Ministers abroad are busy strengthening partnerships – but more plaudits will go to fixing roads that went to pot
The PM is among the coalition government ministers who have been waving the New Zealand flag overseas in recent days.
Trade Minister Todd McClay and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts today signed three Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) agreements that will boost investment, grow New Zealand’s digital and green economies and increase trade between New Zealand and the 14 IPEF partners.
Their press statement does not say where on earth they might be, but Point of Order readers will recall that on June 3 McClay and Watts said they would be travelling to Singapore next day to sign three Indo Pacific Economic Framework agreements.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters is in Vietnam, for talks aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
And Prime Minister Cristopher Luxon is in Fiji, where he has met with his Fijian counterpart, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, to discuss how New Zealand and Fiji can further strengthen their partnership.
But your Point of Order team reckons the latest announcement most likely to cheer voters in this country came from Transport Minister Simeon Brown.
He said the NZTA Board has confirmed that over the next three years the agency will deliver a record $2.07 billion for State Highway Pothole Prevention and $1.9 billion for Local Road Pothole Prevention.
The government had inherited a significant backlog of road maintenance across the network, he noted.
Last year, over 62,000 potholes needed repair on State Highways around New Zealand.
“We are now catching up on the maintenance deficit to ensure that Kiwis and freight can get to where they need to go, quickly and safely”
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters is in Vietnam, for talks aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
And Prime Minister Cristopher Luxon is in Fiji, where he has met with his Fijian counterpart, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, to discuss how New Zealand and Fiji can further strengthen their partnership.
But your Point of Order team reckons the latest announcement most likely to cheer voters in this country came from Transport Minister Simeon Brown.
He said the NZTA Board has confirmed that over the next three years the agency will deliver a record $2.07 billion for State Highway Pothole Prevention and $1.9 billion for Local Road Pothole Prevention.
The government had inherited a significant backlog of road maintenance across the network, he noted.
Last year, over 62,000 potholes needed repair on State Highways around New Zealand.
“We are now catching up on the maintenance deficit to ensure that Kiwis and freight can get to where they need to go, quickly and safely”
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Trade Minister Todd McClay and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts, today signed three Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) agreements that will boost investment, grow New Zealand’s digital and green economies and increase trade between New Zealand and the 14 IPEF partners.
New Zealand and Viet Nam are focused on strengthening cooperation by making progress on mutually beneficial opportunities, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says.
The Coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to boost funding for pothole prevention, with indicative funding levels confirmed by NZTA showing a record increase in funding to help fix potholes on our State Highways and Local
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has met with his Fijian counterpart, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, and discussed how New Zealand and Fiji can further strengthen their partnership.
So – which of those announcements gave you the greatest cause for celebration?
Simeon Brown couldn’t resist electioneering, when announcing the NZTA Board had confirmed indicative funding levels in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) to give effect to the Government’s commitment to significantly increase funding for road maintenance.
He drew attention to the commitment to deliver a record $2.07 billion for State Highway Pothole Prevention over the next three years and $1.9 billion for Local Road Pothole Prevention.
“Compared to spend under the last government’s 2021-2024 NLTP, this represents a 91 per cent increase in funding for State Highway Pothole Prevention and a 50 per cent increase in the total funding for Local Road Pothole Prevention.
“We have ringfenced this record investment in the Pothole Prevention Fund to resealing, rehabilitation, and drainage maintenance works to ensure that NZTA and councils get our State Highways and local roads up to the safe and reliable standards that Kiwis expect.”
Indicative funding levels provided councils with much needed certainty as they finalised their Long-Term Plans, Brown said.
They would also enable roading contractors to have a clear pipeline of work in the roading network, encouraging more investment in the people and equipment needed for its maintenance.
“Kiwis want potholes fixed and our roads properly maintained, and this funding boost will deliver real results across the country.
“Boosting investment in pothole prevention will deliver a safe and efficient network for New Zealanders that increases productivity and supports economic growth.”
Here’s looking forward to a smooth drive to the polling booth when next we vote in a general election.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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