Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Rally to save our electric locomotives

Green MP Julie Anne Genter and a 14m-long moving billboard rally to save our electric locomotives


Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter will lead a rally outside KiwiRail Auckland HQ as part of her campaign to stop KiwiRail from ditching electric locomotives in favour of diesel ones.

Volunteers will create a 14m-long moving billboard of an electric freight train outside the KiwiRail offices, and KiwiRail Corporate Responsibility Manager Karl Check has agreed to meet Julie Anne.

“New Zealand taxpayers deserve clean transport choices that are fit for the 21st century – ditching our electric locomotives is a short-sighted decision,” said Ms Genter.

“The National Government is starving our rail infrastructure of capital investment when we desperately need to develop a smart, low-carbon transport system.

“National’s backwards policy is forcing KiwiRail to make poor short-term decisions to save a few bucks, and it will cost us a fortune in the long run.

“Investing in electric locomotives is a common-sense way to cut our carbon pollution and it would create jobs in New Zealand along the way.”

General Secretary of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union Wayne Butson has also voiced his support for keeping electric locomotives.

“Replacing KiwiRail’s electric fleet with a fossil fuel fleet will take the country backwards,” said Mr. Butson.

“KiwiRail should not let cost considerations override its responsibility to consult its workers and protect the environment. Investing in a new electric fleet means greater job security for the workers who maintain the current electric fleet.”

ends

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.