“Late consultation and timing constraints mean it would not be cost-effective to implement tolling until well after the road’s completion, placing it outside the Government’s expectations for new road tolling.”
However, Brown also announced three other highways around the country would be tolled in future including in Levin - on the way to Wellington - and Auckland and Tauranga.
Dannevirke community leader Mavis Mullins, who is also the Rangitane Charitable Trust iwi chairwoman, said it was overall good news for the region.
“Feeling very pleased, it is a nice Christmas present,” she said.
“People really activated and we got the right result.
“The Minister listened, he took notice and we are really pleased about that - we’re grateful.”
She said if the toll went ahead it would have a lot of negative impacts, including Dannevirke and Woodville locals' access to Palmerston North Regional Hospital.
“It was going to be quite an effort especially for those who need to travel for health reasons and specialist appointments.
“If one of your family members is in hospital, you are stuck with that backwards and forwards toll if it were there.”
She said business people on either side of the ranges would have also been negatively impacted.
“I just don’t think there was true appreciation of what the impact would be.”
She said iwi had also collaborated closely with Waka Kotahi NZTA in the early stages of the highway development, and “it came as a shock out of the blue” that a toll was being considered.
Tararua Mayor Tracey Collis, who fought against the proposal, said it "didn’t make sense for this road“.
“Thank you to NZTA, Minister Simeon Brown and Cabinet for listening to our community,” she said.
“We are yet to hear how many people made submissions but based on the turnout at public meetings and the response in the community, we know it was a lot.
“The response to this toll proposal shows just how strongly people feel about Te Ahu a Turanga and its original intent as a replacement route that would be free for everyone.”
Manager of Hawke’s Bay Heavy Haul Steve Toki, which is a trucking company based in Hastings, said “it is good to hear”.
He said his company will use that new highway two or three times a week when it opens, and they currently use Saddle Rd.
He said it would save them a lot of money in the long run not having a toll.
Rangitīkei MP Suze Redmayne and Wairarapa MP Mike Butterick said it had been encouraging to see locals and businesses take part in a robust consultation process.
“This critical four-lane motorway over the hills, which was initiated under the previous National Government, will enable locals, businesses, and visitors to our region to get where they want to go, quickly and safely,” they said, in a joint statement.
In 2017, a major slip left SH3 through the Manawatū Gorge impassable, which led to plans for a new road.
The Manawatū Tararua Highway is being built over the Ruahine Range, between Woodville and Ashhurst.
Gary Hamilton-Irvine is a Hawke’s Bay-based reporter who covers a range of news topics including business, councils, breaking news and cyclone recovery. He formerly worked at News Corp Australia.
