5. TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West) to the Minister of Transport: What progress has been made on the Waikato Expressway road of national significance?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) : During the adjournment I was very pleased to attend the announcement in the member’s electorate of the $169 million funding package for the Te Rapa bypass. The Te Rapa section of the Waikato Expressway will provide better access to developing industrial areas in Hamilton and will reduce congestion around Te Rapa. Construction is expected to create up to 250 jobs directly, with many more downstream.

Tim Macindoe: What progress has been made on the rest of the Waikato Expressway?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: With this announcement and other announcements to come, three sections of the Waikato Expressway will be under construction by next year: Te Rapa, Rangiriri, and Ngāruawāhia. The Huntly section is currently being designed, and the Hamilton section will commence design this year. The Government remains committed to achieving its goal of completing the outstanding 79 kilometres of the Waikato Expressway within 10 years.

Sue Moroney: Is the Minister aware that today’s announcement on the Waikato Expressway simply reiterate the time frames already established under the previous Labour Government by Transit New Zealand in its forecast published back in 2007, and that today’s announcement is old news regurgitated to create the impression that he is making new progress on the Waikato Expressway?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: That is a very interesting statement to make. The interesting thing is that in the old days, of course, Transit liked to have plans, but the Government of the day would not front up with the money. In particular, the Government policy statement that the previous Government released prior to the election involved a reduction in State highway expenditure for building State highways, which we then turned round and increased so that the things could actually be built. This Government will be happy to stand on its record of construction on the Waikato Expressway, which is more than can be said for said for the previous Government over recent years.

Tim Macindoe: What recent progress has been made on other roads of national significance?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I am pleased to confirm that the New Zealand Transport Agency has begun the route investigation work for the Pūhoi to Wellsford section of State Highway 1. This route has the potential to transform the Northland economy by dramatically reducing travel times between the region and our largest economic powerhouse, Auckland. In addition, it will greatly improve safety along this dangerous stretch of highway by upgrading the road surface, improving intersections, and providing a median barrier.

Sue Moroney: I seek leave to table the Transit New Zealand State highway plan and forecast published in 2007, showing the Te Rapa bypass planned as announced today by the Minister.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is no objection.

• Document, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.