The result of next year’s election is anyone’s guess. This week’s Reid Research polling shows the left and right blocks deadlocked on 60 seats each – a hung Parliament. 

It’s early days, and those numbers will almost certainly move. The Coalition is only two-thirds of the way through its term, while the Opposition have yet to release detailed policy platforms. 

But what the poll does highlight is the uncertainty facing the country, and the risks that poses for transport and infrastructure. 

Right now, the Government is progressing one of the biggest transport and infrastructure programmes in decades. That includes Roads of National and Regional Significance, record levels of road maintenance investment, and critical revenue reform: a transition to universal Road User Charges, time-of-use charging, and updated tolling arrangements. 

These are long-term reforms and investments. They cannot be delivered within a single three-year term, and they are too important to be delayed, cancelled, or reset. 

That is why Transporting New Zealand is calling on all political parties to commit to the following bipartisan transport and infrastructure pledges as we head into election year: 

1. Support the infrastructure pipeline by maintaining the projects identified in the National Land Transport Programme 2024–2027, including Roads of National and Regional Significance. 

2. Maintain road maintenance and economic growth as strategic priorities in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport. 

3. Back low-emission and high-productivity vehicles through continued land transport rule reform and pricing incentives. 

4. Follow through on road revenue reform, including the transition to Road User Charges for all vehicles from 2027 (at the earliest). 

5. Support sustainable transport funding through tolling and greater use of public-private partnerships. 

There are reasons to be optimistic. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has repeatedly stressed the importance of a bipartisan investment approach. Labour’s Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere has indicated to Transporting New Zealand that he doesn’t want to see contracts or projects cancelled. 

Securing bipartisan commitments from all parties would be a major boost to New Zealand’s economic recovery and to getting projects delivered quickly and affordably. After a string of delivery failures during the COVID years and their aftermath, the last thing we can afford is another reset. 

Members will hear more from both Labour and National at our upcoming Road Freight Seminar in Napier next month – register today to be part of the discussion. 

Dom Kalasih, Chief executive of Transporting New Zealand