28 Apr 2017

Robertson and Joyce weigh in on the infrastructure spend-up

From Morning Report, 7:20 am on 28 April 2017

It's just under a month until Finance Minister Steven Joyce delivers his first budget.

But already the election sweeteners have begun - with the government promising to put NZ$11 billion into new infrastructure over the next four years, spread across new schools, hospitals, housing, roads and railways.

It's NZ$2 billion more than was announced at the half year fiscal update at the end of last year.

Included is an NZ$812 million dollar boost to repair damage to State Highway One caused by the Kaikoura earthquake.

But Labour's Finance spokesman Grant Robertson told Morning Report it's taken too long and he's not celebrating...

Finance Minister Steven Joyce and  Labour's Finance spokesman Grant Robertson

Finance Minister Steven Joyce and Labour's Finance spokesman Grant Robertson Photo: RNZ

Steven Joyce told Morning Report investment in roads is unprecedented and 'no one could have predicted' the rate of Auckland's growth. He says the growing pains means that the country is getting wealthier.