"By his standard, how is it okay for him to demand specific projects in Auckland, including his promise for light rail to service the Prime Minister's electorate? An Auckland light rail network that Northlanders will be taxed more at the pump to pay for while their own SH1 upgrade sits stalled?"
Mr Goldsmith said Mr Twyford's colleague, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones, was hand-picking "pork barrel" transport projects down the road from his own house (in Kerikeri).
"This government has obviously decided to replace meaningful infrastructure investment in regional New Zealand that will encourage development with Santa Claus Jones wandering around giving bits of money to a few pet projects," he said.
"It's a roundabout here, a church renovation there, the odd passing lane. But large meaningful transport investments that grow regions and transform lives are out the window.
"Cancellation of upgrading SH1 into Northland is another example of the government giving a little bit with one hand and taking away much more from the regions with the other. They are running a giant confidence trick against regional New Zealand, and people in our regions are rapidly starting to see it."
