How transport decisions are made in Aotearoa’s biggest city could be about to change.
In a speech at the NZ Herald Project Auckland Luncheon, Transport Minister Simeon Brown said he will work with Auckland Council to give it the power to set its own 10-year-plan for the city’s transport network.
Auckland is the only region in the country where elected members are not responsible for the Regional Land Transport Plan. Instead, Auckland Transport sets the plan, guided by central and local government policies.
“Mayor Wayne Brown has rightly called for change, and I look forward to working with the mayor on how this change can be delivered,” Brown said.
“As Transport Minister, I am acutely aware of the importance of our transport network in unlocking economic growth, increasing productivity, and reducing congestion.
“The recently released GPS will unlock the infrastructure investments that are needed to help Aucklanders get to where they need to go, quickly and safely.”
$37 billion was planned to be spent across Auckland’s transport network, funded through council, central government, user pays charges like public transport and parking fees, and the soon to be scrapped Regional Fuel Tax.
It was in place until 2031, and included input from local boards, as well as an endorsement from the council’s planning committee.
The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance said giving control of the plan back to council would restore accountability to its transportation arm.
Jordan Williams, a spokesperson for the alliance, told RNZ that Auckland Transport had become increasingly politicised.
“Auckland Transport is supposed to be accountable to Aucklanders, and serve the interests of Aucklanders,” he said.
“Unfortunately, it’s gone off on such an ideological path, it’s as if Aucklanders serve Auckland Transport.”
Williams said polling from the Ratepayers’ Alliance showed very few residents backed Auckland Transport’s priorities.
“What this should mean is that it incentivises a better alignment between what the public want and what Auckland Transport are incentivised to deliver.”
Brown said the government wants to see a transport system that boosts productivity and economic growth.
“And allows New Zealanders to get to where they want to go, quickly and safely,” he said.
“We campaigned on this vision, and we now have the mandate to deliver on it.”
