Finance minister Grant Robertson addresses the Northland Chamber of Commerce meeting yesterday. Photo / David Fisher
Finance minister Grant Robertson addresses the Northland Chamber of Commerce meeting yesterday. Photo / David Fisher
"I don't know if they're really telling you what they feel," said Steve Smith, chief executive of the Northland Chamber of Commerce.
With that, he told Finance minister Grant Robertson that the Government's decision to drop plans to upgrade State Highway 1 between Whangārei and Port Marsden Highway was "unacceptable".
At a meeting with Robertson in Whangārei yesterday, Smith said: "The North is an island." Having lost the highway expansion, it left rail as the primary infrastructure investment.
"At this point in time, the entire investment in the infrastructure has no value to Northland. It is entirely for the benefit of Auckland."
How, he asked, could the North take its place on a level footing with other regions without greater spending on infrastructure?
Until that point, there wasn't a unified voice out of the gathering of 60 people in central Whangārei.
Rather, Robertson faced questions about welfare increases, relations with China and hiring temporary workers from other countries following Robertson's presentation on the recent Budget.
On the highway, Robertson said: "I do acknowledge there will be people in the room who will be disappointed."
Judging by the applause Smith's question garnered, that number was all of them.
It was a strong showing from the Government, with Robertson introduced by Whangārei MP Dr Emily Henderson and Northland's Willow Jean Prime looking on.
NorthChamber chief executive Stephen Smith told Grant Robertson the loss of the four-lane highway was 'unacceptable' Photo / File
Also present - albeit less visible at the back of the room - was Kelvin Davis, Te Tai Tokerau MP and government minister for Māori Crown Relations, Children and Corrections.
In an interview with the Advocate afterwards, Robertson said he had not driven to the North. He flew into Kerikeri, drove to Kawakawa then Whangārei, from where he would fly out.
On his travels, Robertson said he had passed through some of the recently built roundabouts which showed there was ongoing investment in roads.
"I acknowledged it up front," he said of the canned highway. "I know people are disappointed."
Robertson sought to draw a distinction between the National Land Transport Fund and the New Zealand Upgrade Programme, which blew out by $6 billion and led to six projects including the Whangārei highway to being dropped.
"The National Land Transport Fund still continues. So there will still be projects funded over the years in this region. An enormous amount of money has gone into maintaining our state highway network and improving the roading network."
The four-lane section of State Highway 1 intended for Northland was canned along with five other projects. Photo / Tania Whyte
Instead, it was money that would go into the rail spur. "This project, we felt, would be the best outcome for the region."
Robertson said he accepted that Northland was the only region in the country connected by just one lane north and another heading south.
"It's a region that does a lot of important things for New Zealand. It has not in the past got the investment it should have.
"I don't think until the last four years we have given Northland the attention it needed and needs in these areas. I think we are doing that now."
