Brown Peter: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Brown Peter: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:620;Page:15532] 
5.  
PETER BROWN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: Has he read the findings of the Allen Consulting Group’s report entitled  
Benefits of Investing in New Zealand’s Road Infrastructure 
; if so will any changes be made to roading policy as a result of those findings? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN (Minister for Transport Safety) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Transport 
: Yes he has read the report and the report vindicates the approach to investing in our transport infrastructure that this Government is already taking in investing $18.9 billion over the next 10 years correcting years of what the report describes as “significant underinvestment in New Zealand’s road network specifically between 1993 and 2001”. That was of course under the previous National Government. 
Peter Brown 
: Does the Minister acknowledge that the Allen report recommends borrowing in order to complete four strategic roading projects in a reasonable time frame and does he also recognise that if those projects are done by the year 2012 there will be huge economic gains for this country; if so will he be recommending that we follow the Allen report to a T? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: The member correctly identifies comments made in the report and it is also fair to note that several of the recommendations are already being acted on by the Government. The member will know that right now the Minister is in his own area—Tauranga—discussing just one of those recommendations with local officials. 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: In light of the fact that there are now a number of reports showing there is a massive backlog of projects whose benefit-cost ratios are sitting at four and represent an internal rate of return of somewhere between 30 percent and 40 percent—something one could not get anywhere else in the business community—will the Minister specifically ask the Minister of Finance to approve something available under the legislation now which is for Transfund to debt fund a number of those projects so that we can get them now and not in 2017 and 2020 which is when they are currently scheduled? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: The member has considerable knowledge of the transport world having been the transport Minister for much of the time that a National Government was involved in transport and roading. It is fair to say that there are issues of funding and they are being addressed most specifically in the legislation before the House. What will be really interesting is how much support National has for those initiatives that are coming ahead. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister was asked whether he would be asking the Minister of Finance. That part of the question should be addressed. 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: I am well aware that the Minister of Finance is very much involved in these issues and knows about them. I should think it is unnecessary for me or the Minister to ask him about them directly. I am sure he is well informed already. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Does the Minister have any concerns that the Wellington Regional Council appears to be endorsing this strategy which the Allen report predicts will create a $4 million per year collapse in the Wellington rail network? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: What the Allen report recommends may be one thing but the Government’s transport strategy is what is actually driving investment in both roading and alternative means of transport such as the public railway and bus network of New Zealand. 
Larry Baldock 
: Is the Minister aware that the Allen report demonstrated that the investment in the Tauranga roading network is giving the best return for money of any of the projects looked at; if so will that be foremost on the Minister’s mind when he visits Tauranga tomorrow to discuss these things with local representatives? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: The question is a very interesting one because the Allen report does recommend the Tauranga roading project as one of the key projects for an investment return. More money is being spent in every region including an extra $134 million in the Bay of Plenty and not just on roads but on rail as well. Such an approach is advocated in New Zealand First’s transport policy. I believe that today—right now—the Minister is in Tauranga discussing probably just these issues. 
Peter Brown 
: In relation to the harbour link in Tauranga does the Minister believe that the situation where the lead-up to the infrastructure is determined as State highway but the actual second bridge is being declared a local road is practical or does he share my view that it is childish and stupid? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: I am afraid I cannot comment directly on that question simply because I have not had the thoroughness of briefing that the member obviously believes he has had. What I can say is that I am sure that will be one of the topics the Minister discusses today in Tauranga with local government officials. 
Peter Brown 
: Does the Minister accept that in Tauranga we have New Zealand’s No. 1 export port and that the second bridge is absolutely essential for the economic well-being of not only that port but the Tauranga community at large? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: The member is being a very assiduous local member. I would say that a transport strategy that takes into account just roading is not a very comprehensive transport strategy. We need to ensure we have very effective coastal shipping and rail links as well as adequate road links.