The tarmac beneath the tyres is crucial to spreading money into the regions. Photo / NZME
In most regards, the dairy industry and the tourism industry - one the departing hero of the Kiwi economy, the other the reigning champ - are vastly different beasts, with vastly different requirements and outcomes.
Where dairying leaves our waterways filthy, tourism needs them clean. Where the dairy boom was
built on selling a basic, bulk commodity, tourism rides highest on the big money that comes with high-value, unique experiences.
But one area they have in common is the need for a half-decent system of roads. Both dairy and tourism have for many years been poorly served by New Zealand's shoddy infrastructure. Whether it's a milk tanker or a campervan, the tarmac beneath the tyres is crucial to spreading money into the regions.
State Highway 1 should have a minimum of two lanes from the top of the country to the bottom. Our economy needs visitors to feel safe and comfortable driving into the far-flung reaches of Aotearoa. That doesn't mean every road needs to be immaculately polished, but SH1 should be mint.
This easy cop-out is often cited: Our economy isn't big enough to fund an extensive network of high-quality roads. But we don't need an extensive network - let's just get the main artery right.
