51419 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport

51419 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport: Further to his response to WPQ 50091 (2025), on what basis does NZTA expect maintenance costs over the next five years to be lower than in the previous five years?

Hon Chris Bishop: NZTA has advised that maintenance costs over the next five years are expected to be lower than in the previous five years due to the comprehensive recovery and resilience works completed as part of the recovery works completed from the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle. These works included: • stabilisation of over- and under-slips • installation of protective caging on over slips • significant drainage improvements • full asphalt resurfacing • installation of wire rope barriers and guardrails. These upgrades have already resulted in reduced maintenance needs and are expected to continue delivering benefits. The road is now more resilient and less prone to the types of damage that previously required reactive maintenance.