24291 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport

Written Question

Published date: 15 Jun 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	24291 (2026)
Question asked:	01 Jun 2026
Member asking:	Tangi Utikere
Portfolio:	Minister of Transport
Minister replying:	Hon Chris Bishop
Answer received:	09 Jun 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_24291_2026
Document guid:	b4ce73a0-8785-4e2d-821a-2229320ed69a

24291 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport: What is the Minister's assessment, if any, of whether the metropolitan and national rail activities funded in Budget 2026 from reprioritised Rail Network Investment Programme 2024–2027 savings deliver better value or outcomes than the activities from which the funding was reprioritised, and what advice supports that assessment?

Hon Chris Bishop: KiwiRail no longer required the $170 million capital funding that was previously set aside in tagged contingency through Budget 2024 due to efficiencies and savings progressed. Reprioritising this funding to the 2027-30 RNIP means that it is still being used for a similar purpose, and is consistent with a continuous programme approach prioritising expenditure to the highest value for money activities over time. The Ministry of Transport will be undertaking a proactive release of documents informing Budget 2026 decisions, including advice related to these initiatives, in due course.