I wouldn't argue about the neutrality of the source, more just argue the utter futility of any debate - it's like asking if your right arm is subsidising your left arm.
Auckland over the last 2 decades has done nothing to help itself and do deserve the perception that is given them by the rest of the country.
They sit back and moan continually about everything and expect the NZ taxpayer to pay for it all. Most cities manage their own affairs with help sometimes from central government. Auckland does squat with their massive rate take and expect all of NZ to fix it after decades of inaction and spending on what exactly?
Got to laugh at their continual moaning about petrol prices and how their world is going to end when they still pay cheaper prices than the rest of NZ.
Clearly I have over reacted a little, but the gist is about right.
They pay cheaper prices because it's a big market close to refineries. I've never understood why poeple in backwaters sneer at Aucklanders and label them whingers yet expect other people to underwrite the transport costs of fuel the length of the country for them. Funny, it's apparently not moaning when they do that, is it?
I think you'll also find the 'decades of inaction' are as much Wellington-driven as Auckland-driven. Never mind the practicalities of coorindating five councils on regional issues like transport, a situation only resolved in the last ten years. Look at how the National-led Govt dragged their feet on the CRL and LRT, but was happy to underwrite massive roading projects with questionable BCRs at the drop of a hat. And that's before you take into account dealing with the actual Govt departments and SOEs who you also have to coordinate things like changing the rail network with. It's no wonder Robbie's rapid rail failed and it's no wonder there's a total vaccum of information about LRT at the moment.
I also note no one else is getting a regional fuel tax - so other regions are likely to benefit from tax collected in Auckland but aren't being asked to chip in for things themselves like the Supercity.
If you want to blame someone for Auckland's transport issues, I'd start with Wellington.
As someone from the South, I have always felt that New Zealand is "two countries" - the North vs the South, though now I actually think it's more like three - Auckland, rest of the North and South.
I do wish there was some sort of government policy to "limit" Auckland's growth - limiting the movement of corporates that move to Auckland (and therefore the number of workers that also then need to move to Auckland), limiting or stopping migrants from actually settling in Auckland etc
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