Local body elections are being held on 12 October, and no doubt you’ve seen fences and street corners plastered with signage. As an Electorate MP, most issues raised with me by constituents are in the domain of Auckland Council, with a majority of these issues being on congestion and public transport – realms of Auckland Transport (AT). The lack of progress on easing congestion and improving public transport alone shows the importance of electing representatives that will hold Council and AT accountable.

Auckland is Australasia’s most congested city – bypassing cities such as Melbourne and Sydney. Public transport is part of the solution out of this mess, and that’s why I’ve pushed hard for AT to fix the Northcote Point ferry wharf. It's also why I’m supportive of the Shared Path across the Harbour Bridge. Public transport, however, is not a one-size-fits-all solution for the majority. Right now 87% of Kaipatiki commuters travel by private vehicle, with AT projections indicating this rate to grow to 83% by 2028. It is critical that we continue to invest in roading and infrastructure in order to keep our city moving – but this current Council and Central Government sadly disagree.

The previous National-led Government’s approach saw real investment in infrastructure over our term. Projects like the Waterview tunnel, which cuts travel times and eases congestion, show the importance of investment in large-scale projects. However, we’re now lacking this forward-thinking approach in both Council and Central Government. Their alternatives look to force commuters onto bikes or buses. This approach is both arrogant and ignorant – no wonder AT has the worst reputation amongst all our public organisations.

Electing the right people in our upcoming elections is crucial for our success as a city. I encourage you all to:

1) Assess the track records of incumbents;
2) Read the policies of all candidates; and
3) Elect people who will hold AT and the CCOs to account over poor local delivery.

The reason I joined the National Party was because I believe in the importance of a strong economy. My parents were small business owners, so through that lens I discovered the power of the private sector to transform lives and lift people out of poverty. Only our party believes that a strong economy is at the heart of prosperous communities. Without a strong economy, we’re unable to lift investment in our core public services or tackle our key environment issues.

National has recently published an Economy Discussion Document on how we aim to grow incomes and productivity, reduce the cost of living and offer stable economic management. The document can be found at national.org.nz/discussion_documents and your input is appreciated! We welcome your feedback as part of our policy development heading toward 2020.

I’m always wanting to hear from constituents on matters facing you, and if you’d like to receive my Bidois Bulletin newsletter, please do email me at dan.bidois@parliament.govt.nz

Dan Bidois MP