8. Question No. 8—TransportCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 8—Transport8. CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of Transport: Does he stand by his reported comment in relation to Auckland light rail The light rail connection I think will probably be another two years in the planning the funding the land acquisitions … Then you've got another several years to build it – so it's not going to happen tomorrow" and when will the completed light rail project in Auckland be open to passengers?Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister of Transport): The answer is yes and while more detailed time lines will be announced with the delivery partner I can confirm that the project will be open well before 2047 the date promised by the previous transport Minister Simon Bridges.Chris Bishop: Why is the Government choosing a delivery partner and delivery model for the Auckland light rail project in advance of actually deciding what they want them to build and isn't this a strange way to go about procuring a multibillion-dollar intergenerational investment?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: No it's not at all. In fact in the process of actually determining the delivering partner and the funding and governance of the project a great deal of work is being done on design route alignment and all those matters. The fact is that the New Zealand super fund and their Canadian partners made an unsolicited bid that Cabinet decided was compelling and interesting to the extent that it deserved proper consideration. When the private sector constantly says to us that we should be open to creative and efficient ways of financing—Hon Chris Hipkins: Simon Bridges says that too.Hon PHIL TWYFORD: —and procuring major infrastructure projects—Hon Simon Bridges: But I know how to do it.Hon PHIL TWYFORD: —this Government listens to them.Hon Chris Hipkins: How many bridges?Chris Bishop: Why once the Government received the—SPEAKER: Order! Both of you. Can the member start again. I remind both Mr Hipkins and the Leader of the Opposition not to interject while this member's on his feet.Chris Bishop: Why once the Government had received the unsolicited bid from the super fund did the Government then not go to the wider international market and seek expressions of interest or bids from other international partners who may want to participate in the Auckland light rail project?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Simply because the proposal that was put to us the unsolicited proposal from NZ Infra is unique. Nothing like that has ever been tackled before in New Zealand and the Government took the view that it was best to assess that financing and governance model and consider whether we wanted to do that before then going out to the market and inviting other bids.Chris Bishop: Just in relation to that last comment is he indicating to the House that if the Government at the end of this current process decides that there is merit in proceeding with a bid similar to the New Zealand super fund proposal the Crown will then go back to the market and seek wider interest from international partners?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: No.Chris Bishop: Is he concerned by the comments in Greater Auckland in relation to the light rail process notably "This seems an incredibly strange process. I can't think of anything else where you work out who will deliver something before you work out what you're going to deliver." and why is he following this process?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: No I don't accept those comments at all.Chris Bishop: Why has the Government not published the specific requirements the Government is seeking from the Auckland light rail project given the enormous public interest and the lack of commercial confidentiality?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: We released the outcomes framework which was the core criteria that were at the heart of the twin track process but the detail of the process is subject to strict commercial probity and it's not possible or advisable to release that information during that competitive commercial process."