Winston Peters slams Government's roading record in Bay of Plenty

Winston Peters says it is "seriously embarrassing" that Tauranga is still trying to get the Government to help pay to four-lane Turret Rd and 15th Ave.

Mr Peters slammed the Government's Tauranga roading record during a speech in the city yesterday, but Tauranga's MP Simon Bridges says National had achieved more for roads in the region than Mr Peters ever did.

Speaking at the Tauranga Yacht Club, Mr Peters said seeing a headline about the four-laning issue in yesterday's Bay of Plenty Times gave him "a sense of deja vu".

"I wonder why, this close to the election, we have the same heading for the umpteenth time since I left here," the former MP for Tauranga said.

Mr Peters said National made promises in 2008, 2011 and 2014 to widen the roads and bridge.

"It's 2017 and they haven't built one metre."

He said completion of the Welcome Bay underpass was due next year, a decade later than promised.

"And all that has done is move the congestion point 300m down the road."

He questioned why Route K was still a toll road, and why Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty had two of New Zealand's three toll roads.

Mr Peters said that in his time as Tauranga MP he built two harbour bridges, both toll-free.

Among the more than 100 people hearing Mr Peter's speech were Tauranga councillors Bill Granger and Rich Curach.

Mr Granger asked Mr Peters what he would do to help put pressure on the Government to make the long-promised Turret Rd and 15th Ave upgrade happen.

Mr Peters replied saying the fact the issue was still making headlines "smacks of Government hypocrisy".

He told the crowd: "I'll do something for you if you do something for me."

He said he and his party needed votes in Tauranga.

Mr Granger said it was not the answer he had hoped for.

Mr Bridges said last night that New Zealand First was "all talk".

"National has delivered more in the last nine years than Winston ever did."

He said the Government had already spent tens of millions on improving the Turret Rd and Welcome Bay transport corridor, and that people could see the improvements.

On toll roads, he said people had been canvassed before both of the toll roads were introduced and the results favoured tolls.

"If it brought the roads forward people were prepared for there to be tolls.

"I am confident the people of Tauranga know that National has delivered."