Government Road Reform

A Better Alternative

The main principles necessary for a roading and transport system which will be fair and equitable to all road users and to the communities served by the road network include:

National funding to maintain all our roads

Management through local democracy.

In practice, this would mean:

National minimum standards for roads, fully funded from a national pool of petrol taxes and road user charges.

Improvements to be funded through national, regional or local funding, raised from petrol taxes and rates.

Integrated management of all roading and transport issues.

Ratepayers continuing to pay a proportion of the cost of roads, but at a greatly reduced level.

Users paying for their fair share of the cost.

Communities continuing to exercise their democratic control of a ’not- for- profit’ transport system in their local area.

Decisions on local road improvements being made by local communities.

Local authority roading managers being able to form joint management ventures with neighbouring councils to increase efficiency.

Christchurch City Council - and other Canterbury and West Coast councils, plus a number of councils in other regions - is committed to these principles, which will provide better value for money for local communities, be more likely to maintain acceptable standards and ensure that control of the roads remains with the local communities which use them.

Public Opinion Opposed to Government Plans
Recent nationwide research shows that only one in 20 New Zealanders is aware of and supports the Government’s roading reform proposals. Only 35 per cent of the 800 surveyed were aware of the plans. Of this group, just 15 per cent viewed the reforms favourably.

The survey showed that, of those aware of the planned changes, key concerns are that the Government’s proposals will lead to higher costs for road users and transportation, and a drop in roading standards — particularly in rural areas. The same group considered that rural communities, the general public, road users and low income earners would be most disadvantaged by the planned changes.

Over 60 per cent of respondents throughout New Zealand feel that their community has not had enough input into the Government’s plans. An overwhelming majority 91 per cent say that managers of the roading network should represent and be fully accountable to local communities, while 70 per cent believe local authorities to be the most appropriate managers of the roading network.

Choose from one of these local MPs
Jim Anderton MP
Tim Barnett MP
Gerry Brownlee MP
Hon David Carter MP
Lianne Dalziel MP
Rod Donald MP
Ruth Dyson MP
Dr Liz Gordon MP
Marian Hobbs MP
Major Ron Mark
SSF MP
Rt Hon Mike Moore MP
Alec Neill MP
Hon Derek Quigley MP
Larry Sutherland MP
Pansy Wong MP
John Wright MP
Tutekawa Wylie MP

Why Commercialising Our Roads Will Not Work
At the core of the Government’s plans to reform our roads is a proposal to transfer New Zealand’s $23 billion 90,000 km road network to commercial control. The plan published last December clearly demonstrates that the Government favours the control and management of our streets by a few commercially driven, profit- motivated companies.

Whether or not these companies are ultimately in public or private ownership, the commercial pressures governing them will have the same result for communities and motorists.

Unlike the Telecom or electricity networks, city streets and rural roads are far more than simply utilities. Roads define a city or region. Activity on them has a huge impact on the physical quality, economic viability and social systems of communities. To hand such a complex and vital part of what makes us a nation to a commercial board of directors is a very large step, and one which should not be taken without widespread public debate.

Under a system of commercial management, the most important factors when decisions are made about roads would be profit and revenue considerations, not necessarily the needs of the communities served by the roads. Profit measures would be paramount. Road users would pay more to cover profits and company tax.

Commercially- focused directors would make decisions about local roads. These directors would be remote from the communities served by the roads they have been appointed to manage, however the communities would experience a profound impact from their decisions. Decisions about roads greatly affect living and working environments in the communities served by the roads concerned.

This is what commercialisation means.
Some MPs agree with commercialisation of roads, while others believe that roads must be kept in local control.

What does your MP think?
Cut out and complete the accompanying form. Post it to your MP to find out whether he or she supports the Government proposal to commercialise our roads. The address is: (Name of MP), Parliament Buildings, Wellington. Remember — no stamp is required for postage to MPs.

Dear

(name of MP)

I/We are concerned at government proposals to turn our roads over to commercially driven or profit- motivated companies, which will be unlikely to be able to adequately address the concerns of our local community.

What do you think — do you support the commercialisation of our roads or do you believe that local communities should continue to control the roads they have developed over generations?

In an election year I/ we believe this is a vitally important issue — in fact the Minister of Transport believes this is the most important reform that NZ has undertaken in the last 50 years.

I/we are anxious to know your views on roading reform, and await your response.

Yours sincerely

(your name)

(your address)