Menéndez March Ricardo; Brown Simeon; Court SimonRICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH (Green): Thank you Madam Chair. Noting the climate crisis that we are facing and the initial comments by the chair regarding our emissions profile in the transport sector I wanted to get an understanding from the Minister looking back at the period we reviewed as to whether he's confident in the capabilities of the Ministry of Transport and Waka Kotahi to prioritise investment into public transport infrastructure and cycling and walking infrastructure that meet the needs of our diverse communities and lowers emissions.Another question that I had for him was regarding the status of KiwiRail as a State-owned enterprise and again noting the urgent need to reduce emissions and the fact that that will involve higher investment and prioritisation into the electrified rail system whether he thinks looking back at whether the status that prioritises shareholder profits over sort of other paradigms such as operating in the public good is fit for purpose.SIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga): Thank you Madam Chair. What interesting comments from the Minister the Hon Michael Wood talking about the amount being spent. This is the problem with this Government. They're all very good at saying We're spending this; we're spending that; and we're spending this." but the reality is: they have a problem with delivery. Mill Road is a classic example of a project which they said they were going to do then they cancelled it then they said they were going to do it again and the costs keep going up. And the Minister has just admitted to the committee that he still hasn't even got an options report as to what he might be able to do with it. That is the reality up and down this country with the New Zealand Upgrade Programme.I could come to the point around the light rail and I think that's a very good segue through to the Auckland light rail project. We were told at the time of the hearing that approximately $50 million at that point had been spent on consultancy fees and other things for Auckland light rail. Is the Minister aware that the amount spent on Auckland light rail amounts to something like $7 million per metre of press release that this Government has issued on light rail in Auckland?Hon Scott Simpson: How much?SIMEON BROWN: $7 million per metre of press release this Government has issued on light rail. And that project's been through so many different iterations. We've had the initial announcement fanfare before the election. We've had the twin-track process. We've had the super funds getting involved. We've then had it cancelled. And then it's back on the table and there's still no delivery. So can the Minister please tell me: will the final business case for Auckland light rail be completed before the next election?SIMON COURT (ACT): Minister one question tonight. Why does the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission say that other countries could deliver six seven or eight times as much track for the estimated $14.6 billion cost of Auckland light rail? Is this an indictment on the Government's ability to efficiently deliver transport projects?Hon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister of Transport): If I can respond to a number of the questions that have been raised. The first from Mr Menéndez March who asked about the capacity of both the ministry and Waka Kotahi to prioritise and lead the decarbonisation efforts that are needed across the transport sector. Yes I do have real confidence there. The Minister of Climate Change the Hon James Shaw has been on public record as particularly recognising the role that the Ministry of Transport has taken in leading efforts to work out how we can develop credible policies to decarbonise the sector as we develop the emissions reduction plan. We've had a significant programme over the last year of engaging with the public through Hīkina te Kohupara that was mentioned by the chair as we develop up our decarbonisation plans for the sector. We've already started the work there. Of course the Clean Car Programme—policy designed by the ministry operationally delivered by Waka Kotahi—already delivering exceptional results in terms of rapidly transitioning our light fleet. So I think that the answer there is yes.In respect of KiwiRail: yes more investment will be needed to support KiwiRail as it takes more freight and more passengers on to rail which is incredibly important in terms of reducing our emissions. Worth noting the Minister of Finance would be very pleased if in fact we had received dividends from KiwiRail. We're not taking them out of KiwiRail; we're investing to make up for 20 years of neglect and managed decline under the previous Government.In respect of the member opposite's—Simeon Brown's—question he's quite wrong about projects not being delivered. I do note that when the previous Government came into office at the beginning of its nine years it committed to seven roads of national significance; I think it completed three by the time they'd finished their term in Government. This Government has a massive infrastructure programme under way across transport. Northland's one-way bridges at Taipā and Matakohe were replaced. Auckland's $250 million Southern Corridor improvements have been delivered. The new Puhinui station is open. Work is under way under Tākitimu stage one. The North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery project in the South Island is finished. State Highway 1 on the Southern Motorway is under way. The electrification between Papakura and Pukakohe is under way. Significant works on the Waikato Expressway are completed. And more coming later this year. There is a massive list of improvements that this Government is leading. The difference between this Government and the previous one that that member can't quite get his head around is that we're not solely focused on delivering four-lane highways as the only solution to New Zealand's transport problems; we're investing in a wider range of transport infrastructure consistent with the climate challenge that we face.In response to Mr Court's question there are real challenges that the Infrastructure Commission has laid down in terms of the efficient delivery of infrastructure in New Zealand not just in transport but across the suite. I think there are real issues that we need to delve into there. They've identified for example the need for New Zealand to really address our consenting systems if we do want to lower the cost particularly through the time that it's taken to get infrastructure delivered efficiently. This is something that I continue to work with my agencies on because we do want to make sure that we get the best value for taxpayer dollars to deliver the most infrastructure that we can for the benefit of our country."