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The ACT, Green and National Party have all weighed in on the Government's transport announcement on Friday, which includes Auckland's promised light rail.

The light rail between the airport and the city is set to be partially tunnelled, with works to commence in 2023. The Government has also committed to an additional Waitematā Harbour crossing, and has brought forward planning to integrate with other transport and housing plans.

Building light rail to Auckland's airport has been plagued with issues. In June 2020 the multi-million-dollar transport project was halted until after the September election.

More than six months after the election, new Transport Minister Michael Wood said the project was getting "back on track".

Speaking just before today's announcement ACT's transport spokesperson Simon Court labelled the project "a disaster".
Auckland to get partially tunnelled CBD to airport light rail
"We've spent four years trying to figure out how to make a political promise from Jacinda Ardern work. In the meantime, we've seen billions of dollars moved away from road building, projects cancelled, rescoped and deferred, fuel taxes increased, and regions neglected. New Zealanders deserve better."

Court claimed much of New Zealand would have to foot the bill for the project, which Transport Minister Michael Wood today confirmed could cost up to $14 billion. Finance Minister Grant Robertson said central Government would carry most of the financial burden of the project.

"Although the focus was on a value capture tax on property owners, that will only raise between $2 and $3 billion of the $14.6 billion needed," Court said.

National was also critical of the Government's spending, and whether the project would come to fruition.

"Today we hear the Government is going to spend another $50 million on a business case. That's $100 million of taxpayers' money spent before they've even got spades in the ground," National's infrastructure spokesperson Simon Bridges said.

"If it ever goes ahead it will be at least $15 billion of wasted spending.

"Their light rail dream is just that - a dream. There is a big difference between making an announcement and executing it."

The Green Party was supportive of the project, though uncertain on the accessibility of underground stations.

Green Party transport spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March said by partially going underground the Government would need to ensure underground stations were accessible and welcoming to all communities.

"We also missed an opportunity to ensure the main corridor is people friendly. In the short term, cars will still dominate the spaces above ground. With urgent action on climate required, we need to seize every opportunity that allows us to support people to a sustainable future."

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ACT, National hit out at light rail's 'wasted spending'

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The ACT, Green and National Party have all weighed in on the Government's transport announcement on Friday, which includes Auckland's promised light rail. The light rail between the airport and the city is set to be partially tunnelled, with works to commence in 2023.

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Task A – Explain the geographic nature of your chosen issue

Task B – Fully explain how people’s values  have led to their responses towards your chosen issue

Task C – Propose a suitable course of action to address your chosen issue

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Your Political Compass                   Left-4.88 Social                                  Libertarian: -4.41 

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If you have been directed here directly from another site, we ask that you read our homepage before continuing

Before taking the test: Please note that this isn't a survey, and these aren't questions. They're propositions. To question the logic of individual ones that irritate you is to miss the point. Some propositions are extreme, and some are moderate. That's how we can show you whether you lean towards extremism or moderation on the Compass. Your responses should not be overthought. Some of them are intentionally vague. Their purpose is to trigger reactions in the mind, measuring feelings and prejudices rather than detailed opinions on policy.

Page 1 of 6

Just a few propositions to start with, concerning - no less - how you see the country and the world.

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self-test of your position on 2 political dimensions

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Light rail to Mount Roskill within four years and then to the airport within 10 years was one of the first campaign promises then-opposition leader Jacinda Ardern made in 2017.

Three options were presented to Cabinet last year and the government yesterday announced that it had decided to go with the partially-tunnelled option recommended by the Auckland Light Rail Establishment.

The selected 24km route will see transport available every five minutes from up to 18 stops and will be able to carry 15,000 passengers per hour at peak times.

But Public Transport Users Association national co-ordinator Jon Reeves said it does not link to the present rail network and will not be able to travel as fast as the government suggests.

"It's extremely expensive now at over $14.5 billion and with inflation and 10 years to build it it's probably being close to $25 billion and it's not actually going to deliver a suitable solution for Auckland's transport woes."

