Comments on: History repeats – National screws Auckland rail for the third time

By: Dash

Dash — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 05:13:45 +0000

An initllegent answer – no BS – which makes a pleasant change

By: Mike Lee

Mike Lee — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:06:02 +0000

Thanks Warrick – will keep trying,

By: John Ryall

John Ryall — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:41:28 +0000

Despite being a Wellingtonian I wholeheartedly agree with your view that this narrow-minded National Government view is a repeat of the disastrous decisions of the past that Aucklanders and the rest of us, who rely on the health of our biggest city, will have to live with for years to come.

By: donna

donna — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:18:02 +0000

This must become an election issue. The Minister is prepared to squander billions on unnecessary road projects, including the ridiculous holiday highway. At the same time he has reorganised land transport funding so that the land transport fund no longer funds metro rail. This is a bone to the road freight industry, and Auckland’s ratepayers are being ripped off.
Squeezing out the region’s public transport, cycling and walking funding will not make Auckland more productive, more efficient, or liveable, or world class. It will make it a place people want to leave. If Mr Joyce needs some inspiration for what a liveable city might actually look like, he should check this out:
http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/.

By: Feijoa

Feijoa — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 08:27:20 +0000

I don’t know about becoming an independent state, but Aucklanders have the power with their vote to get rid of the short-term/rear vision National Party. Even the AA has to admit it is rail projects people want, not more motorways in every direction. Steven Joyce, John Key, etc. show no ability to respond to this changed landscape.

The only hope I have is knowing their are people like you and Len in charge in Auckland, Mike. Keep up the good work!

By: Chris Harris

Chris Harris — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:38:44 +0000

It certainly is adequate reason for restoring a measure of genuine provincial government and allowing Auckland more sovereignty over how it spends tax dollars that have been raised locally (roughly 1/3 of NZ’s total tax take). The mainstream media and the Govt are always making out that Auckland is going cap in hand to Wellington over this–Wellington having some mysterious pot of gold–when the reality is that Wellington (that is, the NZ Govt) takes our money and spends it as they like, even on local issues. This is close to the old rallying cry, “No taxation without representation.” Given that rail is a local issue, it should be up to the Aucklanders. End of story.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:11:25 +0000

I don’t think that’s quite right this time.

This is the third time that a National-led government has intended to screw Auckland rail, but unlike the last two times, this one will not be entirely successful as part of this needed upgrade is already well underway, and even Joyce knows that to cancel everything would be politically harmful. The “best” they can do is to delay it.

Also, while certainly not ideal, this time around we actually have the capability to build this ourselves, although personally I don’t know whether building the CBD tunnel, and the economic benefits it will bring, is worth giving up council ownership of the Ports or Airport. If we do go down that track, we must ensure that the tunnel and its economic benefits are protected from exploitation by both Wellington and the private sector – it, and indeed all of Auckland metro rail, needs to be protected from a potentially re-privatised KiwiRail.

By: Chris Randal

Chris Randal — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:28:25 +0000

Mike, this is adequate reason for Auckland to become a sovereign state and it needs to be done as part of the general election debate.

My feeling is that National regrets allowing Hide to push through the Super City and they are retaliating by making sure that Auckland knows absolutely who is boss.