Jacinda Ardern - our new PM

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#1987955 4-Apr-2018 07:52

The main concern I have for these levies is they are seldom used for the purpose for which they are collected. Labour and National lead central government and most Councils are guilty of this legal misappropriation.

I agree with the idea of raising funds to improve our non road based transport systems as the answer to our roading issues is not more road capacity it is less dependence on road transport.

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rjt123

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#1987960 4-Apr-2018 08:01

MikeB4:
The main concern I have for these levies is they are seldom used for the purpose for which they are collected. Labour and National lead central government and most Councils are guilty of this legal misappropriation.

I agree with the idea of raising funds to improve our non road based transport systems as the answer to our roading issues is not more road capacity it is less dependence on road transport.

Tbh it doesn't really concern me how the money is distributed, the only exception being a regional levy needs to be spent on that region. Essentially the money all goes in the coffers and the government spends it how it sees fit.

At the end of the day it's just another tax, and providing the government spends the money wisely and effectively I'm happy increasing funding for regional roads is good. Decreasing funding for State Highways is not good. Whether a tram from the AKL airport to the CBD is really going to help congestion is questionable.

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#1987961 4-Apr-2018 08:04

" "Look at it this way," said Twyford. "For half the cost of the former government's East West Link, between Penrose and Onehunga, we could put a median barrier on every kilometre of state highway in New Zealand."

Please, please, please don't do it Phil. What has regional NZ done to deserve that 😯

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#1987964 4-Apr-2018 08:24

NZers will always use their cars. Fact.

If most of this money is going to fund Auckland then I am even more unimpressed. At least the last government spent large on rail by replacing all urban trains in Auckland and Wellington as well as upgrading the network.

I still want our national highway work completed as that is where a lot of our issues are as a result of underspending for decades. Most of our SH1 is still 2 lanes and with the number of vehicles compared to 50 years ago...its simply dangerous.

I cringed when I saw that Greens transport women announce these changes.

I would still like to see a breakdown of our fuel and road taxes to see where that money is going. This new tax will just kick off inflation.

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#1987973 4-Apr-2018 08:43

gzt: Imo the sky falling comments in this topic are hyperbole. As is much of the topic..

I am sure you feel better for flaming it.

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#1987977 4-Apr-2018 08:49

Pumpedd:
gzt: Imo the sky falling comments in this topic are hyperbole. As is much of the topic..

I am sure you feel better for flaming it.

I think he was referring to the comments that implied the sky started falling in 2008.

MikeB4

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#1987997 4-Apr-2018 09:19

Pumpedd:

NZers will always use their cars. Fact.

If most of this money is going to fund Auckland then I am even more unimpressed. At least the last government spent large on rail by replacing all urban trains in Auckland and Wellington as well as upgrading the network.

I still want our national highway work completed as that is where a lot of our issues are as a result of underspending for decades. Most of our SH1 is still 2 lanes and with the number of vehicles compared to 50 years ago...its simply dangerous.

I cringed when I saw that Greens transport women announce these changes.

I would still like to see a breakdown of our fuel and road taxes to see where that money is going. This new tax will just kick off inflation.

NZers will always use their cars. Fact. Not a fact, it's a notion.

Using cars for the commute in the main centres is a waste of time, resources, money and is damaging the environment. This is something that has to change and efficient light rail is the key and bicycles were appropriate. I does not mean taking peoples cars away it means using more sensible was to get from point A to B. It is simply stupid to sit stopped in a queue as train after train goes by. Getting more cars off the road and out of the cities means those that genuinely need to use road transport will be able to do better .

As for long haul, the massive Kenworths, Freightliners Volvos tractor an trailer units will have filling our highways were designed for the US and European highways not our winding, narrow hilly roads. The containers and the trailers they are moving could and should be moved by rail.

We have been spent decades spending billions on roading and the problem still gets worse repeating the same over and over is not going to change that, it is way past time for a change in thinking and a change in attitudes. One of my sons moved to live and work in London, he owned a car here but decided not buy a car in the UK, he tells me he has not missed it, he commutes to work stress free and has traveled the UK and Europe without a car

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#1988000 4-Apr-2018 09:22

Trams as opposed to light rail to the airport? Please tell me they are joking? Maybe I am out of date, but I have never been on a tram that went fast enough that you would use it instead of a bus at long distances?

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#1988002 4-Apr-2018 09:29

MikeB4:

We have been spent decades spending billions on roading and the problem still gets worse repeating the same over and over is not going to change that, it is way past time for a change in thinking and a change in attitudes. One of my sons moved to live and work in London, he owned a car here but decided not buy a car in the UK, he tells me he has not missed it, he commutes to work stress free and has traveled the UK and Europe without a car

It is not reasonable to compare London, Singapore, Hong Kong etc with NZ as NZ has a MUCH lower population and much more importantly, population density. Auckland itself is spread out and the cost of putting rail in that was "effective" would be outside our GDP let alone what we could afford.

It had to be done before we sprawled. I agree cars aren't the answer, nor is more roads, but it kinda is the answer when the alternatives are considered and costed. Who will build this rail? (immigration to be cut) Petrol would have to be $20 a litre to pay for it.

