Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:617;Page:13135] 
5.  
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: Is he satisfied with the transport infrastructure in New Zealand? 
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister of Transport) 
: 
 No that is why the Government is spending billions of dollars to improve it after years of neglect by the Tories. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Given that the Labour Party on 20 July 1993 agreed with the sale of New Zealand Rail why is it that having raised on 6 March the serious issue of brake parts falling off the New Zealand Tranz Rail trains and his predecessor’s assurance that this was a once-in-30-years event on which he had conducted an investigation— 
Hon Paul Swain 
: No I didn’t. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Yes he did. What has happened to the investigation and what are its findings? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: I regret I do not have that information with me. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. To help the Minister I want to table right now the  
Hansard  
of 6 March so that he can be informed as to what his predecessor said. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that. Is there any objection? There is. 
Hon Mark Gosche 
: What plans does the Government have to fix the problems caused by the privatisation and neglect of the rail network? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: The Government is committed to spending $200 million over the next 5 years to upgrade the track network which we expect courtesy of the negotiations of my colleague the Minister of Finance to own very soon. 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: Is the Minister concerned about the finding of the infrastructure audit released yesterday—that the Resource Management Act is resulting in delays of 10 years between road project conception and commencement and that this has had a particularly negative effect on Auckland—if so what action will he recommend to amend the Resource Management Act? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: The Resource Management Act has been put under review partly as a result of that infrastructure report— 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Oh 4 years late. 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: —and as members want to talk about the Resource Management Act I point out that we will see useful changes to improve the efficiency of that Act. However since that report was written my colleague the Minister for the Environment advises me that waiting times for Environment Court business have been reduced magnificently. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Does the Minister regard it as a serious matter that brake shoes are falling off New Zealand’s trains all over the place—[ 
Interruption 
]; obviously the clown who preceded him does not—and given that when a member of the public tried to bring this to Tranz Rail’s attention it threatened him with a trespass order and that there has been an inquiry the results of which we do not know when will he start regarding this as a very serious matter that could endanger the public safety of New Zealanders? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: The member seems to be unaware that the Government in its term of office has not only carried out an inquiry into rail safety but has responded to it with legislation which currently sits before a select committee and will be reported back to this House presently. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: In view of the Minister’s concern about the state of the rail infrastructure is he also concerned that Transfund has systematically unspent its alternatives to roading funds; and is it not time that the funding system caught up with the new Land Transport Management Act? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: Yes and yes. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: If the Minister thinks that the matter has been properly investigated why are members of the public finding brake shoes all over this country—in this case within 200 metres of the scene that led to the last complaint made to his predecessor Mr Swain who said he would do something about it—and when will he stop regarding this as a laughing matter and start taking New Zealand public safety seriously? I have four sets of brake shoes here—all found within 200 metres of the place brake shoes were discovered the last time. 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: Rail safety is a very important issue and it has been under considerable inquiry in this country and in quite a few others. I say to the member that legislation is going through the select committee process now and I think the member will find that it will address his concerns adequately. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I seek leave to table these four sets of brake shoes and I hope they do not fall on his head. 
Items by leave laid on the Table of the House.