11. Question No. 11—TransportCHRISTOPHER LUXON (National—Botany) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 11—Transport11. CHRISTOPHER LUXON (National—Botany) to the Minister of Transport: Does he stand by all his statements and actions?Hon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister of Transport): Yes in particular our Government's Maintaining International Air Connectivity scheme which has helped keep trade channels open and maintain supply of time-critical goods like medicines into New Zealand. Since May last year Government support has enabled more than 7000 flights carrying over 136000 tonnes of air freight helping our economic recovery and I can confirm there were no weapons for the Saudis on any of those flights.Christopher Luxon: How does $785 million for the proposed Northern Pathway cycle bridge represent a better use of money than a new Ashburton bridge or fixing one of New Zealand's deadliest roads from Te Puna to Ōmokoroa?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: As the member will be aware the Government makes a range of initiatives across our transport system and in the recently announced New Zealand Upgrade package $8.9 billion of investment has been made across road rail and walking and cycling initiatives. This Government does believe that if we want good transport outcomes for all New Zealanders we have to invest across all of those modes. Unlike the previous Government we don't believe that a four-lane motorway is a solution to every transport problem.Christopher Luxon: How would the proposed $785 million Northern Pathway cycle bridge shorten commutes for tradies stuck in gridlock and help older Aucklanders get to their appointments on time?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: The member for an intelligent member in his question displays an incredible immaturity in terms of how transport policy—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume his seat. That is not an appropriate way to start—[Interruption] I've got little hair to tear out but when I'm trying to assist the members in getting the Minister to answer in an appropriate way their support is counterproductive. The Minister will withdraw and apologise and start his answer again.Hon MICHAEL WOOD: I withdraw and apologise. A transport policy that supports good outcomes for everyone will actually bring together different modes. And so just saying Does a particular transport project in a particular part of the city affect an individual?" is not the way to develop an integrated transport policy. What we need to do in our congested cities is actually turn around the failed policies of the past where all we've focused on has been building roads. That is what has got us into the current mess that we are in. And if we continue doing it we will get the same outcomes. That is why this Government does have a policy of investing across the modes including road including rail and including walking and cycling. And the message for people who are stuck on those roads is that every single person on Auckland roads Wellington roads Christchurch roads around the country that we get on to public transport that we get on to walking and cycling is one less person congesting the road that that tradie is stuck on.Christopher Luxon: Will the estimated 3000 daily users of the $785 million Northern Pathway cycleway seriously drive transport mode shift for a city of 1.7 million people?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: Firstly the member has used a statistic which is 40 percent below the estimate that has in fact been provided by Waka Kotahi. But the key point that I wish to make is that solving the transport problems that we have in New Zealand that have built up over many decades will take a range of investments. So in terms of the New Zealand Upgrade package of which the Northern Pathway is one point we have $2.5 billion of investments in South Auckland as well including investments in State Highway 1—SPEAKER: Order! The member's answered the question.Christopher Luxon: Can he guarantee that the $785 million cost will not be increased further in light of the twentyfold increase in costs since Labour candidate Michael Wood announced in 2017 that the SkyPath project would cost $30 million?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: I can give the member confidence in the robustness of the figures that have been produced but the member might like to talk to some others about the long history of transport projects in this country including the roads of national significance which required an additional $2.5 billion of investment to be delivered under that previous Government.SPEAKER: That concludes oral questions.Tāmati Coffey: Mr Speaker?SPEAKER: Sorry? [Interruption] Sorry Tāmati Coffey. I apologise. I was just sort of looking forward to getting on to the next business."