Media Release – for immediate release
21 December 2009
Contractors herald Government commitment
The New Zealand Contractors’ Federation has welcomed confirmation of the final alignment of Auckland’s Western Ring
Route and praised the Government’s commitment to lifting New Zealand’s productivity.
NZCF Chief Executive Jeremy Sole said the civil construction industry needed the strong sense of commitment and
certainty the Government was providing to enable it to hold fast during the current difficult economic period and plan
for the future.
“Stephen Joyce has once again shown that he is serious about improving New Zealand’s productivity and that this is not
just rhetoric about growth,” said Mr Sole.
“Having certainty around the Wellington routes has been a Christmas blessing for the contracting industry and the strong
progress shown in Auckland today reinforces a deep commitment on the part of the Government.”
Mr Sole said that, while these projects were confirmed, many were still one to three years away from the start of
construction. He said the industry had been engaging with the Minister to ensure the allocated local road and minor
project funds were released as soon as possible and in their entirety. This would mean there was enough work available
to ensure the industry was in a robust state and had the capacity to deliver when the major projects were ready for
construction.
ENDS