8. Transport—Funding and National Land Transport FundHon JUDITH COLLINS (National—Papakura) to the Minister of TransportTransport—Funding and National Land Transport FundHon JUDITH COLLINS (National—Papakura): To the Minister of Transport—[Interruption] SPEAKER: Order! Order! I think Nick Smith and Megan Woods might have—Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: It was actually me.SPEAKER: Was it you? I apologise. I just—Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman: I apologise sir.SPEAKER: I think I get acclimatised to Dr Smith and think it's him. Can the pair of you be quiet. We'll call that even and we'll go to the Hon Judith Collins without interruption from either side of the House.8. Hon JUDITH COLLINS (National—Papakura) to the Minister of Transport: From what source and in what proportions is the National Land Transport Fund funded?Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister of Transport): The current Government policy statement (GPS) on land transport revised in February 2017 by the past Government requires revenue raised from the land transport system to be used for land transport purposes. All revenue from fuel excise duty road-user charges motor vehicle registration and licensing fees revenue from Crown appropriations management of Crown land interests and tolling are accounted for in the National Land Transport Fund. The fund's revenue for 2016-17 was comprised of 52 percent fuel excise duty 40 percent road-user charges and 8 percent motor vehicle registration and other revenue.Hon Judith Collins: Why did he tell the New Zealand public that the national land transport funding for roads would not be redirected to rail when he had already written to some stakeholders saying that the Government is exploring how rail investment is incorporated within the Government policy statement and the National Land Transport Fund."?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: To clarify for the member what I said was that funding for a particular project or funding band for different transport modes in the National Land Transport Programme cannot be changed by the Government of the day. Those decisions are made at arm's length by the New Zealand Transport Agency board. However a new Government with a new enlightened transport policy can set new priorities and change the funding bands in the land transport programme and that is exactly what we're going to do.Jamie Strange: Supplementary? [Interruption] Hon Judith Collins: The Lord loves a trier doesn't He? If as the Minister of Transport states 100 percent—pretty much—of the National Land Transport Fund is paid for by car and truck owners should they expect this money to be spent on roads?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Roads like all other transport—[Interruption] SPEAKER: Order!Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Roads like all other transport modes are funded from a variety of sources. Local ratepayers for example contribute $1.7 billion in the current three-year period. And yet some people seem to believe that road taxes should be spent only on roads. The member's argument is totally illogical.Hon Judith Collins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question was very clearly about the funding that comes into and from the National Land Transport Fund not local roads that are paid for primarily by ratepayers. Can the Minister please address the question correctly.SPEAKER: I thought he addressed it. He mightn't have answered it but he addressed it.Jamie Strange: Supplementary Mr Speaker?SPEAKER: Jamie Strange—and he won't be stared down.Jamie Strange: I've had the look Mr Speaker. Does the Government intend changing the past Government's requirement that funds in the National Land Transport Fund be spent for land transport purposes?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Thank you. The new Government policy statement on land transport for 2018 is being worked on. We aim to have the draft GPS out for consultation in March. However the current requirement that revenue raised from the transport system be spent on land transport aligns perfectly with this Government's ambition for funding a badly needed rapid transit system for Auckland that will make a serious dent in traffic gridlock unlocking massive productivity gains and so that requirement is very unlikely to change.Hon Judith Collins: Why should road users nationwide who contribute $3 billion a year specifically for roading watch this Labour - New Zealand First Government spend it on an Auckland tram up Dominion Road?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I would have thought that the member would know that rail delivers $1.3 billion a year in reduced road congestion. It saves $63 million a year in road maintenance. The Northern Busway built by the former Labour-led Government has taken four lanes of traffic off the harbour bridge every morning. Surely she can see that that's good for motorists.Hon Judith Collins: Is the Minister prepared to confirm that the independent New Zealand Transport Agency which oversees how the $3 billion paid for by New Zealand - wide road users will still be able to operate independently from the Government when the Prime Minister's mentor the Hon Dame Annette King is appointed to the chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency board?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: All I can say is that that member is sadly misinformed."