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

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Trans Tasman's Political Pulse - 23 May, 2017

Trans Tasman's Political Pulse - 23 May, 2017


The Budget – Filling The Infrastructure Gap

INSIGHTS ABOUT THE NEWS - As Finance Minister Steven Joyce prepares to present his first Budget on Thursday, much of the commentary is around how he treats the surpluses in the years ahead. Clearly, some tax relief is on the agenda, particularly for low and middle income families.

The big ticket social spending portfolios of health and education will also take their share of the pie. But as ANZ Bank economists have pointed out NZ still has an immense investment requirement, which they say largely reflects the need to cater for population growth pressure.

The Govt has indicated it plans a big surge in its capital budget earmarked for infrastructure. Over the next four Budgets the Govt has indicated it will allocate a further $11bn toward capital infrastructure – taking the total capital investment over the next four years to around $23bn.

The questions are will it be enough and where will it go? The fragility of NZ’s transport system was seriously exposed by the Kaikoura quake. It should be a priority to make it more resilient. Budget 2017 will provide up to $812m for reinstating State Highway 1 between Picton and Christchurch, but there are many vulnerable spots.

Then there’s the question of congestion on motorways, not just in Auckland, but also in the capital and to a degree in Christchurch. The Govt is expected to extend the Roads of National Significance programme. Auckland’s public transport needs are another pressure point.

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.

The trucking industry, vital to the NZ economy, is reaping big benefits from developments like the Waikato and Kapiti Expressways. The question is: will there be a radical change in direction if a Labour/Green Govt is elected?

The Greens vigorously oppose new roading developments and want to divert funds into subsidising public transport. Labour seems preoccupied with housing issues, and wants to cut immigration, particularly of work visas (which would hit the trucking industry, desperately in need of drivers). And NZ First wants to spend vast sums on the rail network (without any cost-benefit analysis).

Would they be able to find a common direction and would it be a dead end for roads?
For analysis and further updates see this week’s edition Trans Tasman's sister publication,
NZ Transport Intelligence Business Alert


FREE! If you are not already a subscriber to Political Pulse, please sign up here for your personal copy.

© 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.