34350 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport

Written Question

Published date: 21 Aug 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	34350 (2026)
Question asked:	02 Aug 2026
Member asking:	Tangi Utikere
Portfolio:	Minister of Transport
Minister replying:	Hon Chris Bishop
Answer received:	17 Aug 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_34350_2026
Document guid:	b073f781-e06a-4b29-ab25-7b6d6a70d5a9

34350 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport: When, if at all, was he first advised that rising cost estimates would require a reprioritisation of the Roads of National Significance programme, ahead of the reprioritisation he announced in July 2026?

Hon Chris Bishop: I have long been aware of rising cost-pressures on the National Land Transport Fund, and that there are many competing priorities for Crown funding. I refer the Member to page three of the January 2025 Briefing to the Incoming Minister of Transport, publicly available on the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions, and Transport website here: www.transport.govt.nz/about-us/our-corporate-publications