6151 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Rail

Written Question

Published date: 11 Mar 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	6151 (2026)
Question asked:	25 Feb 2026
Member asking:	Tangi Utikere
Portfolio:	Minister for Rail
Minister replying:	Rt Hon Winston Peters
Answer received:	05 Mar 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_06151_2026
Document guid:	8ef6c99c-7c7b-41db-8c33-4680a75f7bc1

6151 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Rail: What analysis has been done comparing the short-term fiscal savings from rail cuts with the increased cost to Waka Kotahi for road damage caused by heavier freight traffic shifting from rail to trucks, if any?

Rt Hon Winston Peters: There is an assumption that this change to RNIP funding will cause freight to move from rail to road. It is not clear this is the case, noting KiwiRail's freight volumes have increased in the recent half-year period by 7 per cent while the truckometer indicated road freight volumes lifted by 2 per cent.