Highway needed linking Auckland and Wellington

The National Party says if the Government was serious about easing the traffic chaos into our largest centres it would build a multi-lane highway between Auckland and Wellington.

“All New Zealand road users have been paying an extra petrol tax to help ease Auckland’s congestion problems, but we haven’t seen any pay off,” says National’s Transport spokesman Roger Sowry.

He’s commenting in the wake of major disruption yesterday when holiday traffic was held up outside Auckland and Wellington.

“The Government could do no better than back a multi-lane highway between Auckland and the capital, we’re already paying for it,” Mr Sowry says.

”Of course the Resource Management Act would have to be amended so Maori objections on ‘Taniwha’ grounds don’t lead to expensive delays.

“And policies on Public Private Partnerships need overhauling as well, so this kind of massive infrastructural spending is possible in the future.

Mr Sowry’s also rejecting Kapiti Coast Regional Councillor Chris Turver’s call for the Prime Minister to appoint a Minister for Wellington in the wake of the traffic carnage.

“Clearly Judith Tizard’s had no success getting Auckland moving, it’s unlikely a Minister for Wellington would do any better.

“The Government itself has identified a better roading network as the key to reducing our road toll further, it’s time they backed their words with action,” Mr Sowry says.

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