KEY POINTS:
Motorists face the prospect of more toll roads if National wins the next election, the party's transport spokesman said today.
Maurice Williamson said there was an urgent need to tackle traffic snarl-ups throughout the country and he raised the prospect of more tolling and more private sector involvement in major roading policies to fix the problem.
This forum debate has now closed. Here is a selection of your views on the topic.
Neville (Tauranga)
I live in a city that has had tolls and it was supposed to pay for a bridge to fix the traffic flow and it is such a mess as the bridge was too small to start with and should have put a 4lane in at the start .it can take up to half an hour plus to go to the Mount at peak time or visa versa to Tauranga. We have got an express way and it is a white elephant so who wants to pay for a road that should come out of the tax in petrol and other ways? Yes why should the rest of NZ prop up Aucklands problems as all cities have the same problem in roading? The contractors have put the prices up to high as they know that we need roads.go back to the old MOW as they decent roads.
Frank
Yes to toll roads but present the whole picture of financing roading,so that people can see the benefit of toll roads, ie user pays, but lets not continue to pay three or four times for the same thing, ie we already pay dearly through petrol taxes which are just siphoned off into the consolidated fund. The present rhetoric just seems to be politicians trying to score points, sounds good but achieves nothing.
Auckland
Forget about tolling or increasing road infrastructure - it will have no affect. Nothing will work better than an improved, comprehensive and reliable public transport system. This will reduce the cost of travel, improve gas emissions, lower the number of vehicles on the road, decrease accidents, decrease acc payouts, reduce man-hours wasted, etc.
Jeff
Alan my dear friend from Malaysia, National introducing a 4 day week is as likely as the Greens advocating we take the worlds nuclear waste, totally against their philosphy. They are not the party for the worker but for big business, and that is what this mad idea from Maurice is about, using our tax dollars to line the pockets of their mates, like they did with the railways and many other public assets.
Raj Subramanian
As I have mentioned previously we need roads, we need them now. Then what is the quickest way. Transit's road-tax is not acceptable to the concerned people. Road tolls failed in opinion polls. At this point I would suggest that the newspapers conduct a poll with all alternatives available to find out which is desirable. One dimensional opinion polls are long overdue to be replaced with positive polls. Can the newspapers and pollsters think differently from now on to find the best fit?
Nicky (AK City)
Auckland has buses and bus lanes already for use during the peak times, but too often, people are avoiding the public transport system for the "luxury" and "comfort" of a private car. If road users are going to complain that there's no efficient public transport system and this is why they're driving, then it's a load of rubbish. The public transport companies are businesses too - if the demand is there then it's in their best interests too to add better services. When there's no demand because everyone is in their cars then there is no point in the public transport owners putting better systems in place, better buses on the roads, or more trains running - because you won't use them anyway.
Auckland
Take a look at other countries where tolls have been introduced alongside private funded roads. Better roads and less congestion than NZ
Rob
Re-regulate cabs, move to govt control/ownership, lower their costs to more realistic levels (e.g. Singapore rates). Build more effective rail networks (with govt ownership) and make them safe and crime-free.
Tariff all cars entering a 2km radius of Auckland city (50c to $2 peak time, free off-peak). Widen the Southern motorway to 10 lanes. Re-synchronize inner city traffic lights to facilitate better peak traffic flows. Fund all of this in a non-inflationary way via work-for-dole scheme etc.Nice...
Andrew Atkin
Yes, of course. You will not find an honest traffic engineer on the face of this earth that will tell you that can get on top of congestion in Auckland without tolling. However, tolls on key roads should only be just enough to control congestion - not collect revenue. The objective is demand control.
Cameron
I notice in the Maurice Williamson comments about road tolling he didnt say we will build new roads and toll them. Just they would toll roads.
The troll under the bridge
Agree. Provided I am provided with more comfortable accommodation. I've had enough of sleeping on all the rubbish people throw out of their cars. I want a comfy unit, a plasma tele and a beer fridge.
Amy L
Toll roads would be a great idea but we can also look at reducing the number of cars by encouraging shared cars like the M3 system in Australia. Improving public transportation should be as important to reduce cars on the road, thus reducing pollution making New Zealand a cleaner and greener country (as it is seen to be in other countries).
