Gosche Mark: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Gosche Mark: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:615;Page:11094] 
12.  
Hon MARK GOSCHE (Labour—Maungakiekie) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: What is the Government doing to improve New Zealand’s transport infrastructure? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Transport) 
: 
 The Government is investing considerable resources in the transport infrastructure following decades of under-investment. As part of a multi-modal transport strategy Air New Zealand and the rail-track have been purchased more money is being spent on road construction and maintenance than ever before and funding for passenger transport has doubled since 2002. This Government sees transport infrastructure as critical to New Zealander’s economic performance. 
Hon Mark Gosche 
: What impact will the recent transport announcements have on transport infrastructure in Auckland and other parts of New Zealand? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: In consultation with the very good Minister of Finance in December 2003 the Government announced a significant new package of transport measures to address infrastructure constraints across the country. It will mean approximately $1.6 billion for Auckland on top of planned transport spending and approximately $1.35 billion extra for other regions over the next 10 years. The acceptance of the package yesterday by Auckland local government leaders means that we are now in a position to make real progress. It will have a huge impact on upgrading the transport infrastructure and that is important if we are to ensure long-term sustainable economic growth. 
Peter Brown 
: Does the Minister regard New Zealand shipping as part of our transport infrastructure and is he aware that it is in dire straits; if he is will he tell the House what he intends to do about assisting it and when? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Yes yes and shortly. 
Keith Locke 
: As a fellow participant with the Minister and other MPs in this morning’s “bike to work” event could the Minister explain how the Government’s walking and cycling plan announced last year will help to improve transport infrastructure in New Zealand? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: The initial document released last year has received a number of submissions. It will be released towards the middle of the year. The reality is that New Zealand is way behind other countries in having a proactive walking and cycling strategy. If we get more people off the roads and walking and cycling— 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: On your bike! 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: —yes that was the name of the strategy actually—it will help to reduce some of the congestion on our main roads at the moment particularly as far as young children going back and forth to school are concerned. 
Larry Baldock 
: In light of the Government’s commitment to improve the New Zealand transport infrastructure can the Minister confirm that he has received a letter from the mayors of Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty and the chairman of Environment BOP requesting assistance for that area on the same basis as Auckland’s special package and pointing out that very similar circumstances exist in that area such as rapid growth and the importance of the port to the country’s economic improvement; and what does the Government plan to do in response to that request from the mayors of that area? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Yes I can confirm that and I intend to have meetings with representatives in the not too distant future. 
Keith Locke 
: Just to follow up the Minister’s comment on children going back and forth given that 40 percent of Auckland’s peak traffic is education related how will plans such as those of North Shore City to get more children walking and cycling to school affect our transport infrastructure? I am talking about such things as new pedestrian crossings safe cycle paths secure bike parking and lockers at schools and walking buses. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: As the member points out a lot of the congestion in Auckland at peak time is education related. If we can get more schoolchildren walking to and from school particularly in walking buses—and the North Shore City Council is one of the leaders in New Zealand in that respect and should be congratulated on it—then that will have a net effect of reducing congestion on the roads and making it easier for other people to get around and go about their business.