10. PHIL TWYFORD (Labour—Te Atatū) to the Minister of Transport: What involvement, meetings or contact did his predecessor have with Infratil, NZ Bus or Snapper Services regarding Auckland’s integrated ticketing system, and what involvement did the Government have in the decision to include Snapper in the project?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister of Transport) : I am advised that my predecessor did not have any meetings, contacts, or involvement with Infratil, NZ Bus, or Snapper specifically on Auckland’s integrated ticketing projects. He did meet with these organisations. On 12 December 2008 he met with Infratil. On 19 February 2009 he met with NZ Bus regarding the Public Transport Management Act. On 18 June 2009 he met with NZ Bus at the launch of the Wellington flyer service; on 3 March 2010 he met with Lloyd Morrison. And on 24 June 2011 he met with NZ Bus at the launch of its fleet replacement programme. It is possible that integrated ticketing was raised at these events. Ministers, though, had no involvement in the decision to include Snapper in the Auckland integrated fares scheme.

Phil Twyford: Did his predecessor discuss in any of those meetings with NZ Bus, Infratil, or Snapper the proposal for the Snapper card to be rolled out in Auckland in advance of the integrated ticketing system?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: The only involvement that Ministers have had in this is to insist to the New Zealand Transport Agency that the systems it puts in place are flexible. Ministers have had no involvement in the decision to include Snapper in the integrated system.

Phil Twyford: What actions did his predecessor take that led him to say to reporters yesterday that the Government was only trying to be fair to Infratil and Snapper in allowing the Snapper card to be rolled out in advance of the integrated ticketing system?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: In order to answer that, I think it only fair that I state what the question was. The question related to why the Government has not done something about this, and I simply said that given the negotiations that have occurred between Auckland Transport, the New Zealand Transport Agency, and Snapper, with the date for the go button on the integrated ticketing system having been extended right out to, now, 30 November 2012, it was, in fact, in order that they have more time to integrate their system with the Thales system, which will be the base of the operation.

Phil Twyford: Did his predecessor intervene on behalf of Infratil to pressure the Auckland Regional Transport Authority and, subsequently, Auckland Transport, and the Land Transport New Zealand boards to allow the Snapper card to be rolled out in advance of the integrated ticketing system?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: No, that is not my understanding. The member may want to take that up with Auckland Transport.