Media statement

For immediate release

Tuesday, 1 July 2003

Dunne: NZers must take 'generous' view on roading

United Future leader and Ohariu-Belmont MP, Peter Dunne, today called on New Zealanders to take a generous view in the national interest as criticism mounts of how roading spending will be allocated throughout the country over the next decade.

"As a Wellington MP, I'm naturally keen to see my regional roading projects like the inner city bypass and the Transmission Gully project go ahead as fast as possible," he said.

"But as a New Zealander, I recognize that it is in the national economic interest that Auckland's congestion problems receive special attention. It makes little sense for efficient manufacturers and farmers south of the Bombay Hills to produce world class goods for export if those goods can't struggle through backed-up traffic to Auckland's wharves and airport.

"My Auckland MP's Paul Adams and Bernie Ogilvy tell me it's not a case of Aucklanders wanting to grab all the country's resources.

"They want to see more money spent on roading across the whole of the country, but they argue persuasively that Auckland's needs require special attention.

"United Future is happy to work alongside Auckland's business and community leaders to make sure their problems are solved swiftly in the national interest," said Mr Dunne.

ends

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