The Germans have cracked on to a nice little scheme to get tourists to directly fund major infrastructure. From 2016, visitors to the land of the autobahn and large men in leather shorts will have to pay to drive on the roads.
It's not a huge charge (about $15.50 for a 10-day pass, $30 for two months of driving and around $160 for a full year), but this permit scheme ticks some nice boxes and could be used in New Zealand to kickstart funding on our most important roads.
It's expected to put about $3.8 billion into the German public coffers over four years. Of course, a similar fund here would be small by comparison, but you have to start somewhere. How about a simple scheme putting in place a $50 permit for a full year's worth of driving? The money raised could go into a protected fund, ring-fenced from other spending.
Many tourists on these shores rely on (and clog up) the roads from Cape Reinga to Bluff. It seems fair they should chip in for maintenance and improvements.
Reader feedback to recent Travel stories about the poor condition of State Highway 1 suggests people would like to see our main artery really pumping.
