Kerre Woodham: Back to reality, back to an election campaign

What a weekend of sport. 

It's been exhausting — and that's just watching it. The All Blacks, the Warriors, a new Wimbledon champion who looks to be beginning a new era in men's tennis, and we have the FIFA Women's world cup kicking off this Thursday. 

So, a lovely weekend of escapist exhilaration — and now it's back to reality. Back to an election campaign, and a busy weekend for our politicians. ACT released its list, Chris Hipkins announced Labour's campaign slogan ‘In it for you,’ and Christopher Luxon announced that National would be fixing potholes. 

Not terribly sexy as far as policy goes but that's exactly what I want to any new Government to be: a bit boring, nothing too sexy, and fixing stuff up. 

I drove to the Hokianga for the weekend, and there'd be half a billion dollars worth of potholes just on State Highway 12. He says he'll divert the money required to fix the potholes from reprioritising spending within the National Land Transport Programme, including a reduction in expenditure on blanket speed limit reductions, and excessive speed bump installations. And, the failed Road to Zero advertising campaign, which has cost us a pretty penny and has not delivered in terms of reducing road deaths. I had no idea speed bumps were so expensive to install, but speaking to the MHB this morning, National Party leader Chris Luxon pointed out a few speed bumps would definitely fill in a few potholes.

I find it interesting that Transport Minister David Parker is saying that National is proposing to fix a problem they themselves created. He says that National chose to freeze road maintenance funding during its time in office in order to fund high profile new highways. 

Oh, come on. 

For one thing, you just can't blame the government that came before you when you've had two terms. You've had six years to do something about the roads, but what have you done? Lowering speed limits, the light rail project, plans for a boomers bike bridge to Birkenhead that never came about, the Road to Zero campaign — lot of money there for a lot of potholes. 

You had the opportunity to do something about road maintenance Mr Parker, you just chose to spend that money on pet projects that have ultimately failed in every single respect.  

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