Arron
Williamson came up with this hair-brained idea years ago and was shot down in flames by the public and hopefully will be again. Doesn't he know that tolls are an inefficient way to collect revenue where about a third of the cash goes to fund administration? I thought National was committed to getting rid of the bureaucracy and inefficient fat introduced by Labour, not adding to it? With clowns like Williamson in power next year when the commies are voted out, I won't be holding my breath for any improvements in sinking ship NZ.
Matt Jeffs (ex pat in UK)
While the Nats are finally waking up to the idea that there needs to be public investment into the transport network it is also somewhat hilarious that they have conveniently forgotten that it was the Nats lack of investment into roads, trains & buses during the 90's that has led NZ's major cities to near gridlock at peak times. The problem I see with simply throwing more money to build more roads is that these will in the near future become congested also. As a relatively small country, and due to our geographic nature we have limited space to build and any sort of extensive road network. I also find the Nats a bit out of step with environmental issues at present. Surely investing in clean operating trains for Auckland & Wellington and giving NZers less reasons to rely on the carbon-belching car a more responsible stance to take.
Steve Boston
Setting up toll roads to relieve traffic congestion, as suggested by National is a bad idea and will not work. I'm a kiwi who lives in Boston. At rush hour, the major tolled arterial road, the Mass Turnpike, is the always most jammed road and the one to avoid.
Peter Watkins
To all the non-Aucklanders who support the Auckland toll option, here's another one. How about we allocate the revenue from existing petrol tax to roading projects, with each region receiving the amount of tax generated from that region. How do you like them user-pays apples?
Dave
The introduction of toll roads seems one step towards privatisation and Maurice Williamson and Nats have had that on their agenda for many years. I think the price they placed on them was $26 billion then. It is not irrelevant to look at other privatisations and asset sales which over many years have really solved nothing. Overseas involvement, so-called investments and takeovers, are made for one specific purpose, to make as big a profit as is possible by any means available. Telecom is the best example we have but there are many more. The tales of privatisation of water in some parts of the world are horrific and involve lies, litigation, and extortion. The more important the service that is privatised the less satisfactory is the outcome. Worldwide there are reversals to public ownership because of privatisation failures. Governments failing to provide essential services over the years, mismanaging taxpayers funds, should not be allowed to wriggle out of their responsibility by selling the problem. What were they elected to do? What were they paid for? In spite of major asset sales and takeovers NZ debt, at the end of last year was reported as over ten times the 1984 figure. Debt is now reported as $182 billion and well on the way to double our GDP. Toll roads is but one ingredient to become an election issue but who can trust any party to guard New Zealand interests and restore sanity.
Kiwi Lisa (Auckland)
National have always been a rather sneaky lot. First, they talk of reducing taxes and making a heaven for anyone voting for that sorry lot. But, my dear fellow Kiwis, don't believe one little bit what National says before an election, because as soon as they are in office (may it never happen) they will add other taxes, such as e.g. toll roads, toll bridges, additional GST etc, etc, etc. too fill up the government coffers. Because, no government can run a country in a satisfactory manner without taxation. So, if you believe all National's smart pre-election promises you'll end up a sorry fool, like so many times before.
Mark (Auckland)
Good Grief, as the other guy said. Just when National gain some real support they go and blow it with this ridiculous idea. Wayne Mapp already brought this up and quickly dropped it (publicly at least). Also, iIagree, the emergency service management is a disgrace, how can they justify closing roads, motorways for accidents. Has anyone studied the economic and other related human costs of motorways blocked for crash investigation purposes. In Japan and LA, the motorways and bridges are actually lined with walls, no distractions and traffic flows nicely, accidents...mobile walls erected first, cleaned up and quickly! How has the needs of the few so massively swamped the needs of the many in so many aspects of life in New Zealand?
Alan
I am from Malaysia and I must admit even a small developing country like Malaysia has better highway than New Zealand. I was in the US in the 1980s and already the road system there was amazing. Certainly NZ is lagging behind and if tolling roads would speed up development, I would support it. What NZ need is major highway connecting the cities that would bring up the economy! How many hours and fuel are wasted each day with the traffic crawl? How about 4 days work week when National is voted in! That would cut down the time wasting on the road! Thanks for listening.
Andrew (Wgtn)
If it gets the job done then fine. But first I want to see a broad strategy that actually details the end-result transport network - ie. what will we actually end up with? On congestion charges - these only work in places like London because they have a good bus network and the tube in place. Auckland doesnt have good public transport, until it does, it would be unfair to put a congestion charge on. Welington's public transport is good - but is now at breaking point, its now too crowded at peak times. Public transport needs to be a priority.
