1 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: Hilda. 2 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 2: I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, a 3 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 2: daily podcast presented by the New Zealand Herald. 4 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:16,919 Speaker 1: It's been revealed that the. 5 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 2: Government considered using private company Blue Bridge to replace the 6 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 2: current inter islander fleet. It's just the latest in the 7 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 2: saga that is the Cook Straight Ferries after years of negotiations, debate. 8 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: And an axed contract. 9 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,160 Speaker 2: But it's hardly the first time we've had a major 10 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 2: transport project faced delays and changes. All forms of transporter 11 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 2: eyeing big investments. But how long before we actually get 12 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 2: some movement? Today on the Front Page, News Talk z 13 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:49,480 Speaker 2: B political reporter Azaria Howell is with us to dig 14 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 2: into the politics behind the country's transport networks. So Azaria 15 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 2: reminds of the fairies saga. 16 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: Where are we at with it? 17 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, So this is a long standing issue. This has 18 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:10,479 Speaker 3: been going on for quite some time and it's likely 19 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 3: to go on for quite some time, meaning essentially through 20 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 3: till about the end of twenty twenty nine. That's when 21 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:19,960 Speaker 3: we're going to see two new fairies be delivered. That's 22 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 3: what the new government is promising now. Documents from Treasury 23 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 3: show that the first fairy is proposed to come in 24 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,639 Speaker 3: around February twenty twenty nine. The second around October twenty 25 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 3: twenty nine. Minister for Rail Winston Peters. He's recently been 26 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 3: crowned that new title. He has previously said we will 27 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 3: get new fairies before Christmas twenty twenty nine, so he 28 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 3: essentially took over responsibility of those fairies relatively recently. It 29 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 3: was a sort of a new portfolio for him that 30 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 3: was coming back, and it was essentially the previous government 31 00:01:55,800 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 3: had contracted to buy new megafairies. That project had to 32 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 3: be canceled due to numerous cost blowouts and essentially a 33 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 3: lot of concerns about the feasibility of a project like that. 34 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 3: There was also a few concerns about the port side 35 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 3: infrastructure cost as well. Specifically, so if we're getting bigger ships, 36 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 3: we need to sort of upgrade the places that they're 37 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 3: going to. So there was a big price tag with 38 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 3: that and the new government came in they were not happy. 39 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:25,399 Speaker 3: I mean, they've been known as a government that has 40 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 3: been sort of trimming spending in certain areas to kind 41 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 3: of cut back and invest in what they call the 42 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 3: frontline and frontline services, and perhaps that's what we've seen 43 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 3: in terms of this as well. 44 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 2: Now, I believe that you've seen some documents around the 45 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 2: ideas floated about how to handle the cook Straight situation. 46 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 3: What kind of ideas were thrown into the mix. Yeah, 47 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 3: so there's a lot of different options. It's worth saying 48 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 3: the government went to a market process for I think 49 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 3: about three and a half weeks. It kind of sounded 50 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 3: out the ideas of the market so shipbrokers and people 51 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 3: in that maritime sector as to what's next. And one 52 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 3: of the really interesting ones something that stood out to 53 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 3: me was the government considered contracting with Blue Bridge, which, 54 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 3: as you'll know, it's a private cook Straight ferry company 55 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 3: that essentially competes sort of with the inter Islander, which 56 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,640 Speaker 3: is run by state owned enterprise Kiwi rou So the 57 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:23,359 Speaker 3: government considered doing that essentially because the inter Islander fleet 58 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 3: is getting older. There there have been some very public 59 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 3: issues with those that you'll be aware of. Specifically, one 60 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 3: of the ships has lost power, another one running aground. 61 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 3: Major issues there, so that they're wanting to upgrade that infrastructure. 62 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 3: That how they'll actually go about doing that, it's not 63 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 3: one hundred percent certain, but they've kind of ticked it 64 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 3: down now to a shortlist of six shipbrokers and they'll 65 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 3: be looking at whether or not they can deliver value 66 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 3: for money, whether or not it will come in on time, 67 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 3: that Christmas twenty twenty nine date being essentially the final deadline, 68 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 3: or the preferred final deadline of the government there. It's 69 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 3: worth noting that they did not go with the blue 70 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 3: Bridge options, so it was more just an idea that 71 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 3: was being floated around. But it is interesting in the 72 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,559 Speaker 3: Labor Party has thrown in quite a bit of criticism 73 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,719 Speaker 3: on that as well, suggesting it it kind of makes 74 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 3: up for what could be privatization of that public cook 75 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 3: straight faery situation there, so there's been a little bit 76 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 3: of criticism about looking at that. There was also ideas 77 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 3: of a different commercial company to come in to compete 78 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,599 Speaker 3: with blue Bridge. Treasury documents that I've seen say it 79 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 3: quote could be worth further consideration, but essentially they couldn't 80 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 3: do it because they had to get this business case 81 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 3: in by March twenty twenty five. And at the end 82 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 3: of March Winston Peters, who as I have said, as 83 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,679 Speaker 3: the Minister for Rail, made this big announcement saying Christmas 84 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 3: twenty twenty nine, we will have these fairies in place. 