Locals in Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay & Manawatu outraged over Simeon Brown’s plan to toll new highway replacing the closed Manawatu Gorge road; First big test of entire National infrastructure funding plan
Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, September 18:
Locals gathered in Woodville last night to protest at the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s decision to toll the new road linking the Manawatu and Hawkes Bay, saying it will hurt vulnerable workers and dump repair costs for the free alternative route back onto the council, which is campagining against the toll.
In scoop of the day,Health NZ Commissioner Lester Levy is working only three days a week for $320,000 per year in his key role to hack out $1.4 billion in costs, The Post-$$$’s Rachel Thomas reports this morning.
In deep-dive of the day, officials have warned the Government’s policy to lengthen sentences would double the prison population and isn’t feasible, NZ Herald-$$$’s Derek Cheng writes this morning.
In solutions news, a group of academics have called for a rooftop solar campaign to solve energy shortages and improve resilience.
In quote of the day, Tararua’s Mayor asked what was the point of a new road that few could afford.
In chart of the day, methane levels have spiked in the Arctic.
(There is more detail, analysis and links to documents below the paywall fold and in the podcast above for paying subscribers. If we get over 100 likes we’ll open it up for public reading, listening and sharing)
1. National’s tolling strategy faces big revolt in heartland
1News screenshot of Woodville public meeting on tolling the road.
National MPS in Rangitikei, Wairarapa, Ōtaki and Tuki Tuki face revolts from voters angry at the last minute proposal for a $4.30/car and $8.60/truck toll on the new road due to open next year that links the Manawatu and Hawkes Bay.
Locals gathered last night in a packed meeting in Woodville to protest the plan, which is the first test of National’s tolling-led strategy to fund big new infrastructure. The Tararua Council has launched a campaign against the plan.
The new road over the Tararuas linking Manawatu and Hawkes Bay is due to open next year. Photo supplied by Waka Kotahi NZTA.
Tararua Mayor Tracey Collis is leading the campaign, publishing this statement on Monday, while 1News covered it last night, as did RNZ’sJimmy Ellingham on Checkpoint.
Tararua Mayor Tracey Collis and the Tararua District Council are campaigning against the proposed toll. Photo: for RNZ by Jimmy Ellingham
A key issue is the road is replacing the now-closed Manawatu Gorge road, and was supposed to allow locals to stop using the Pahiatua Track road. However, Waka Kotahi-NZTA’s modelling shows about 4,000 vehicles a day would continue to use the Pahiatua Track to avoid the toll, leaving about 7,000 on the new road.
Tararua mayor Tracey Collis said her council would be left covering the increased maintenance costs.
Much of that is subsidised by the transport agency, but the district was already battling to cover costs on its large roading network from a ratepayer base of about 10,000.
"The Saddle Road and Pahīatua Track - they were existing farm roads. They were never designed for that level of traffic flowing over them."
The council has launched a Stop the Tolls campaign, while on Tuesday night community committee Positively Woodville was holding a public meeting to rally support.
Collis said she was unimpressed the consultation was online only, and open for just a few weeks. 1News
Jimmy Ellingham recorded locals further south with similar protests.
In Dannevirke, Shires Fruit and Vege Market co-owner Suresh Patel has already made a submission to the transport agency's online consultation, which closes in early October.
"It was such a surprise," he said.
"We've been waiting for the new road to open for quite some time now - seven or eight years - and there was never any talk to any toll charges at all."
The proposed charges are $4.30 a trip for light vehicles and $8.60 for trucks, which Patel said was an unexpected cost for businesses to absorb.
It would cost Shires $3500 a year, he said.
A particular problem is the need for commuters to Palmerston North and the Linton army camp, who moved to the Wairarapa for cheaper housing.
Meg Munro, 17, is planning to study at Massey University in Palmerston North, and live in Dannevirke to save money after spending next year in a hall of residence.
But the tolling proposal had put a spoke in that plan.
"It's a lot of money on top of what you'd already have to spent just to get over there for fuel and all of that.
"Paying nearly $50 a week is out of the budget for students, especially."
Munro was considering living in Palmerston North, or only using the slower Saddle Road.
