Rail recovered for New Zealand

“The need to reinvest in rail, including the repurchasing of the rail network, was necessary for New Zealand’s future. The problems created by the sale of NZ Rail under the National Government are the result of mismanagement of that sale in the 1990s,” says Matt Robson Progressive Deputy leader.

“The National Government which sold rail was urged by Treasury to at least retain the lines as part of a ‘kiwi share’ yet they rejected this advice as part of some form of ideological jihad against the people of New Zealand.

“The resulting plundering of the rail system and the running down of the assets were the logical outcome of this privatisation and loss of control of the network.

“While the Labour-Progressive coalition government is re-investing in and re-building the infrastructure of New Zealand, the National Party is heading back to ideological extremes as evidenced by their newly announced welfare policy. The National Party has no credibility in New Zealand’s regions or in working with business and wants to take us back to high unemployment, scrapping regional development policies, and a greater gap between rich and poor.

“This announcement today demonstrates again the value of the Progressives being part of Coalition Government,” said Matt Robson.

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