Don't even get me started on the fact that in NZ 1 person can hold up a 5B roading project. Compare this to Singapore where the Government decides new MRT station needs built, and there is an apartment building in the way. They simply give the occupiers 9 months notice, set an agreed value for the property, pay it, and demolish it. No right of appeal. Their public transport projects are completed on time, on budget, every single time.

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#1988004 4-Apr-2018 09:31

networkn:

Trams as opposed to light rail to the airport? Please tell me they are joking? Maybe I am out of date, but I have never been on a tram that went fast enough that you would use it instead of a bus at long distances?

Light rail is used very well in many cities around the globe. International Airports in China for example use them. I would rather use one of those than spend 30 minute to crawl a fe KM and sit in Mount Victoria tunnel.

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#1988009 4-Apr-2018 09:33

Travelling the UK with no car has been pretty difficult since Dr Beeching axed many of the branch lines in the 50s really.

You can get to the major cities, but after that you're in need of a car, especially if you want to get out into the countryside.

The roads are of course generally much better so driving is easier and flying less common than here over comparable distances.

I'd agree with your son, Mike, that you don't need a car in London though. It would just be a liability.

MikeB4

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#1988011 4-Apr-2018 09:33

networkn:

MikeB4:

We have been spent decades spending billions on roading and the problem still gets worse repeating the same over and over is not going to change that, it is way past time for a change in thinking and a change in attitudes. One of my sons moved to live and work in London, he owned a car here but decided not buy a car in the UK, he tells me he has not missed it, he commutes to work stress free and has traveled the UK and Europe without a car

It is not reasonable to compare London, Singapore, Hong Kong etc with NZ as NZ has a MUCH lower population and much more importantly, population density. Auckland itself is spread out and the cost of putting rail in that was "effective" would be outside our GDP let alone what we could afford.

It had to be done before we sprawled. I agree cars aren't the answer, nor is more roads, but it kinda is the answer when the alternatives are considered and costed. Who will build this rail? (immigration to be cut) Petrol would have to be $20 a litre to pay for it.

Don't even get me started on the fact that in NZ 1 person can hold up a 5B roading project. Compare this to Singapore where the Government decides new MRT station needs built, and there is an apartment building in the way. They simply give the occupiers 9 months notice, set an agreed value for the property, pay it, and demolish it. No right of appeal. Their public transport projects are completed on time, on budget, every single time.

I have noticed on the many trips I take to Auckland that the ever increasing motorway has eased tremendously the congestion and travel times. Repeating mistakes does not correct the mistake.

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#1988015 4-Apr-2018 09:35

MikeB4:

networkn:

Trams as opposed to light rail to the airport? Please tell me they are joking? Maybe I am out of date, but I have never been on a tram that went fast enough that you would use it instead of a bus at long distances?

Light rail is used very well in many cities around the globe. International Airports in China for example use them. I would rather use one of those than spend 30 minute to crawl a fe KM and sit in Mount Victoria tunnel.

I don't think you read what I wrote. I am FOR light rail, but Labour is talking TRAM to the Airport.

We need something that goes Britomart to the Airport that is fast quiet and efficient. Ideally without the need to change from one train to the next.

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#1988016 4-Apr-2018 09:35

networkn:
MikeB4:

We have been spent decades spending billions on roading and the problem still gets worse repeating the same over and over is not going to change that, it is way past time for a change in thinking and a change in attitudes. One of my sons moved to live and work in London, he owned a car here but decided not buy a car in the UK, he tells me he has not missed it, he commutes to work stress free and has traveled the UK and Europe without a car

It is not reasonable to compare London, Singapore, Hong Kong etc with NZ as NZ has a MUCH lower population and much more importantly, population density. Auckland itself is spread out and the cost of putting rail in that was "effective" would be outside our GDP let alone what we could afford.

It had to be done before we sprawled. I agree cars aren't the answer, nor is more roads, but it kinda is the answer when the alternatives are considered and costed. Who will build this rail? (immigration to be cut) Petrol would have to be $20 a litre to pay for it.

Don't even get me started on the fact that in NZ 1 person can hold up a 5B roading project. Compare this to Singapore where the Government decides new MRT station needs built, and there is an apartment building in the way. They simply give the occupiers 9 months notice, set an agreed value for the property, pay it, and demolish it. No right of appeal. Their public transport projects are completed on time, on budget, every single time.

Yes. This obsession with consultation is what ruins every public project in NZ.

rjt123

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#1988022 4-Apr-2018 09:42

networkn:
MikeB4:

networkn:

Trams as opposed to light rail to the airport? Please tell me they are joking? Maybe I am out of date, but I have never been on a tram that went fast enough that you would use it instead of a bus at long distances?

Light rail is used very well in many cities around the globe. International Airports in China for example use them. I would rather use one of those than spend 30 minute to crawl a fe KM and sit in Mount Victoria tunnel.

I don't think you read what I wrote. I am FOR light rail, but Labour is talking TRAM to the Airport.

We need something that goes Britomart to the Airport that is fast quiet and efficient. Ideally without the need to change from one train to the next.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought light rail was just a nice name for a tram?

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