Timely indeed for National to release its transport policy, given that infrastructure groups are tearing their hair out, growing increasingly frustrated by the months-long delay in the Government publishing its direction for land transport.
We have been hearing about this for some time, the Government said yes, yes, yes, yes, it's coming.
They're putting the delay down to the fact that they have a new Transport Minister in David Parker, and he has to come up to speed with the portfolio after a former transport minister, Michael Wood, was sacked from his role as a minister. So they've said the plan should be released in August, three months after it's due, and five months after the previous draft statement in 2021 was released.
So we've known about this for a wee while, but Newsroom has spoken to the groups involved and they say the delay puts real pressure on the transport sector without knowing what they're supposed to be doing, what jobs are in the pipeline, they can't invest in the specialist equipment and personnel to carry out the jobs.
Effective, efficient roads are the arteries of this country.
You simply cannot clog them.
You cannot neglect them.
You cannot let them wither and die or the economy itself will die.
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Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast