Transport Minister’s anti-cycling, pro-speeding and pro-tolling crusades are becoming a political liability for PM Christopher Luxon, with multiple backbench National MPs facing backlashes
How is he actually blocking these projects? Waka Kotahi is not meant to be directly controlled by the Minister. It's meant to be at arms length, with only policy (GPS) and budget set by the government.
Can he not read the stats on our rate of accidents? Who is advising him? Surely we need a minister of transport who can actually understand our issues. Speed bumps and safe cycle lanes save lives. The cost of one road accident must cost loads (it brings our Auckland motorways to a halt every day seemingly. And let's face it we our roads are largely lawless with no traffic cops anymore and few speed cameras and none on Waiheke. I could make a fortune with a speed cam on Mako Street and bring in loads of revenue for this island and put it into cycleways. Could we take him to court for endangering the lives of people in Warkworth. I know that intersection and yes, it's dreadful. The new design looks way, way better.
Yep, this says it all - https://substack.com/history/post/151450695 - the key point being, Simeon currently is sitting on a legacy of 'overseeing' the biggest road toll decrease in recorded history (on the basis of Labour's lowered speed limits). Unbelievably, instead of simply putting his feet up on his desk and basking in the (unearned) glory of those stats, he is laser-focused on reversing that record and worse!
He doesn't care. In response to a question on removal of proposed raised crossing upgrade on a motorway onramp feed between a sports facility and primary school, at another location, his response was 'Nice to see'.
(Edited to correct a from memory ' 'Good to see' to accurate 'Nice to see')
To reiterate my point. It's not just him. Notional apolitical Officers and Directors are enabling the willful destruction of planning processes. Why? Not hard to contrast how hard it was to add this basic active mode infrastructure to planning under the Labour government.
That intersection is a shocker for sure, but the redesign is also a mess. That car park should just go or at least have the access not off the main road. I appreciate that there is probably a different owner of the section on Matakana road, but having the entrance cut across the pedestrian walkway that close to the roundabout will lead to a lot of near misses from people trying to cross and motorists ducking into the carpark access. ( either that or move the pedestrian walkway through the carpark rather than following the roadway. )
perhaps this is part of the issue of rolling up active transport into these projects, they end up being tacked on the side of roading and no real thought is placed on how they are accessed or if they may be better more separate.
Cycling could save us. We spend at least $11 billion on fossil fuels per annum and $8 billion on new cars. That’s why we have a large trade deficit. Just imagine if children could cycle or walk safely to school. Not be dropped off by a car. Imagine if more people cycled to work or just the few kilometres to get groceries. Might reduce our obesity and other health problems. People like Simeon are not evidence based or rational. They just have prejudices. I’m about to head out for my daily ride amongst trees and with views of water. I will be in my happy place by the time I get home.
From your Saturday conversation, one thing that could both increase government revenue and also have an anti-climate change effect would be to link the two. Any change in CGT or wealth taxes brought in by a new government, involving the family home would only be prevented by having the house or apartment contributing to the national power grid. This will provide a real incentive for home owners to install a solar powered device, with or without a battery, in their home.
Yeah nah. Two different problems. Why should somebody like me that can afford to put solar on the house (just completed) and garage (in progress) avoid paying our fair share of tax because we have access to capital.
Realistically Labour/Greens/TPM need to unite on a wealth tax and own the language. Look what happened when the opposition labelled the removal of a defence against assaulting children as "anti smacking"
This tax needs to be labelled as the "one per cent tax" i.e. it grabs the richest one per cent, not those in the middle.
Haha, I was just about to say something similar - maybe Simeon is still holding a grudge because mum and dad didn't get him that sweet orange BMX he wanted for Christmas...
National transport ministers have form - Brownlee rejecting an opportunity to build NW Motorway bus lanes, and holding up CRL. Bridges and rail delays.
Are Simeon Brown and David Seymour related? They sure seem to share an unwavering belief that they have the right to reshape Aotearoa in their own image.
This relationship was also made obvious in Jack Tame's Q&A interview of Simeon Brown in the wake of last winter's 'electricity crisis'. Brown's focus was in importing LNG for thermal generation and was totally dismissive and ignorant of the roll that widespread rooftop solar could play in supplementing NZ's generation capacity using offsetting of hydro generation as a national scale battery. Brown's allegiances along with those of Shane Jones lie with their fossil fuel overlords.
This 'crisis' is still bubbling along in the background and will come back to turn the heat up on the coalition when factors again align, including a significant downgrade in NZ's natural gas supplies in the coming year, and one important detail that was ignored in the LNG importation strategy is funding for docking and regasification facilities for the LNG tankers. Brown has indicated that the generators will fund these rather than the government but industry word is that the generating companies seem to have more insight than Simeon into the folly of locking in an emissions heavy and volatile priced feedstock for their thermal parts and absolutely resist investing in this infrastructure.
