Hughes Darren: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hughes Darren: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:658;Page:7634] 
10.  
Hon DARREN HUGHES (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: When will the New Zealand Transport Agency make a decision on the roading issues through Kapiti that they are currently consulting on? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) 
: 
 I am advised by the New Zealand Transport Agency that strategic decisions on that particular piece of road and also the whole Wellington-Levin corridor project will be made before the end of this calendar year. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Why has the Government not included any proposals to push electrification of rail further north to Otaki Levin or Palmerston North in this transport plan given that it is prepared to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on roads that shave a few minutes off travelling time? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: Of course there are transport projects in both modes proceeding on the Kapiti Coast with electrification proceeding to Waikanae but it is very important that we develop a strategic plan for State Highway 1. It is our most important national route and carries the most traffic and freight through the district at the same time and that must be done. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Which option has the member for Otaki communicated is his preferred option for the roading proposals through Kapiti? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: He actually has not communicated his preference. He has been active on behalf of his constituents in ensuring that the consultation goes well and he is undertaking a number of public meetings himself some of which I have attended. The important thing is that this is a very difficult project to look at through the Kapiti district and it is a pity that it was not done some time ago. Unfortunately we are now faced with trying to come up with a strategic plan where if it had been endorsed by the previous Government for the State highway we would not have the difficulty we have now in trying to get a plan through the district. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Why did National campaign on agreeing with Labour about the Western Link Road being a local road Transmission Gully and the electrification of rail only to get into office and push proposals that no one in the community had ever heard of? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: That perhaps shows the member’s age because this particular project has been discussed as early as the mid-1970s and before and that— 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am sure that if I made derogatory reference to the Minister’s advanced age and elderly status you would pull me up. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I hear the honourable member and I ask the Minister to please not make such comment on the question and to come quickly to the answer. 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: I am sorry; the attractiveness of the member’s youth overtook me in answering the question. I point out to the member that the potential alignment through the Kapiti district has been talked about for many many years. Unfortunately the previous Government did not develop a strategic plan for the State highway through the district. The member and certainly some on the Kapiti Coast District Council are now trying to say that that particular decision should be postponed. The difficulty with that is as we are seeing it makes it very difficult for people who have properties along prospective routes if they do not know what will happen.