Reeves said the money would be better-spent on connecting the current system to the airport through Māngere and Onehunga.

He said he hoped the government would heed the concerns and stop the project.

The opposition has also criticised the plan with National's infrastructure spokesperson Simon Bridges saying it is wasted spending and ACT transport spokesperson Simon Court describing it as a disaster.

Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March said the party would prefer street-level light rail down Dominion Road but it was now time to get on with the project.

RNZ

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Lobby group says Auckland light rail project is waste of money

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Light rail to Mount Roskill within four years and then to the airport within 10 years was one of the first campaign promises then-opposition leader Jacinda Ardern made in 2017. Three options were presented to Cabinet last year and the government yesterday announced that it had decided to go with the partially-tunnelled option recommended by the Auckland Light Rail Establishment.

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Auckland property owners to be levied up to $3 billion to build light rail

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The Government business case says Auckland property-owners can afford to pay an additional $1,000 annual levy or rate towards the 10-year project to build light rail from the airport.

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The Government's decision on light rail in Auckland is the first step towards building the climate friendly, accessible city our communities deserve.

"For years the Greens have been pushing for accessible public transport options for Aucklanders that reduce traffic congestion, cut climate pollution, and make it easier to get around without a car. Today we can see part of that vision becoming a reality and we want the Government to get on with it," says the Green Party's Transport Spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March.

"Most people will choose public or active transport over a car when the infrastructure to support active mobility is available. Today's decision is a huge opportunity to build truly world class, climate friendly public transport infrastructure for the benefit of everyone - and we should take it.

"However, by partially going underground the Government will need to ensure underground stations are accessible and welcoming to all communities. We also missed an opportunity to ensure the main corridor is people friendly. In the short term, cars will still dominate the spaces above ground. With urgent action on climate required, we need to seize every opportunity that allows us to support people to a sustainable future.

"While the Green Party's preferred option has always been more accessible street-level light rail down Dominion Road, it's time to get on with building better transport options for Aucklanders. For the Government's preferred option for light rail to work for the benefit of everyone, Ministers will need to further invest in accessible above ground public transport infrastructure that will make it easier for everyone to get around Auckland without needing a car.

"We also want to see light rail built with universal design so light rail meets the needs of everyone for generations to come - parents, children, senior citizens and disabled people, and many who currently have to drive.

"The voice of local communities and mana whenua also needs to be a central part of the process right from the start. With the biggest infrastructure project in Auckland for generations, we have a unique opportunity to do this right," says Ricardo Menéndez March.

Auckland Central Green MP, Chlöe Swarbrick added: "It is encouraging that modelling shows building light rail with a boring machine will cause much less disruption than the trenching we've seen with the city rail link, there's still a lot to be changed and improved in our above-ground environment. This project must occur alongside delivering on the City Centre Masterplan aspirations of streets for people. Queen Street should be a destination, not a thoroughfare."

Ricardo Menéndez March continued: "The decision to locate a station at the universities is welcomed and should be part of a plan to create a future where young people can live and study in Auckland without ever needing a car - but let's back it up with a commitment to ensuring there are affordable, warm homes right along the proposed route and by making travel on light rail free for students. Keeping the option open for a future light rail connection to the North Shore is also welcome.

"The Green Party also welcomes the decision to move forward with an additional Waitematā Harbour crossing. This additional crossing must create a dedicated rapid transit and active mode connection, including rail to the North Shore, and not more lanes for cars. As we face the challenge of climate change, Auckland must prioritise active transport options, like cycling, and greater public transport use across the harbour."

ENDS

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Build Auckland light rail for benefit of everyone

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The Government's decision on light rail in Auckland is the first step towards building the climate friendly, accessible city our communities deserve. "For years the Greens have been pushing for accessible public transport options for Aucklanders that reduce traffic congestion, cut climate pollution, and make it easier to get around without a car.

