Another Announcement, But No New Roads Yet
Rt Hon Winston Peters
New Zealand First Leader
Member
of Parliament for Northland
4 NOVEMBER 2016
Another Announcement, But No New Roads Yet
It’s eight years since the government snatched rural roading funds from the provinces to pay for Roads of National Significance, including the Puhoi to Warkworth highway.
“But it hasn’t built one metre yet of the highway,” says New Zealand First Leader and Northland MP Rt Hon Winston Peters.
“And there’s no sign of even the slightest bit of planning for a new Warkworth to Wellsford highway that was promised 18 months ago.
“The announcement of a contract for Northern Express Group to finance, build, manage and maintain the Pūhoi to Warkworth road is a long way off the long promised highway.
“Minister of Transport Simon Bridges was quick to claim the Puhoi to Warkworth highway, often said to be more for the benefit of Auckland holidaymakers than Northland business, will bring economic miracles for Northland, but it doesn’t even reach into the Northland electorate.
“Over eight years rural roads around New Zealand have been neglected, while the government and NZTA put their focus on the big city projects.
“Provincial NZ knows where it stands with this government – at the bottom of the pecking order.”
ENDS