Dunne Peter: General Debate 
Dunne Peter: General Debate 
[Volume:629;Page:1810] 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
: 
 I say to both sides of the House that the events of today and recent weeks bestow no credit at all on any of those involved. In the interests of the people of this country the message must be that we focus on some real issues and get away from this personality-driven attempt to destroy everyone simply because we might disagree with their policies. Let us argue the policies and the merits and demerits of those. 
In that regard a week ago today the Wellington region received one of the best pieces of news it has heard in a long time—one it had been waiting for—that the report of the hearings review subcommittee overwhelmingly and unanimously recommended that the construction of the Transmission Gully highway proceed as a matter of priority. The only person who seems to be out on a different limb is the kamikaze Mayor of Wellington. I would have thought that she might care to learn a lesson in basic politics: count the numbers. If one is on the losing side maybe one needs to look at oneself. Clearly that is what the mayor should be doing. 
I speak with some feeling on this issue because I have been intimately involved with it for a large number of years. I brought the “Do It Now” petition to Parliament in 1999 I introduced special legislation in 2001 and I have worked for a long time with all of the groups that have had an interest in this issue. The sense is overwhelming that a settlement has now been reached—that now is the time to move on make the progress and get this development which has been on the Wellington regional agenda since 1939 under way. 
Yesterday in the House the Minister of Finance made three very important points. Firstly he confirmed that the funding that was previously earmarked for the coastal highway would pursuant to the agreement with United Future now be available for Transmission Gully. Secondly he confirmed that it would be inconceivable for any government local or central—the Mayor of Wellington notwithstanding—to overlook the overwhelming depth of public opinion in favour of the proposal proceeding. Thirdly he made the point that there were no legal impediments to funding Transmission Gully over a longer period of time thus confirming the comments made by the Chief Executive of Transit New Zealand last Friday that funding is not the issue. 
So we are at the point now where all of the obstacles have been removed. What is needed is the next step in the process—and I am confident it will happen—which is an affirmative vote from the Wellington Regional Council. Then we can embark upon bringing this necessary infrastructure development to fruition. 
I acknowledge the work of a lot of people who have brought us to this point. I acknowledge the fact that my electorate neighbours Winnie Laban and Darren Hughes have been very ardent advocates and supporters of and activists for Transmission Gully. I acknowledge the work of significant numbers of members of the Wellington Regional Council the Wellington chamber of commerce transport organisations in this city and the vast number of individual citizens who have signed petitions. 
Hon Member 
: And Mark Blumsky. 
Hon PETER DUNNE 
: The member talks about the previous Mayor of Wellington. I remember talking to him about the issue. He told me that Transmission Gully would cut travel time to the city by a mere 5 minutes and therefore was not worth it. It seems to be endemic in mayors of Wellington. 
Now is the time to move on make progress and ensure that the decisions that have now been reached on the best possible advice are acted upon. If we are able to achieve that—as I am extremely confident we will—we will not only secure transport access to this city but also demonstrate that we are serious about trying to curb what is a major infrastructure deficit right across New Zealand be it roading rail electricity aviation or other modes of transport. 
What we need to be starting to embark upon in New Zealand is a real concentration on reinvesting in infrastructure and improving it so that the quality of services that can be delivered to our citizens is intensely increased. If we do that we will make a significant impact. Our region and our country will benefit and we will lift ourselves out of the mire within which we have become enmeshed in recent times and I think New Zealand will welcome that.