1. Budget 2017—Infrastructure ProgrammeKANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National) to the Minister of FinanceORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSBudget 2017—Infrastructure Programme1. KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National) to the Minister of Finance: What progress is the Government making on the $32.5 billion infrastructure programme over the next 4 years identified in Budget 2017?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Finance): The Government is making good progress with what is the largest infrastructure plan New Zealand has been involved in. For example we are very busy investing in a range of transport projects. Yesterday KiwiRail rejoined the Main North Line between Christchurch and Picton. We are also currently working on the highway there. In Auckland we are working on the Southern Motorway corridor which is a 50 percent expansion. The Waterview tunnel also opened recently delivering massive time savings to Aucklanders travelling between the west and south of Auckland and also between the airport and the city. Just last week the Government officially opened in Wellington the $43 million Haywards Interchange project which delivers significant benefits to Hutt Valley motorists by smoothing traffic flow and reducing accident risk.Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi: How does Budget 2017's transport investment benefit Auckland?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The Government is making a significant number of transport investments in and around Auckland across all modes. These include the East-West Link the new motorway linking the Southwestern Motorway with the Southern Motorway electrifying the commuter railway line between Papakura and Pukekohe and our intention to construct the third main line. Of course there is also the Northern Motorway corridor between Constellation and Albany and the extension of the busway. The Government in partnership with Auckland Council is considering further investments in areas like the Mill Road corridor and the Northwestern Motorway busway as part of a comprehensive plan to unlock land for housing development projects around the city.Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi: How will these investments flow through the construction sector?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The investment programmes in Auckland and around the country are giving the construction sector the confidence to make many long-term commitments. The independent National Construction Pipeline report released last weekend shows that the building boom we have been experiencing is forecast to continue for at least another 3 or 4 years. That is because Budget 2017 is also funding new programmes like the Housing Infrastructure Fund and Crown Infrastructure Partners which are able to open up land to build up to 83000 houses in fast-growing parts of the country. This construction pipeline shows that the Government's plan to invest in key infrastructure for a growing country is working for New Zealanders.Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi: How is the Government able to deliver on this infrastructure plan?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The Government delivers by involving private sector investment and private partners as well as the Government's investment. For example we have a good track record in areas like ultra-fast broadband which has been supported by around a $2 billion investment from the Government and has been more than matched by co-investments from the private sector. As a result New Zealand has already moved up the OECD broadband rankings from 26th in the world 5 years ago to 11th last year. Once complete the ultra-fast broadband will probably put us in a top-five spot in the OECD and that is a true public-private partnership delivering for New Zealanders.