SpeechHon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister of Transport): I'm happy to take a few minutes to respond to a number of queries and points from members. I do want to go back to Mr Brown's first set of comments where he did state—I believe very inaccurately—or certainly imply it that there is a lack of action and focus and work into repairing the damaged roading network in cyclone-affected regions. I just wish to put on record that that is completely inaccurate and it is in fact somewhat offensive to the efforts and endeavours of hundreds of road workers and contractors who are working every single day of the week and have been under considerable pressure for the last few months to continue opening up that network. Most of the key connections have now been reopened.State Highway 23 between the Waikato and Raglan is reopened as of this week. We have two particular areas where there are significant works that need to be done to ensure safe access on State Highway 2 and State Highway 25A on the State highway network. We have made significant progress in the Hawke's Bay region—the most affected across the local road network—with the signing of an interim alliance arrangement to ensure that there is a linked-up plan between Waka Kotahi and local councils to repair that network. Bailey bridges have gone in to provide access across many of those rural areas where communities have been cut off with a number more that are likely to come into effect as of this month. This is a significant impact on our transport system that will likely require billions of dollars' worth of investment. The member notes that the Government has made an additional $250 million of investment to provide space for Waka Kotahi's emergency work budgets to fund this work and we have recognised that there will need to be more investment to come. So I simply want to put on record that it is inaccurate to suggest that there is a lack of focus on this. It is the primary focus of Waka Kotahi and also affected councils and many contractors at the moment. I note the comments from the Hon Julie Anne Genter. She commented on the nature of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme. I do need to note that the primary New Zealand Upgrade Programme was in fact signed off by transport Ministers in the previous administration between 2017 and 2020. The member asking the question was one of those Ministers. I recognise that the overall programme includes a number of different investments across road rail walking and cycling. In fact the changes that have been made in this term—with me as Minister—have tried to put greater focus on the sustainable modes of transport including funding for the Whangārei to Port Marsden rail link for example. Mr Court asked a couple of questions one related to the range of risks that Waka Kotahi has noted across its network. Waka Kotahi continues to work with local councils—bearing in mind that sometimes these risks will be on State highway network; sometimes they will be on local roads—to address those risks where we can. The member asked about planning protection designation for better transport to the north-west. There has been significant planning work put into roading improvements in the north-west that are included in the Auckland Transport Alignment Project and I understand that they are continuing to work through the business casing programme. The member will be pleased to note that as of earlier this year the designation process for mass rapid transit to the north-west of Auckland and actually also for the airport to Botany busway the designation process for both of those projects was started by Waka Kotahi earlier this year. So the member can be rest assured that while I understand that there are significant pressures in that region there is real focus on improving things there. I will make the point that if we simply encourage more and more people in that region to pop in their cars for every journey it will just result in more congestion. That is why the work on mass rapid transit and the interim work on the north-western busway—which is moving forward—is so important. The member asked about the coherence of tolling decisions that have been made and it is correct that the decision not to toll the Pūhoi-Warkworth road was made in the 2021-22 year. More recently we have made the decision to proceed with tolling on O Mahurangi - Penlink. There are particular reasons for that. In respect to the first decision the main reason that that decision was made was that in my view putting a toll on that road would have meant that a number of people would have effectively had to have paid double tolls along that stretch and some local residents would in effect not have had the ability to avoid using a toll road. One of the considerations that the legislation sets out is whether there is effectively the ability to have a free route for local movements. So that is the reason behind that decision. In the case of Penlink and Whangaparāoa there is in my view a strong case for a tolling proposal to proceed to support maintenance and there is very clearly a free route that local residents are able to use. Mr Doocey—enjoyed his little speech around speed limit changes in his area. I can be very clear that in the 2021-22 year we were actually very proud to sign-off on the new speed rule which does take us in the direction of safer speeds around our kids' schools. Our Government stands behind that: that local kids walking or biking to their local school should be able to do that safely. It is something that is extraordinarily popular with our school communities and most of our local communities. We've given local government the ability to set speed limits in consultation with their local communities. The exercise that the member refers to was a local government - led exercise and I'm quite sure that if the member delves into it further he will find that his mathematics actually include a lot of additional costs that go into ensuring that those areas can be safer. I know that members on that side of the House don't put any particular priority around safer roads around our schools but it is a priority for this Government.