Greens to help implement cycleway policy

The Green Party will work with the Government to implement a nationwide cycleway after its support for the project was added to its memorandum of understanding with the Government, signed last month.

A plan to invest $50 million in the New Zealand Cycleway Project over three years would be announced in the Budget later this month, Prime Minister John Key said last week.

The idea, which came out of February's jobs summit, was originally intended as a cycleway spanning the length of the country but would now be made up of a series of "Great Rides" similar to the Otago Rail Trail, with a long-term aid of creating a network throughout the country, Mr Key said.

The cycleway would create jobs and draw tourists, while the Green Party said it would benefit the environment.

International cycle tourists spent around $199 million during their stays in New Zealand last year.

Mr Key today welcomed the Green Party's support, saying he was looking forward to their input into the project.

Green Party tourism spokesperson Kevin Hague said the cycling community had helped formulate a sound plan for the cycleway and the key work now would be on funding and implementing the project.

The agreement to support the cycleway initiative had been added to the memorandum between the two parties, under which they earlier committed to working on policy initiatives in areas of common interest including home insulation, energy efficiency and the regulation of natural health products.

- NZPA