85 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 2: Right, So you said that they're negotiating or checking out 86 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:01,239 Speaker 2: at least six builders or p of these fairies. 87 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:02,600 Speaker 1: I mean, where do they hail from? 88 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, so there's been there's been previous confirmation from the 89 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 3: Minister's Office of expressions of interest from South Korea and Finland, 90 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 3: the former being really the fascinating one there. South Korea 91 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 3: was going to be where the shipyard was that was 92 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 3: going to build the original Mega ferries. 93 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 1: The Irex contract. 94 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 3: Yes, that's the one. So the Mega Fairies, the one 95 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 3: that's been seen as really expensive by this government was 96 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:33,280 Speaker 3: going to be contracted to South Korea. So it is 97 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 3: interesting that they're looking at that now. It's not one 98 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:39,960 Speaker 3: hundred percent clear if that means that it's the same company. 99 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 3: I believe it was Hyundai. It's not one hundred percent 100 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 3: clear if that is who the South Korean shipyard is. 101 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 3: So I suppose there's a bit a bit that we'll 102 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 3: have to wait and see for that one. Yeah, Treasury 103 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,159 Speaker 3: underwent a market process for three and a half weeks 104 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 3: to kind of get alternative ideas for what that ferry 105 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 3: service could look like. Now this Treasury report as well, 106 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 3: it's confirmed that Treasury mat with fifteen parties in terms 107 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 3: of the maritime sector and got twenty five written submissions 108 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 3: from people all around the sector in terms of infrastructure, 109 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:14,160 Speaker 3: maritime and things like that. 110 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:18,720 Speaker 4: And the latest One News variant pole we asked do 111 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 4: you think the government made the right or wrong decision 112 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:25,599 Speaker 4: to cancel the replacement cook straight fairies? Twenty six percent 113 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 4: say it was the right decision. Well, fifty one percent 114 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 4: say it was the wrong decision. The rest didn't know. 115 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 5: Well, I think that the poll asks the wrong question 116 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:38,359 Speaker 5: because the government is replacing the fairies. If you had 117 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,479 Speaker 5: asked New Zealanders should we replace the feries in the 118 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 5: way that is the best value for money, I think 119 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 5: you'll find most would say yes. 120 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 2: Moving on to Budget twenty twenty five, it's saw some 121 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 2: big commitments when it comes to transport. 122 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 1: Hey, what were some of the highlights for you? 123 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, So Budget twenty twenty five has been labeled as 124 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 3: the growth budget. Now this is a really big one. 125 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 3: That's as the government as putting on a greater focus 126 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 3: on economic growth and boosting the economy, lifting productivity and 127 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 3: things like that. So there is quite a bit of 128 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 3: investment there in terms of repairing local roads that have 129 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 3: been damaged by the likes of storms as well. There's 130 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 3: been investment in railways in the Wellington areas in Auckland 131 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 3: as well. Obviously that comes as there's a lot of 132 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 3: chatter as there always has been about City rail Link, 133 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 3: which is a very interesting one and I suppose transport 134 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 3: is a really big key priority area in terms of 135 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 3: in terms of that government budget. I mean we're seeing 136 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 3: millions of dollars there, we're seeing big commitment. Obviously it 137 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 3: comes after like the Roads of National Significance project and 138 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 3: things like that, so there is quite a bit going 139 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 3: on it. It also comes with a couple of government 140 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 3: policies in that transport space that have created quite a 141 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 3: bit of interest. So there's been this idea of raising 142 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 3: speed limits to get people to and from work quicker 143 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 3: and what the government says will speed up productivity. So 144 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 3: it's important to note that that has been another big 145 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 3: key part of the transport policy. 