerned that under the National, funding has been cut for road safety training for older people.

Green

The Green Party wants to improve travel options for all New Zealanders, so that young people, older people, disabled people and those who can’t afford a car are able to be mobile. Driving is a dangerous activity, and it is important that anyone who is licensed to drive is able to operate the vehicle safely and respond quickly to unexpected events. We can have a transport system that moves all New Zealanders safely and sustainably. The best way to do this is to invest much more in safe walking and cycling, better buses and trains, and have stricter driver licensing requirements.

ACT

Has not yet answered this question.

Maori

Has not yet answered this question.

United Future

The current regime is fair.

Mana

MANA has not yet completed policy work in this area.

Background Information

• Road death statistics (NZ Transport Agency)
• Young drivers crash facts - released September 2010 (Ministry of Transport)