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Ministers will finally reveal their plan for Auckland's much-discussed light rail system on Friday morning, expected to cost about $15 billion.

The Labour Party had been promising light rail since the 2017 election, after Auckland Transport first suggested the idea in 2015. Since then, politics and other road bumps have slowed progress towards actually building the system - despite Labour's transport ministers supporting the idea.

There have been piles of proposals for different routes and funding - including a pitch from the NZ Super Fund and others to build it in a public-private partnership. At one point, public servants investigated building one of Elon Musk's hyperloops instead.

After the Super Fund-led NZ Infra plan fell over, it was back to the drawing board. Auckland Light Rail, a group set up to investigate how to build the system, presented its three options to Cabinet last year.

READ MORE:
* Auckland light rail: Tunnelling picked as preferred option for transit to airport
* Auckland light rail won't start before 2024 according to Government transport plan
* Light rail: the hard part is done, now get ready for the hard part

Stuff understands Cabinet has made its decision, and Government ministers will finally reveal that decision on Friday.

Auckland Light Rail presented three options to Cabinet in its short-list, ranging from a traditional on-the-ground tram system to an underground light metro.

In the middle was a $14.6 billion proposal to tunnel from Wynyard Quarter, on Auckland city's waterfront, to Mt Roskill, before surfacing to continue through Onehunga and Māngere, to the airport.

All three options looked at how to move commuters from the airport to the city.

Auckland Light Rail's board said the hybrid option was their most preferred option. It would see light rail run through tunnels under Auckland city, before surfacing to run through south Auckland to the airport.

Light metro was criticised for being too expensive and there were concerns the entirely above-ground option would be too disruptive, and further congest already busy streets such as Dominion Rd.

It was unclear how the project, which was most recently estimated to cost upwards of $14 billion, would be funded. Auckland Council finished the year by saying it would not be able to fund its construction. The council split the cost of Auckland's ongoing Central Rail Link, which was $4.4 billion, 50/50 with the Government.

The National Party's transport spokesman, Simeon Brown, had repeatedly criticised the Government for "inaction" on its light rail plan, calling it "all spin".

He said his focus would be on a second harbour crossing, before building new transport to the airport.

If elected, he said National would reassess the light rail plan - and likely focus on something else - unless it had already been contracted.

"Auckland's priority is a second harbour crossing, not light rail which is going to have a cost blowout," he said.

The above-ground option, labelled a "modern tram", would run from Wynyard Quarter, pass by Britomart Train Station and the universities, before heading down Dominion Road and running beside the motorway to the airport.

The Light Metro and hybrid option would tunnel through the city, with the potential to stop at the universities, before moving down near to Sandringham Rd with stops planned in the Māngere and Onehunga town centres.

Labour promised to build light rail in Auckland at the 2017 election, but after an initial research project the plan was frozen due to disagreements with its coalition partner, New Zealand First.

But when Labour won an outright majority at the 2020 election, the light rail plan was resurrected.

According to the Government's three-year National Land Transport Programme, released in September, work on Auckland's Light Rail was not set to start before 2024.

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Government to announce its Auckland Light Rail decision at 9am on Friday

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Ministers will finally reveal their plan for Auckland's much-discussed light rail system on Friday morning, expected to cost about $15 billion. The Labour Party had been promising light rail since the 2017 election, after Auckland Transport first suggested the idea in 2015.

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Starter activity on Padlet
1. Discuss the political continuum and then complete the political continuum test (note: some sensitive questions).
2. Name 2 groups in support of ALR and write down a quote for each to showing why they are in support.
2a. What common values/perspectives (SPENT) do the groups in support of ALR have?
3. Name 2 groups opposed to ALR and write down a quote for each to showing why they are in opposition.
3a. What common values/ perspectives (SPENT) do the groups in opposition to the ALR have?

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National or act

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Labour

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Economic Left/Right: -1.13 || Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.49