146 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 2: Now it's been a few months since Chris Bishop took 147 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 2: over the role of Transport Minister. Has there been a 148 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 2: change in tone with him in charge compared to Simeon Brown. Yes. 149 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 3: I think the interesting thing with that is when Simon 150 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 3: Brown took over as Minister of Health from Shane Aderti, 151 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 3: and he put quite a bit of changes in that 152 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 3: sort of health space, putting in a commissioner in health 153 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 3: as well. Now, transport I feel like has been a 154 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:48,959 Speaker 3: bit less of a maybe a hot topic or an 155 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 3: urgent topic as much as health. So I feel like 156 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 3: the transition from Simeon Brown to Chris Bishop has kind 157 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:58,839 Speaker 3: of seen more focus towards Brown as Health Minister rather 158 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 3: than Bishop as Transport minister. But Bishop has always been 159 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 3: known as a big transport guy. He's been the MP 160 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:09,319 Speaker 3: for the electorate in Lower Hut for quite some time 161 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 3: on and off. I believe he lost that seat with 162 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 3: the Labor wave and then won it back. He's been 163 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 3: speaking about the likes of the Meling Interchange in rail 164 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,440 Speaker 3: infrastructure in his electorate in the Hut Valley for quite 165 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 3: some time. So yeah, it's been interesting to see him 166 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 3: take over that role. But I feel like there has 167 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 3: been quite a bit more focus on how is Simeon 168 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 3: Brown doing as Health minister versus how is Chris Bishop 169 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,480 Speaker 3: doing in that transport space. There's been quite a bit 170 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 3: of interesting commentary in Chris Bishop's role with raising the 171 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 3: speed limits that is kind of taking place now. They're 172 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 3: changing the street signs, they're sort of digging them up 173 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 3: and making it go from one hundred two one hundred 174 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 3: and ten. Announcing these things as well. So that's been 175 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 3: kind of the big thing recently for Minister Bishop and 176 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 3: I'm sure there's more to come in terms of the 177 00:09:57,880 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 3: transport space. 178 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 2: Is the tone from this government pretty much still roads, roads, 179 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 2: roads and more roads because Winston Peters did get some 180 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,559 Speaker 2: major wins for rail in the budget, right. 181 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, So as mentioned before, Winston Peters the Minister for Rail, 182 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 3: that's that's really been something he's been trying to push for. 183 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:19,079 Speaker 3: It's it's been the case in that ferry space and 184 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 3: it's been the case outside of the ferries as well. 185 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 3: So Winston Peter's before the budget and you may have 186 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 3: actually you may be familiar with this because this was 187 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 3: an announcement in Wellington in which he made an announcement 188 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 3: at the Wellington train station and got a bit of 189 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 3: a heckle back and forth from hime Omber of the public. 190 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: I think I may have seen something about that. 191 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:42,679 Speaker 4: So ship bollocks load of pollismo, like well, it's gone 192 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 4: up in a mini Suntie you. 193 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 2: Look like like Bollock's mate Sunjoint even. 194 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: Donald that you're a topd you in that both. 195 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 3: Yes, so so, so that was the announcement. But in 196 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 3: terms of the numbers was four hundred and sixty four 197 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 3: million dollar capital, one hundred and forty one million dollar 198 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 3: operating allowance for rail maintenance that was in Auckland and Wellington, 199 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 3: so those metro areas, those ceties for commuters and for 200 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 3: freight as well. So it was a major announcement. But 201 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:20,559 Speaker 3: I think that day may have been overshadowed by Winston 202 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 3: Peter's telling someone to nap off and him saying things 203 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 3: that he said that probably can't be repeated. 204 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: So that was probably for the best day, definitely. 205 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 2: So Chris Bishop actually spoke to the Front Page late 206 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 2: last year about using tolls as an additional mechanism. 207 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 1: To help pay for roads. 208 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 6: We're looking at using tolls as an additional mechanism to 209 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:44,199 Speaker 6: help pay for the roads because they provide the revenue 210 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 6: stream to help the financing of some of these roads, 211 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 6: and so we made a commitment to do that as 212 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 6: a coalition government. And many of the Islanders will be 213 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:53,959 Speaker 6: familiar with toll roads overseas. We've got toile roads in 214 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 6: Zealand right now. I've got the Northern Gateway north of Auckland, 215 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,679 Speaker 6: got top of toll roads around Toronto. They had plenty, 216 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 6: so they are they do it the New Zealand right now, 217 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 6: we're just saying we want to make more use of them. 218 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 2: Has any further work been done around introducing more toll roads. 219 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:12,559 Speaker 3: Chris Bishop has said tolling concessions could deliver roads sooner, 220 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 3: So that is a big sort of key piece and 221 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 3: it kind of highlights where things are at the government 222 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:23,200 Speaker 3: does want to get infrastructure delivered relatively quickly and it 223 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 3: has been looking at the idea. It's also Chris Bishop's 224 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 3: also been looking overseas in terms of places that have 225 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:34,440 Speaker 3: toll roads and further concessions to see how it's working. 