Genter Julie Anne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Genter Julie Anne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 21 March 2013. Volume:688;Page:8835. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
6. 
JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: Has he read the City Centre Future Access Study which found that of the options for Auckland CBD’s transport infrastructure the City Rail Link “has the highest road network speeds within the City Centre”? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister of Transport) 
: 
 Yes I have but I am not sure that the member has correctly interpreted this research. The city rail loop would not be part of the road network. From a road safety perspective I would ask that she please not drive her car along railway lines. 
Julie Anne Genter 
: Given his focus on reducing travel time for New Zealand motorists why is his Government blocking progress on the city rail link which will reduce rail journey times by as much as 60 percent and result in faster travel times for hundreds of thousands of Auckland motorists? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: We are not blocking progress on the rail loop. We are in discussions with Auckland Transport and Auckland Council on what are the best options for them moving forward. What we do know is that even if the rail loop were to be built by 2030 the congestion situation in Auckland would be no better than it is now. 
Julie Anne Genter 
: Is he denying that building the city rail link would give much better transport options to tens of thousands of Aucklanders in 2030? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: No. 
Julie Anne Genter 
: How will the Government provide adequate transport options for the 100000 people who will be commuting to Auckland’s central business district every weekday by 2021 if he continues to say no to the city rail link which will move the most people the fastest with the least congestion? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: Even if the city rail loop were in place right now it would have minimal effect on the total number of journeys into the city by cars by 2021. The reality is that either way you are looking at an increased number of cars coming into the central city so simply saying “Let’s build this $2.4 billion rail loop to overcome a problem.” is not recognising what the problem is. 
Julie Anne Genter 
: I seek leave to table this graph from Auckland Transport showing that the number of people travelling by car entering Auckland central business district from 2001 to 2012 reduced significantly by 20 percent while the number coming by public transport increased by 50 percent. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: What is the source of the document? 
Julie Anne Genter 
: This is data provided by Auckland Transport to myself. I do not believe it is publicly available. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that. Is there any objection? There is not. It can be tabled. 









Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Julie Anne Genter 
: Does he disagree with the recommendation of the Government-commissioned Enright report on New Zealand’s competitiveness which stated that the Auckland rail link must be the priority to improve productivity; if so why? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: I neither agree nor disagree. What we are doing at the moment is trying to work out whether or not that rail loop should progress and secondly if it were to what would be the optimal time for it to progress. I would point that counter to what the member has just said about the reduced number of journeys into the city in 2021 should that rail loop go ahead my information suggests it would be around about a 1600 reduction—not the numbers the member is claiming. 
Julie Anne Genter 
: How many more reports does he need to conclude that the city rail link is necessary given that we have had the Enright report the City Centre Future Access Study and the 2010 Auckland city rail link business case before he will get on board with this project that the people of Auckland and the businesses of Auckland want? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: There is the problem you see. Here is the report that the member speaks to—a very large volume. It is accompanied by many other large volumes and they do not either individually or collectively reach the conclusions she claims. This is a $2.4 billion project in today’s terms for a relatively short piece of rail for very modest gains. 
Julie Anne Genter 
: I seek leave to table this page from the Enright report which states that the Auckland city rail link should be a priority for lifting productivity— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is the Enright report available to members? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: Yes. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: It is. Then it will not be tabled.