Ian McLean Spokesperson for the Green Party

This government is spending around $12 billion on ‘roads of national significance'. At least some of those roads are known to be uneconomic.

But we are told that $4 million needed to repair the Napier-Gisborne rail line is ‘uneconomic'. What's more, the on-going maintenance on that line is ‘too high'. A BERL report out on January 15 disputes both conclusions.

Instead of rail, the link is to be maintained by truck traffic on the winding road through Wairoa, a road that supports tourists, school buses, local commuters, shopping mothers, and more. Government should grab any opportunity to keep heavy traffic off that road.

I write this from gorgeous Wainui Beach, just north of Gisborne. The road north around the cape is between me and the beach, and it carries 20 logging trucks an hour. That is one every three minutes, all day.

Crossing to the beach with the children is terrifying. I can't imagine riding a bike, driving a rented camper van, or taking the children to school on that highway. Without the trucks, it would be quieter, safer, and much more attractive.

Ian McLean is the Green Party spokesperson for Tauranga – Bay of Plenty.