Transport
Encourage the introduction of economic pricing for road usage, including removing existing government-related impediments to the introduction of congestion charges, while commensurately lowering fuel taxes Encourage private sector investment in road construction, both through direct ownership and through partnerships with central and local government Progress along the path offered in Better Transport Better Roads for making road providers more responsive to road users’ requirements by putting them on a more commercial basis Protect road user interests by encouraging competition between routes and by long-term contracts. Road users rightly do not trust monopolies, government-owned or otherwise
Support integrated electrification of the North Island Main Trunk Line, including Auckland and Wellington Ensure that Auckland rail developments receive the funding they need to proceed Work actively for an international agreement to ensure international journeys face the full costs of their CO2 emissions Continue to work for the development of a transportation system that reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases by moving freight from trucks to rail and coastal shipping where possible, and personal transport from cars to public transport, cycling, car pooling and walking
Labour will ensure that transport infrastructure, including rail, road, coastal shipping and public transport networks, provides sufficient capacity to meet the needs of communities, and businesses now and in the future Is committed to world-class roading, public transport and walking and cycling infrastructure in Auckland Labour is committed to ensuring that funding mechanisms for land transport infrastructure are fair to all road users including truckies Will introduce a range of road safety measures aimed at reducing road deaths to no more than 200 a year, and serious injuries to no more than 1,500 a year, by 2040
Appoint a Minister of Infrastructure to reshape, co-ordinate, and then oversee the Government’s infrastructure objectives Create a 20-year National Infrastructure Plan spelling out our investment objectives Introduce a Priority Consenting process to streamline resource consents for major infrastructure projects of critical national importance Review and, where necessary, reform the Local Government Act and the Land Transport Management Act to reduce infrastructure delays and speed up development Introduce longer-dated infrastructure bonds for quality long-term assets
Phase down over time (and out) the excise tax which goes into the Crown Account and thus provide for more financial resources for roading and other transport infrastructure Providing incentives for cargo movers to direct more of their freight to rail or coastal shipping by introducing a Rail Freight Grant scheme that will allow expansion of the network Establish an inquiry into which favourable fiscal regime is best as a means of improving the viability of New Zealand's shipping industry We consider Air New Zealand to be a key strategic asset
Support tolling, public private partnerships (PPPs) and other investment options for urgently-needed, high cost highways for which there is significant community support Levy extra road taxes on any vehicle with a poor star rating to encourage people to use more economic vehicles Promote research into alternative energy sources for transport, such as fuel cells Promote barging and coastal shipping services where economically viable as an alternative to land-based freight movement