The transport policies of the eight parties in Parliament are compared in the table below.
The Herald is covering all the major policy areas in a series running throughout the election campaign.
| Party | Policy | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | Boost rail for freight and passengers, including Auckland electrification and network expansions such as underground city loop and Waitemata Harbour tunnels. Boost public transport use by 4-5 per cent annually towards halving domestic transport emissions per capita by 2040. Some road tolls, around $2. Infrastructure bonds and possible public private partnerships (PPPs). | |
| National | Develop transport projects to 20-year national infrastructure plan, and raise $2.2 billion in extra Crown debt for these in first six years. Give priority to Roads of National Significance, including fast-track resource consents. More PPPs and infrastructure bonds targeted to specific projects. Some road tolls, around $2. Improve public transport, including basic Auckland rail electrification. | |
| NZ First | No privatisation of roads or rail tracks. Support tolls as last resort, after funding from fuel excise and loans, ideally from Superannuation Fund. Upgrade highways, particularly to ports. Improve rural roading. Allocate speed camera revenue to driver-safety education. Confiscate driver licences for road rage offences. | |
| Greens | Reverse funding priorities, to complete public transport networks before more roads. Road funds to complete half-built projects and maintain existing network only. Trial "congestion" and polluter-pays" road charges, but no tolls before adequate public transport alternatives. $1 fares for off-peak public transport for all ages except free-riding pensioners. | |
| Maori Party | Better public transport to reduce emissions. Promote emission-free vehicles. Reduce dependence on imported oil. Ask Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment to convene urgent cross-party talks to assess potential impact of decline of cheap oil supplies on Aotearoa. Assess transport projects against cultural, social, environmental and economic criteria. | |
| United Future | Tolls and public private partnerships for urgent roading needs, but only to top up Government funds. Extra taxes on inefficient vehicles. Allocate high proportions of fuel tax to roads in regions where collected. Increase Government subsidies for local roads. Upgrade commuter buses and rail. Raise learner driver age to 16. | |
| Act | Better transport networks. Replace road user charges and fuel excise with tolls, discounted at off-peak times, to smooth demand and reduce traffic bottlenecks. Consider full privatisation of transport infrastructure, rather than "convoluted second-best solution" of PPPs, but retain regulatory role for Government. Better align transport to land-use planning. | |
| Progressive | Support strong publicly-owned transport infrastructure for fair access for all New Zealanders, including KiwiRail, Air NZ. public transport and roading, but tolls acceptable for new roads where suitable free alternative available. Strengthen Commerce Commission monitoring of oil "oligopoly" to ensure overseas price reductions flow to motorists. | |