To Simeon’s credit he doesn’t lie the way Reti, Potaka, and others do; he just ploughs on because of ideology - doesn’t pretend to care about advice or evidence. I guess his hands on approach to Waka Kotahi is aided and abetted by putting Soyman Bridges in as Chair
"This is what happens when your politicians are more concerned about ideological purity than actual people." I think this is a crucial comment, and I think it can perhaps be most obviously seen in Aotearoa NZ the programmes of David Seymour and ACT. For example, despite evidence of the negative impacts of cutting food in schools, impacts on both children and on local businesses, the change was progressed. It is difficult to see how reliance on food generated by an overseas company that has faced complaints about its practices is of benefit to Aotearoa NZ. There may be a (short-term) balance-sheet benefit, but the long-term impacts are potentially very significant. For me, this is an example of (neo-liberal) ideology blanketing what is good for people.
My concern with Uncle Luxon being rolled is who is going to take over? A person who is more polished, astute as a politician & charismatic may prove to be even more problematic.
I also can't help but think there is a potential for factions to form in the CoC. One side being the politicians who quite like the 'no leash" leadership of Luxon & as Bernard mentioned the "back benchers" who have to answer to their constituents. Conflicts between those two groups may crop up.
I think Judith has had her chance and blown it. My guess would be Bishop. He often has a not-so-lean and hungry look when standing behind Luxon. I imagine his economic policies are probably dire but I think he has more empathy for Māori which Luxon clearly lacks.
I know what you mean. My take on Judith is that although she’s has the chutzpah, her time has probably passed. But the very fact she’s in the discussion shows how thin they are for talent.
How is he actually blocking these projects? Waka Kotahi is not meant to be directly controlled by the Minister. It's meant to be at arms length, with only policy (GPS) and budget set by the government.
He rewrote the policy so it was impossible for NZTA to fund projects with cycle lanes and speed bumps included
As we have seen from court cases, policy is often just aspiration. But the Minister directly rejecting projects seems to break independence.
Can he not read the stats on our rate of accidents? Who is advising him? Surely we need a minister of transport who can actually understand our issues. Speed bumps and safe cycle lanes save lives. The cost of one road accident must cost loads (it brings our Auckland motorways to a halt every day seemingly. And let's face it we our roads are largely lawless with no traffic cops anymore and few speed cameras and none on Waiheke. I could make a fortune with a speed cam on Mako Street and bring in loads of revenue for this island and put it into cycleways. Could we take him to court for endangering the lives of people in Warkworth. I know that intersection and yes, it's dreadful. The new design looks way, way better.
Yep, this says it all - https://substack.com/history/post/151450695 - the key point being, Simeon currently is sitting on a legacy of 'overseeing' the biggest road toll decrease in recorded history (on the basis of Labour's lowered speed limits). Unbelievably, instead of simply putting his feet up on his desk and basking in the (unearned) glory of those stats, he is laser-focused on reversing that record and worse!
He doesn't care. In response to a question on removal of proposed raised crossing upgrade on a motorway onramp feed between a sports facility and primary school, at another location, his response was 'Nice to see'.
(Edited to correct a from memory ' 'Good to see' to accurate 'Nice to see')
To reiterate my point. It's not just him. Notional apolitical Officers and Directors are enabling the willful destruction of planning processes. Why? Not hard to contrast how hard it was to add this basic active mode infrastructure to planning under the Labour government.
Stupid simpering Simeon should be reported to the ICC for crimes against humanity. Perfect example of arrogance
Combined with ignorance. I hope families of loved ones killed by his policies will do so.
Patrick Medlicott
Simple Simon met a pieman going to the fair. Said simple Simon to the pieman, "Go to you know where!"
That intersection is a shocker for sure, but the redesign is also a mess. That car park should just go or at least have the access not off the main road. I appreciate that there is probably a different owner of the section on Matakana road, but having the entrance cut across the pedestrian walkway that close to the roundabout will lead to a lot of near misses from people trying to cross and motorists ducking into the carpark access. ( either that or move the pedestrian walkway through the carpark rather than following the roadway. )
perhaps this is part of the issue of rolling up active transport into these projects, they end up being tacked on the side of roading and no real thought is placed on how they are accessed or if they may be better more separate.
Cycling could save us. We spend at least $11 billion on fossil fuels per annum and $8 billion on new cars. That’s why we have a large trade deficit. Just imagine if children could cycle or walk safely to school. Not be dropped off by a car. Imagine if more people cycled to work or just the few kilometres to get groceries. Might reduce our obesity and other health problems. People like Simeon are not evidence based or rational. They just have prejudices. I’m about to head out for my daily ride amongst trees and with views of water. I will be in my happy place by the time I get home.
Connor Sharp over at Greater Auckland has plenty to say about Hill St.
https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2024/12/09/simeon-browns-fanaticism-kills-warkworth-intersection-fix/
For whom the toll bells?
For some light relief from this - at the other end of Warkworth the riverside walk is magical, especially as dusk is falling and the birds are active.