Locals having to use the Palmerston North hospital were also concerned, as Ellingham reported.
Tararua residents also worried about access to healthcare.
When the old Dannevirke Hospital closed in the 1990s, Palmerston North became the destination for specialist care, as Dannevirke man Wilson Duff and his wife Debbie have found since she suffered a fall.
Duff said Debbie required at least weekly visits for about 18 months.
He worried people on fixed incomes, such as superannuation, would choose not to make the trip as often as they should if they had to pay.
Nurse Andrea Short had similar worries.
"We were promised an equitable service when they shut our hospital here. We've never had it."
Transport Minister Simeon Brown continues to talk up the benefits of the road, especially for freight operators.
Brown said the new highway was a significant upgrade for the region, rather than just a replacement project.
"Motorists and freight operators will also significantly benefit from travel time savings of 12-14 minutes per trip, and there are two alternatives for those who don't want to pay the toll."
Time savings and efficiency benefits from the new road would outweigh the cost of the toll for freight operators, he said.
Angry meeting shows toll road faces big fight
Tararua District Mayor Tracey Collis called the proposal "a kick in the guts to the community", 1News reported.
"In the cost of living crisis, we simply do not have the money."
Local councillor Scott Gilmore added that there needed to be "a stop to this ridiculous proposal".
Chants of 'Toll-free Tararua' rang out as a question and answer session got underway with local National MPs and NZTA.
"The announcement to potentially toll our replacement road Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū-Tararua Highway was a bolt out of the blue for many with the proposed tolls amongst the highest in the country," Collis said.
Collis said there were several factors behind community opposition to tolling.
"This is fundamentally different from other proposed toll roads, which are new builds. The toll proposal does not fully acknowledge the unique context of this project, where we are replacing vital infrastructure that has been lost."
She also said tolling was not part of the original business case for the project and, if residents ended up avoiding the road due to tolling costs, it would not achieve its goal of being a safe and efficient route.
"This was a road of great hope for our district with the growth that it promised. What good is it to our district to have a wonderful safe new highway that few can afford to use?"
Climate and cost of living:More rooftop solar in cities would help solve NZ’s energy crisis – and build disaster resilience. Op-Ed in The Conversation by Priscila Besen, Auckland University of Technology; Andrew Burgess, Auckland University of Technology; Ann Morrison, Auckland University of Technology; Imelda Piri, Auckland University of Technology, and Stacy Vallis, Auckland University of Technology
5. Quote of the day
“This was a road of great hope for our district with the growth that it promised. What good is it to our district to have a wonderful safe new highway that few can afford to use?" Tararua District Mayor Tracey Collis via 1News
The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, September 18
Housing: Architecture product library EBOSS and New Zealand Certified Builders published research estimating that 2023 insulation standards can be met for as little as $2,200, if factored in during the design phases of building projects. EBOSS Managing Director Matthew Duder said the expected gains in energy efficiency from insulation will also quickly offset the costs.
Poverty: Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced that low-to-middle income families can now apply for ECE cost support under the new 'FamilyBoost' scheme. Under the scheme, families earning up to $180,000 can claim up to 25% of weekly childcare fees, up to a maximum of $975 every three months.
Health: Advocacy group Patient Voice Aotearoa is petitioning the Government to fix staffing shortages at Buller Hospital, RNZ reported. The petition notes that Buller has no ambulance service and that there's only one rescue helicopter to service the West Coast.
Electricity:Transpower's weekly report showed that national hydro storage reached 104% of the historic mean last week, marking the first time it has been above the mean since May. Average wholesale electricity prices increased from the week prior, however, with the largest increase in Ōtāhuhu from $20 to $89/MWh.
Poverty: A UNICEFreport found that regional employment schemes, while bringing financial benefits to Pacific families, are leading to in some cases to marital breakdowns and mothers being "overburdened" with care responsibilites. The report also detailed educational impacts for older siblings called on to look after younger children. RNZ
Employment:E tū said Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke Van Velden refused to meet with unions to discuss upcoming changes to the Employment Relations Act, but "has met with Uber". E tū said the changes will prevent gig economy workers from challenging their employment status in future.
Tolling revolt brewing in National heartland