226 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 3: I believe he traveled to Australia looking at toll roads 227 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 3: there and just seeing how that actual financing and the 228 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 3: funding is working. And Chris Bishop says the benefits of 229 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 3: that for Sydney motorists have been huge. So it's been 230 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 3: slashing travel times, which, as we've mentioned with the speed limits, 231 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 3: has been a big focus of this government. So it's 232 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 3: not one hundred percent certain we will put toll roads 233 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:02,719 Speaker 3: in this, I suppose, but they've they've been looking at 234 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 3: what might be a next option going forward. So they've 235 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:10,200 Speaker 3: been looking at roads that are currently have have tolls 236 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 3: on them and might go up, and then roads that 237 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,680 Speaker 3: are due to open the much awaited outucky to north 238 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 3: of Levin as locals call it O two NL, things 239 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 3: like that, they are looking at it and as they say, 240 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 3: they say tolling concessions could deliver infrastructure sooner. So I 241 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 3: feel like they could be trying to sell the idea 242 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 3: to members of the public that they're going to say, 243 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 3: you know, you might have to pay a little bit extra, 244 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 3: you'll get this flash new road rolled out, maybe even 245 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:40,080 Speaker 3: years before it was meant to. So yeah, it could 246 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 3: be a could be want to keep an eye on. 247 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:44,079 Speaker 2: I mean, when he announced that he was going over 248 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 2: to Sydney and having a chat with those guys. I mean, 249 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 2: my best friend used to live in Sydney and the 250 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 2: tolling situations in Sydney is actually insane. So it's all 251 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 2: run privately by private companies. Each car has a little 252 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 2: thing in their car, so it doesn't get your red 253 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 2: jo it sees this little thing in your car. I 254 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 2: was there in his car taking photos of it. I 255 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 2: was that fascinated. But they have to navigate different routes 256 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 2: to work every day if you live in a specific area, 257 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:12,959 Speaker 2: because you could people try and avoid them. People try 258 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,959 Speaker 2: and avoid them because you could from home to work 259 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 2: depending on where you live. In Sydney, for example, you 260 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 2: could be running through three toll roads on the way 261 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 2: to work three backs. So some people are actually spending 262 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 2: so much money, especially in Sydney at least, I think 263 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 2: they've put in a cap because it was getting so bad. 264 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 2: People were spending like hundreds of dollars a week. It 265 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 2: was insane. 266 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, well that's that's like definitely interesting. And I wonder 267 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 3: when the minister was in Australia if that kind of 268 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 3: issue was brought up. Hey, don't go too far with it, 269 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 3: you know, you might need to put on some restrictions 270 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 3: and some limits. Yeah, that's that's really interesting. 271 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 6: Well. 272 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 2: He also wrote a piece in The Herald that we 273 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 2: need more transit oriented development, with cities such as Auckland 274 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 2: seeing development clustered around mass transit. Given he is Infrastructure 275 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 2: and Housing Minister, is he basically in charge of sorting 276 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 2: out all areas of our lives now well I wouldn't 277 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 2: say all areas. 278 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 3: We did have that health chat before, but definitely quite 279 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 3: a lot going on there in terms of the housing 280 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 3: space and how it works with infrastructure. Chris Bishop has 281 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 3: been a big fan of zoning, of sort of upscaling 282 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 3: developments and things like that that's been going on in 283 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 3: Wellington and he has been a big fan of it, 284 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 3: notably on x which used to be called Twitter. Chris 285 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 3: Bishop often comes to fight for housing developments and things 286 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 3: like that that are taking place that some residents might oppose, 287 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 3: essentially saying we need housing growth, we need to support 288 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 3: more infrastructure, more housing, sustainability, sustainable developments and things like that. 289 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 3: So it has been it has been quite a big 290 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 3: thing that he's been supporting. I also know city councils 291 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 3: are coming up with their own zoning plans and they're 292 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 3: sort of working with and having conversations about how that works. 293 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 3: I know Wellington had to sort that I want to 294 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 3: say last year, maybe late the year before. So there 295 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 3: are lots of questions in terms of how much can 296 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 3: you upzone by a train station and things like that. 297 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 3: There are questions that need to be answered, but it 298 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 3: does seem like we could be in for more zoning, 299 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 3: bigger housing developments and things like that. 300 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us, Azariah. 301 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 3: Thanks so much, it's been great. 302 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 2: That's it for this episode of the Front Page. You 303 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 2: can read more about today's stories and extensive news coverage 304 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 2: at enzdherld dot co dot nz. The Front Page is 305 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 2: produced by Ethan Sills and Richard Martin, who is also 306 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 2: our sound engineer. I'm Chelsea Daniels. Subscribe to the Front 307 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 2: Page on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and 308 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:54,479 Speaker 2: tune in on Monday for another look behind the headlines.