4. Question No. 4—TransportTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 4—Transport4. TANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North) to the Minister of Transport: Kia orana Mr Speaker. Does he stand by all his statements and actions?Hon SIMEON BROWN (Minister of Transport): Yes I stand by all my statements and actions particularly when I said that investments in the draft Government policy statement (GPS) 2024 will ensure key connections are provided so that Kiwis can get to where they need to go quickly and safely. These investments will also reduce congestion on our roads provide low-emission transport options in our main cities and create a more productive and resilient transport network driving economic growth and unlocking land for thousands of new houses.Tangi Utikere: When he said yesterday 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" how can New Zealanders have any confidence that he won't be introducing other taxes fees or levies to cover the fiscal holes that his transport plan clearly has?Hon SIMEON BROWN: Because the reality is—the reality is—that the GPS outlines exactly how we're going to fund—I think it's on page 27 for the member's benefit or 29; I can't quite remember right now—the projects and the outcomes in our draft GPS document. Tangi Utikere: Who is correct National MP—SPEAKER: Hang on—hang on. Just wait. Your own colleagues are sort of a bit animated at the moment.Tangi Utikere: It's great support. Who is correct National MP Simeon Brown who said "National's fully-costed transport plan will deliver 13 new Roads of National Significance and four major public transport projects – and does not require increases to petrol tax." or the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) who estimate that there is a fiscal hole in his transport plan of up to $24.4 billion or 110 percent more than he had originally estimated?Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well Simeon Brown is correct because this GPS is not increasing fuel excise duty and road-user charges in the three years of this Government's term.Tangi Utikere: How can the Government deliver reliable effective and efficient public transport as a priority for Kiwi households when it intends to scrap free and half-price fares for under-25s and when its draft GPS takes over $1.5 billion from public transport which also cuts the ability of local councils to provide additional transport fare subsidies?Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well if the member read the draft GPS document it outlines the fact that under the last Government farebox recovery fell from 40 percent of running public transport services to 13 percent and so the reality is that we need to ensure that people who use public transport are helping support it. But I'd also point out to the members opposite they had six years in Government they spent $228 million on "Auckland Light Fail" and failed to deliver it. We started the City Rail Link and we're going to complete it. We have a proud track record on public transport.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: No one believes that.Tangi Utikere: What is the total value—SPEAKER: Hang on. Even an affirmation of someone's question is a breach of the convention that the question gets asked with the House listening in silence.Tangi Utikere: What is the total value of the proposed roads of national significance in the South Island compared with the overall value of all 15 roads of national significance and what does that level of investment say to mainlanders about the importance this Government places on South Island projects?Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well there's a range of estimates around the projects. But what I'd point out is there are a number of key projects in the South Island that we'll be prioritising: the Woodend Bypass—advocated by the member Matt Doocey—the Ashburton bridge the Hope Bypass and better road maintenance. That last Government cancelled cancelled cancelled cancelled. We're going to deliver.Tangi Utikere: Point of order. Mr Speaker that question was very specific. It—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Points of order are heard in silence so don't interfere or don't make a noise when people are making them.Tangi Utikere: Mr Speaker that question was very specific about the value rather than the numbers and I suggest to you that the Minister has not addressed the specific point in the question.SPEAKER: I think the Minister more than addressed the question. He talked about the proposals. If the Minister wants to add a link he can but I think the question was addressed.Hon Scott Simpson: What feedback has he received on the draft Government policy statement on land transport?Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well I've received a range of correspondence over the past few days since we released the draft GPS. Let me read two of them: "Dear Simeon congratulations on your excellent draft GPS." And another one: "Well done. New Zealand needs these 15 roads of national significance ASAP." [Interruption]SPEAKER: Just wait. Are we ready?Tangi Utikere: What advice has he received regarding plans to scrap up to $20 million of funding for coastal shipping and what impact would this have on New Zealand's resilience against major events such as the Kaikōura earthquake?Hon Chris Bishop: Nothing; it's the land transport fund. Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well as my colleague the Hon Chris Bishop says it is the National Land Transport Fund. Last time I saw our ships run on water and cars and trucks run on the land. This is about the land not the sea. We're not continuing the coastal fund under the last Government. [Interruption]SPEAKER: Just hang on. OK.Rachel Boyack: Can the Minister confirm that constituents in my electorate of Nelson will be paying more with a 22c fuel tax hike and a $50 jump in vehicle registration fees but getting less after the Nelson Mail reported this morning that he's dropped one of our two major transport projects from the Government policy statement on transport?Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well the good news for the good people of Nelson and Tasman is that they will be getting the Hope Bypass under this GPS. I encourage the regional land transport plan to put forward its proposals and the national land transport programme will be developed by the NZTA over the coming six months.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Does the Minister think that the confusion behind that penultimate question relates to the fact that Waka Kotahi is actually a boat on the road and while the potholes were building up in their tens of thousands of kilometres they went ahead with that sort of behaviour?SPEAKER: That's a—no. We'll move now to question No. 5."