Media statement
For immediate release
Friday, 1 July 2005
Dunne: Is Labour about to shaft Wellington?
Ohariu-Belmont MP and United Future leader Peter Dunne says if today’s front-page Dompost report about Wellington
roading is accurate, then it would represent a gross betrayal of Wellington by the Labour-led Government.
The paper quotes Government sources as saying that the Government will announce next Tuesday it will make money
available for a rail network upgrade and improvements to Centennial Highway along the Kapiti coast, but will not make
any commitment towards building a motorway through Transmission Gully.
Mr Dunne said “The Government has said before it will go ahead with these plans provided the region’s mayors all agree
on a common plan.
“The mayors are meeting on Monday and this will be their opportunity to show courage and leadership and tell the
Government with one voice that the economic future of the entire Wellington-Kapiti-Wairarapa-Horowhenua region depends
on a 21st century transport infrastructure.
“Widening the coastal highway will not achieve that outcome because it will be tied up for years getting all the
necessary consents, since a realistic route will mean the destruction of the coastline and the disappearance of Ngati
Toa Domain.
“And who knows how many taniwha are currently packing their bags to move to the Kapiti Coast as we speak?
“Even if the Government were to bulldoze the consents through, as I believe they are planning to do, widening the
highway will still take years because it’s in an earthquake and flood-prone area.
“Meanwhile, the economic activity of the lower North Island will continue to be strangled because of a substandard
transport infrastructure.
“If the DomPost is accurate, then I predict the backlash against Labour MP’s in the region will be considerable.
“I feel sorry for Labour MP’s Winnie Laban in Mana and Darren Hughes in Otaki whose political futures appear to have
been sacrificed by their Cabinet colleagues in the interests of Labour’s wider aspirations.
“Wellington Cabinet Ministers Trevor Mallard, Paul Swain, Marion Hobbs and Annette King must take some of the
responsibility if this disastrous short-term solution is agreed to, as it is intended solely to make Labour look like
it’s doing something before the election and has nothing to do with a commonsense long-term solution to the lower North
Island’s vital commercial and people transport links.”
ENDS