8 DECEMBER 2015

SOE Minister Unresponsive as Kiwirail Destroys Farm

A Northland farmer is being beaten down by KiwiRail, but the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Todd McClay refuses to take responsibility, says New Zealand First Leader and Member of Parliament for Northland Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“It is outrageous that a farm has become uneconomic because of the actions of an SOE but the plight of the farmer is fobbed off by the Minister as an operational matter.

“Owen Clements, whose property is dissected by the North Auckland rail line, was forced to sell his dairy herd after losing access to half his farm when KiwiRail closed the sole access point in 2015 – Bridge 143.

“The Minister claims KiwiRail is focused on health and safety, but that is a red herring. Under Section 169(1) (b) of the Public Works Act 1981, and prior legislation, KiwiRail and the Minister have a continuing statutory obligation to ‘provide access to the land so cut off, or between the land so separated’?

“The Minister has a statutory obligation and needs to take responsibility for this SOE’s shortcoming on this bridge and their utterly inexcusable treatment of Mr Clements.

“The bridge was built because KiwiRail’s predecessor had severed the property in 1922 with the railway line. NZ Railways took responsibility for maintenance and repairs for decades, and the law means they must keep it open.

“Pleading that they are closing the bridge because of a safety issue is no refuge for KiwiRail at all. KiwiRail has a responsibility to maintain these bridges in a safe condition.

“If poor management of KiwiRail is at fault then the Minister must sort it out. New Zealand First gives notice that we do not intend to let KiwiRail oppress ordinary New Zealanders using taxpayers’ money.”

ENDS

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