Peters yet to act on promises made to Northland

Winston Peters. Photo / John Borren

More than two months after the Northland byelection the electorate's new MP Winston Peters is yet to make any approaches on the promise he made to introduce SuperGold Card free ferry travel in the Bay of Islands and Hokianga.

At a public meeting in Paihia two days before the byelection, Mr Peters was asked about the lack of GoldCard concessions in the north. He said it was unfair Aucklanders benefited from free ferry rides to Waiheke and Northlanders should get the same for Paihia-Russell and Rawene to Kohukohu.

"I'll get you a Gold Card across there. But it goes like this: you've got to vote for us first."

Northlanders kept their side of that bargain but Mr Peters admitted yesterday he had not yet approached ministers about the SuperGold Card or sought to have the ferry rides included in this year's Budget.

"I have been flat out putting together a package of things I am going to be approaching the Government on and ensuring I have all my t's crossed and i's dotted."

He said it was pointless trying to get it in this year's Budget because the details would have been worked out well before the byelection at the end of March.

Since the byelection Mr Peters has called for National to act on its promises to upgrade the bridges in the region and yesterday berated Prime Minister John Key in Parliament for the low standard of classrooms at Northland College.

The GoldCard promise was one of many proposals Peters raised as part of his effort to turn Northland into "the Florida of New Zealand". Mr Peters said he had discussed some of those with Far North Mayor John Carter and the Northland Regional Council, including boosting Whangarei Port and the GoldCard travel concessions.

Far North mayor and former Northland MP John Carter said he had met Mr Peters and while they had not discussed the SuperGold Card in any detail he was aware Mr Peters had "mentioned it in passing".

The Government spends $1.6 million for Fullers to provide free ferry rides to Waiheke Island and $300,000 for Sealink's car ferry. The only ferry-related concession in Northland was a free beer or wine on Darryl's Dinner Cruise to the Haruru Falls - which the company paid for.

Charles Parker, the general manager of Fullers GreatSights in Paihia, said the company had inquired about joining the Gold Card scheme in the past but was told there was only a small budget for Northland and it was allocated to Whangarei City Bus services.

Mr Peters is yet to open an office in the electorate but said he was about to do so in Kerikeri after it was refitted to meet security standards.