'Light rail is not an outdated technology' - Auckland Mayor, Ardern meet to talk rail, fuel tax, housing and the Port

November 2, 2017

Phil Goff has indicated he wants to introduce Maori Wards, but needs central government for that to happen.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Phil Goff, the Mayor of Auckland and former leader of the Labour Party have formally met for the first time in their official roles to delve into Auckland's transport, housing and Port, but left out any talk of the introduction of Maori Wards. 

"It's been an excellent, productive meeting," Ms Ardern said after emerging with Mr Goff. 

"We continue to share some key priorities; housing affordability, transport infrastructure and a shared view in the need to improve water quality."

A "brief" conversation was had about the Port of Auckland, with Ms Ardern saying she had "always opposed port expansion at its current site".

Auckland Council are planning to relocate the city's downtown port, and port chief executive Tony Gibson offered a few words on their Draft 30-year Master Plan for the "big job".

Gibson said the location for the new port is yet to be determined.

Mr Goff said he "welcomes the fact the government has committed to an Upper North Island study".

"It doesn't make sense for Auckland to make a decision in isolation to what the region and the country actually needs."

He said Kiwi Build would make a "huge difference" in housing lower-income families in Auckland, and the build of new transport infrastructure was "dealing with our massive problem of traffic congestion". 

"What council can do without government is incredibly limited, what we can do together is more than the sum of the different parities," Mr Goff said. 

He said the addition of "800 cars" a week to Auckland roads was "absolutely unsustainable". 

"Light rail is not an outdated technology," he said in reference to the plan to introduce trams. 

"This will be a way we can combat the growing congestion in Auckland."

Ms Ardern said the regional fuel tax was a way Aucklanders could have some "skin in the game" in contributing to their transport infrastructure roll-out. 

Mr Goff said the fuel tax would be on average an additional $2.60 a week for drivers, compared to increasing rates which would be a "totally unsustainable" 15 per cent.

The pair did not discuss the introduction of Maori Wards, which the Auckland Council voted favourably in principle in September to introduce legislation, but would need central government to allow the move. 

"I'm not going to pre-empt a request that's not been made to us officially from council, we haven't had that conversation," Ms Ardern said. 

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