Ron Mark MP

Spokesperson for Local Government

29 JUNE 2015

Urban Cycleways Are Not the Priority for Provincial New Zealand

Despite the Minister for Transport conceding the flood repair bill for roads in the lower North Island could be $60 million, New Zealand First is stunned that National believes $333 million for urban cycleways is a more important transport priority for provincial New Zealand.

“Is Minister Simon Bridges the Minister for Silly Cycleways?” asked Ron Mark, New Zealand First Local GovernmentSpokesperson.

“I checked the date and no, it is not April 1, yet this Minister is treating provincial councils and ratepayers like it is. At a time when ratepayers in the provinces are hard pressed trying reinstate or build vital infrastructure they are being thrown ‘nice to haves.’

“The recent floods caused $120 million worth of damage and Minister Bridges himself has reportedly estimated roads will need up to $60 million to fix. Despite this, he has said no to further government support to help repair the very things jobs and exports depend upon.

“But don’t worry, Minister Bridges will argue, you can always transport stock by cycle.

“Incredibly, Mr Bridges and his National Government will not find $6 million to reinstate the Gisborne-Napier rail line, but he’s all too happy to drop $9.52 million on urban cycleways in Napier, Hastings and Gisborne instead. We don’t get the logic and neither will the voters.

“Urban cycleways may play well with the Auckland ‘Twitteratti,’ but in rural and provincial New Zealand, it feels insulting. Especially when his own Ministry is looking to dial back road funding in rural and provincial New Zealand under the ‘one road classification’.

“Imagine what $333 million would do to lift the quality, reliability and safety of roads and infrastructure in rural and provincial New Zealand? This could well end up being National’s ‘let them eat cake moment’ with provincial voters,” says Mr Mark.

ENDS

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