3. Question No. 3—TransportTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 3—Transport3. TANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North) to the Minister of Transport: How does the Government intend to fully fund the more than $20 billion of proposed National Land Transport Fund spending across the next three years as outlined in the draft Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024-34?Hon SIMEON BROWN (Minister of Transport): The member has answered his own question in his primary but to help the member page 29 of the draft Government policy statement (GPS) on land transport 2024 to 2034 outlines the answer to his question.Tangi Utikere: Will all projects in the Government policy statement on land transport be fully funded for the entirety of the project and if not why not?Hon SIMEON BROWN: The GPS which was released yesterday outlines the projects that we are prioritising as a Government including the roads of national significance and major public transport projects. We've also outlined a range of funding and financing tools to be able to deliver this infrastructure and we expect that those new tools will be used.Tangi Utikere: Why is he and his Government determined to make it more difficult for hard-working Kiwis by introducing a new drivers' tax by increasing motor vehicle licensing fees by an extra $50 when he and his Government promised no new taxes?Hon SIMEON BROWN: We said we were not going to increase the fuel excise duty (FED) and road-user charge (RUC) and that is what we have delivered in this GPS. We have not increased FED and RUC during this term of Government but the reality is—the reality is—that we need to ensure that we set out the funding parameters to be able to deliver the infrastructure New Zealanders need and that is why we have outlined FED and RUC increases from 2027.Tangi Utikere: Does the Minister stand by his statement that registration fees are just a one off fee that people pay" and if so does he expect people to only register their car once in the vehicle's lifetime or would he like them to pay the additional $50 drivers' tax every 12 months?Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well people register their vehicle once every 12 months and as part of that they pay a contribution. It's a payment they make once a year and as part of that there is a contribution to the National Land Transport Fund and on this side of the House this Government will ensure that that money is going to building and maintaining the roading network not cycle bridges across the Auckland harbour. [Interruption]SPEAKER: Just wait—[Interruption] Just wait. All right.Tangi Utikere: Is the Minister actually committed to addressing the cost of living pressures when he cancelled the proposed 12c increase to fuel excise duties only to nearly double it with a 22c increase?Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well we are committed to the cost of living by making sure that we axe the Auckland regional fuel tax by making sure we have no fuel excise and road-user charges in 2024 2025 or 2026 but we are outlining how we will sustainably fund transport investment going into the future. That's what this GPS is all about.Tangi Utikere: How will an 18 percent decrease in funding to council subsidies to public transport services a 34 percent decrease in funding for public transport infrastructure and a 49 percent decrease in funding for walking and cycling improvements have a positive impact on meeting New Zealand's climate change commitments?Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well on this side of the House we are focusing the National Land Transport Fund on its core purpose which is to build and maintain the roading network and people who fill up their cars with petrol who pay road-user charges want to ensure that the money they're paying is going back into building and maintaining the roading network less potholes and making sure we have the roads for the future to unlock economic growth and productivity across New Zealand."