Brown said the NZUP, which Roads of Regional Significance (Rons) and Roads of National Significance (Rors) projects will replace, was subject to “significant cost blowouts that resulted in project cancellations and delays across the country”.
“When we came to government, we were advised that there would be a significant funding gap of up to $1.5 billion to deliver the NZUP projects. This is in addition to the cost increases which resulted in major project cancellations under the previous Government, such as Mill Rd.”
However, Labour’s transport spokesman Tangi Utikere said the NZUP had funded public transport, rail, hospital and school projects designed to boost productivity and long-term growth.
“This is another example of National throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” Utikere said.
“The Government needs to be transparent about the future of other areas that were overdue for investment, and where the schools and hospitals designated funding will be funded from now.”
Utikere said moving the decision-making responsibility from Government ministers to NZTA, at a time when the public service is experiencing cuts, would make this challenging for the public sector.
Brown said ministers would no longer be determining transport project scope and funding decisions because he believed it was leading to project delays under the previous Government.
“We are therefore changing how decisions are made on these projects and NZTA will be progressing with two Rons and 10 Rors. Two further projects will now be incorporated into the Mill Rd and Whangārei to Port Marsden Roads of National Significance listed in the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2024,” Brown said.
“In order to continue to deliver these projects, difficult decisions were made to keep costs within the existing $6.54 billion funding. We have made clear to NZTA that it must deliver these projects within the existing funding envelope, as there will be no additional Crown funding.
“Our Government will deliver a transport system that boosts productivity and economic growth and allows New Zealanders to get to where they want to go, quickly and safely. Prioritising the delivery of roading investment across New Zealand is part of our plan to boost productivity and rebuild the economy.”
Brown has made a series of transport announcements in the past few months, including relating to airport security, a new NZTA app for drivers’ licences, the Roads of National Significant strategy and proposals for a new Wellington tunnel and a new speed limit on the Kāpiti Expressway.
Roads of Regional Significance
- Penlink
- Waihoehoe Rd
- SH1 Papakura to Drury
- SH1/29 Intersection
- SH58 Improvements Stage 2
- Melling
- Canterbury Package: Rural Intersections
- Canterbury Package: Rolleston Upgrade
- Canterbury Package: Halswell
- Queenstown package
Roads of National Significance
- Takitimu North Link Stage 1
- Ōtaki to North of Levin