Alwin
Just when I think the Nats are getting ahead, some plonker will come up with hair-brained scheme like this. NZers are over taxed, have high interest rates and low wages. When is it going to sink into the heads of the so-called leaders of this country that we are bleeding and cannot afford to live anymore. Keep petrol taxes, rego fees for roads and all will be good. Transit is a costly overhead, get rid of it. Last person out of NZ, put the lights off please.
Bruce
I assume that the significant tax component already collected from each petrol purchase, and intended to fund roading, will be dropped in favour of the suggested toll. If not, then why the hell is this tax being collected? Millions of dollars are collected daily and clearly not being used as intended if tolls have to be charged as well.
VB
This is another easy call for a politicians soap box, what will be Maurice's position if National are once again in power. Another change of tune no doubt. Of course the country as a whole needs to have this issue addressed, and various attempts have been put in place over the years by all political parties. The most significant one that comes to mind is the considerable amount of money coming from petrol and diesel sales. Where have the hundreds of millions gone? Clearly not all has been used for the intended purpose, hence the problem continues. Perhaps lining the pockets of privately owned infrastructure companies has a higher priority than adding value for the tax payers. Two good examples of this are the bus lanes for Auckland motorways and the train system in Auckland. The only winners of either of these are the ones developing and maintaining them.
Mr Williamson remarks about traffic coming to a stop if there's an accident of something. More often or not the congestion is directly related to how the police and other emergency services handle the situation. How many times have motorways been closed for hours with absolutely no regard for the massive impact on the people and the economy? I am not suggesting the emergency services people do not do a good job. They do and in very stressful situations. But they do need to take a serious look at their management of such situations. More roads or charging people more to use them will not sort this one our Maurice. Congestion charges are nothing less than straight out theft. Every tax and ratepayer has contributed significant amounts to use what infrastructure we currently have. For elected politicians to them decide without consultation with the people to start charge another tax to use these areas is legalised theft, and we the ordinary people are the stupid ones for letting them get away with it.
NO (Auckland)
No to more toll roads if the Nats get in, and No to the Nats getting in too! Use the surpluses to build better roads.
Cameron Pitches
Why is Maurice taking this tired old line? The Government has guaranteed funds for road building for the next six years, and has embarked on the biggest road building programme the country has ever seen. There is no guarantee that increased private involvement will provide any benefit to the tax payer. The theory is that Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) are better because the public sector is relieved of the responsibility of raising the capital, and the private sector bear the risk of the project. But no consortium of bankers, design consultants and engineering contractors are going to take this risk without extracting a large profit. This profit will only come from the taxpayer's pocket. To guarantee the profit, restrictions can be placed on the use of the road. In the case of the Sydney harbour tunnel, for instance, alternative routes were closed to force traffic through the tunnel. We deserve a better transport policy than this from National. Why not mention public transport, for instance? Or peak oil? Or greenhouse gases? Or electrification of the rail network? Or anything but the privatisation of roads?
Peter Helms
Toll roading for road building is a 1960 solution to a 2007+ problem. What is needed is investment in public transport infrastructure, not more roads. More private sector involvement is also an outdated approach. What is needed is government investment in excellent rail services like in developed countries. The private sector might help build the systems but there is no way on earth they could get a ROIU based on normal business accounting. National's proposal is not helpful.
Roaduser from south of Bombay Hill
Way to go. Should definitely be user pays. Why should Sth Islanders pay for North Islanders, and vice versa?
Suzette
No way, not now, not ever. We pay for our road usage in 101 different ways already, no way do I support the hassle or cost of tolls, as a road user or a business owner.
Rodel Velasco
I have suggestion regarding traffic congestions, morning and afternoon. Why not implement what other countries doing to fight traffic jam? Example no trucks between 7am to 9am and 4pm to 6pm in our motorways.
Miriam (Christchurch)
I do not think we should be considering toll roads. It doesn't matter how many more roads we build or how many we widen to take more traffic, the snarl-up will occur as we approach the city. This is happening in most NZ cities at present. The best decision would be to have bus lanes on our busy roads and more buses. It would be much quicker and less strain on the nerves. We just have to get used to the idea that it is easier to travel by bus. Use the money allocated for roads to buy buses and subside bus fares.
