Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has fended off a gathering storm that the Government intended to cement in place the continuation of tolls on Route K prior to the election.
A spokesman for Mr Brownlee, Nick Bryant, said the tolling scheme would not be considered by the Cabinet before the election.
He was responding to New Zealand First leader Winston Peters saying that things were moving fast on Route K since the announcement that the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) had agreed to take over the road's $62.5 million debt from Tauranga City Council.
Mr Peters cited a report to yesterday's Regional Transport Committee meeting that the Cabinet was seeking approval from the Governor General for a road tolling scheme prior to the election.
He accused the Government of playing "petty politics" because of New Zealand First's pledge to make the removal of tolls from Route K part of its negotiating position if Mr Peters ended up in talks to form a new Government.