From your Saturday conversation, one thing that could both increase government revenue and also have an anti-climate change effect would be to link the two. Any change in CGT or wealth taxes brought in by a new government, involving the family home would only be prevented by having the house or apartment contributing to the national power grid. This will provide a real incentive for home owners to install a solar powered device, with or without a battery, in their home.
Yeah nah. Two different problems. Why should somebody like me that can afford to put solar on the house (just completed) and garage (in progress) avoid paying our fair share of tax because we have access to capital.
Realistically Labour/Greens/TPM need to unite on a wealth tax and own the language. Look what happened when the opposition labelled the removal of a defence against assaulting children as "anti smacking"
This tax needs to be labelled as the "one per cent tax" i.e. it grabs the richest one per cent, not those in the middle.
I blame Simeon’s parents - they shouldn’t be allowing him to play truant from school as he clearly has a lot to learn
Haha, I was just about to say something similar - maybe Simeon is still holding a grudge because mum and dad didn't get him that sweet orange BMX he wanted for Christmas...
Where's Seymour and the Education Police! Report that Brown boy immediately! (reference to Simeon - just to be clear!!!)
“Seymour rejects his officials’ advice.” Says everything 🤦♀️
Another one: the botony busway. Makes PT in east auckland a LOT better - like, substantially, and more so when the CRL is finished.
I dont think he blocked it (cos it was already a long way on) but he did delay it and shit-talked it for ages.
And thats both HIS and Luxon's electorates. The traffic out there, normally, is horrific, and no where to put another 10 lane highway.
Simple Simon is like a junkie
"Just one more lane bro, I promise
One more lane will fix everything
One more lane bro, please I swear
One more lane .."
National transport ministers have form - Brownlee rejecting an opportunity to build NW Motorway bus lanes, and holding up CRL. Bridges and rail delays.
Are Simeon Brown and David Seymour related? They sure seem to share an unwavering belief that they have the right to reshape Aotearoa in their own image.
Both offspring of the Atlas Network
This relationship was also made obvious in Jack Tame's Q&A interview of Simeon Brown in the wake of last winter's 'electricity crisis'. Brown's focus was in importing LNG for thermal generation and was totally dismissive and ignorant of the roll that widespread rooftop solar could play in supplementing NZ's generation capacity using offsetting of hydro generation as a national scale battery. Brown's allegiances along with those of Shane Jones lie with their fossil fuel overlords.
This 'crisis' is still bubbling along in the background and will come back to turn the heat up on the coalition when factors again align, including a significant downgrade in NZ's natural gas supplies in the coming year, and one important detail that was ignored in the LNG importation strategy is funding for docking and regasification facilities for the LNG tankers. Brown has indicated that the generators will fund these rather than the government but industry word is that the generating companies seem to have more insight than Simeon into the folly of locking in an emissions heavy and volatile priced feedstock for their thermal parts and absolutely resist investing in this infrastructure.
"industry word"
any information about where this is obtained from?
I certainly hope it is correct.
A relative within the oil and gas industry, and I'm not quoting oilfield gossip.
You were saying… https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-members-appointed-eeca-board That would be John Carnegie head the fossil fuel lobby group Energy Resources Aotearoa, formerly PEPANZ.
Yes, they both have the zealot about them. Simeon reminds me of Angelo in Measure for Measure.
To Simeon’s credit he doesn’t lie the way Reti, Potaka, and others do; he just ploughs on because of ideology - doesn’t pretend to care about advice or evidence. I guess his hands on approach to Waka Kotahi is aided and abetted by putting Soyman Bridges in as Chair
"This is what happens when your politicians are more concerned about ideological purity than actual people." I think this is a crucial comment, and I think it can perhaps be most obviously seen in Aotearoa NZ the programmes of David Seymour and ACT. For example, despite evidence of the negative impacts of cutting food in schools, impacts on both children and on local businesses, the change was progressed. It is difficult to see how reliance on food generated by an overseas company that has faced complaints about its practices is of benefit to Aotearoa NZ. There may be a (short-term) balance-sheet benefit, but the long-term impacts are potentially very significant. For me, this is an example of (neo-liberal) ideology blanketing what is good for people.
Hmmm???
My concern with Uncle Luxon being rolled is who is going to take over? A person who is more polished, astute as a politician & charismatic may prove to be even more problematic.
I also can't help but think there is a potential for factions to form in the CoC. One side being the politicians who quite like the 'no leash" leadership of Luxon & as Bernard mentioned the "back benchers" who have to answer to their constituents. Conflicts between those two groups may crop up.
Be cautious with what one may wish for.
Who have they got? Bishop, McClay, Willis, my money would be on Judith😧
I think Judith has had her chance and blown it. My guess would be Bishop. He often has a not-so-lean and hungry look when standing behind Luxon. I imagine his economic policies are probably dire but I think he has more empathy for Māori which Luxon clearly lacks.
I know what you mean. My take on Judith is that although she’s has the chutzpah, her time has probably passed. But the very fact she’s in the discussion shows how thin they are for talent.