Gallagher Martin: Land Transport Management Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Gallagher Martin: Land Transport Management Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 01 July 2008. Volume:648;Page:17078. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MARTIN GALLAGHER (Labour—Hamilton West) 
: 
 I know that the previous speaker my good colleague from Hamilton East was talking about the regions and the relevance of the Land Transport Management Amendment Bill to the regions. I just want to state to the Committee that my colleague the member of Parliament for Hamilton East along with the Government member of Parliament for Hamilton West wants to congratulate warmly the Rt Hon James Bolger on his appointment as chair of KiwiRail. Speaking on behalf of David Bennett and myself I say that we are immensely proud that a Waikato son—and I know Winston Peters joins me— 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: No I don’t. He sold it mate. 
MARTIN GALLAGHER 
: I withdraw that immediately. But I just want to say that as Waikato members of Parliament we note the appointment of James Bolger to that role today. I personally think he will do a very very good job. The historical ironies obviously are not lost on us. 
I take this opportunity to compliment the Minister on being a very visionary Minister of Transport. I compliment her in terms of this bill which is another important step in terms of the roll-out of a very important vision. I know that the Hon Maurice Williamson in his heart of hearts is envious and would agree with this; this Minister has achieved far far more in her term along with her predecessors such as the Hon Mark Gosche and the Hon Paul Swain and other Ministers. I am very keen that we go back to a situation of creating the New Zealand Transport Agency a new Crown entity replacing the existing Land Transport New Zealand and Transit New Zealand. I know that there were quite a lot of submissions to the select committee in terms of the split of those organisations but I have to say from a Waikato point of view that on balance I do believe that having one entity in the end will streamline strategic transport planning in this country. 
I know that the members for Hamilton East and Hamilton West would also be in accord in acknowledging the huge work already being done in terms of building Hamilton’s and the central Waikato’s transport infrastructure and in my own electorate I note that even under the current system the western bypass—the Rotokauri Road to Rifle Range Road bypass—is a good example of strategic planning and we see the wonderful green buses. I noticed Dr Norman today asking Ministers whether they took a bus or a car or whatever to work. I tell Dr Norman to come to Hamilton and he will see the roll-out of the  
New Zealand Transport Strategy 
. He will see an equal investment in roading infrastructure and he will see a comprehensive commitment to public transport which is a direct and precise result of the  
New Zealand Transport Strategy 
 and which this land transport amendment bill will add to and indeed strengthen. I say to the Minister that I think that Hamilton is a very good example of the comprehensive— 
Hon Annette King 
: The biggest increase in passenger transport. 
MARTIN GALLAGHER 
: The Minister is correct; it is the biggest increase. It is quite easy sometimes to forget the huge strides that have been made. If we want to see—and Mr Maurice Williamson would agree— 
David Bennett 
: Come on Martin! You know what Land Transport New Zealand did last month. 
MARTIN GALLAGHER 
: I have to say that if the member drives north of Hamilton he will see the huge advances in the Waikato Expressway. He does not need to read volumes and tomes or even to read the  
New Zealand Transport Strategy 
 to know about the big gains. He does not need to read volumes and tomes to come into Hamilton and see the huge advance in the western arterial route. He does not need to read to see the wonderful development in our bus network and indeed in terms of the  
New Zealand Transport Strategy 
 I offer compliments to the Rt Hon Winston Peters in relation to the impact of the SuperGold Card. I am really looking forward as a Hamilton and Waikato MP to older New Zealanders being able to use public transport for free in off-peak hours.