Hughes Darren: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Hughes Darren: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:8030. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
6.  
Hon DARREN HUGHES (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: What weight is being given to the views of the communities affected by the transport proposals through Kapiti? 
Hon NATHAN GUY (Associate Minister of Transport) 
on behalf of the  
Minister of Transport 
: The New Zealand Transport Agency is responsible for making the final decision on the State Highway 1 upgrade through the Kapiti region. I am confident that the views of local people and communities are being listened to closely and that each submission is taken on its merit. The New Zealand Transport Agency’s job is to balance the wider views of the community which are extremely important with the other relevant factors such as the cost the benefits to the economy and the impact on the wider region. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: How will it be possible to read analyse consider and reflect on the 4100 submissions and then make a decision all in the next 4 weeks and why were submitters not asked whether they wanted to be heard in person? 
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: My understanding is that the New Zealand Transport Agency is working around the clock to process and analyse the submissions. Some people chose on the feedback form to mention that they wanted to present in person to the New Zealand Transport Agency board. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: How will people in residential areas who are affected if a four-lane expressway is built right next to their properties be compensated if none of their land is required? 
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: That detail probably should be directed to the New Zealand Transport Agency board. My understanding is that there are two pieces of relevant legislation: the Public Works Act and the Resource Management Act. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Why did the Government not offer as an option the platform it joined Labour on during the election campaign—that is Transmission Gully rail electrification to Palmerston North the Western Link Road as a local road and improvements to State Highway 1? 
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: This area is one of the fastest growing in New Zealand. It connects through to our capital city. We are well aware of the fact that over the last 5 years there have been 59 serious or fatal accidents on that stretch of road between Paraparaumu and Levin. Most of the feedback from the submissions that I am told the local MP for Otaki has received shows that people want action and progress on the issue—after 10 years of inaction by the previous Labour Government. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My point of order is not about the veracity of the last comment but about my question which asked why a certain option had not been offered to the community. The Minister in reply told us about feedback that had been received but I asked him why the Government did not put to the community as part of the consultation programme an option that mirrored the stance that National took at the election. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I hear the member’s point. When a member asks why the Government did not do something the member is not asking the most precise question. The Minister’s answer talked about the increase in population in the area and although that answer may not be what the member wanted I believe it was an answer to the question. I cannot start assessing the quality of answers; I can only assess whether the Minister has answered the question in some way. I believe that he did answer the question in some way. 
Hon Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek clarification. When the Minister said that he had received submissions from the MP for Otaki was that Darren Hughes? Because I thought he lost that seat. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member will resume his seat right away. Nice try but that is not allowed as a point of order. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. While we have the leader of the ACT Party with us in the country I wonder whether he should lose a supplementary question for that very unfair reference. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: We will not take this any further.