Rally against Te Ahu a Turanga toll
After years of paying out, and Mother Nature closing the Gorge Road, we’re finally getting our fair share. For years, our region’s fuel taxes have helped build Auckland’s toll-free Waterview Tunnel, the toll-free Kāpiti Expressway, the toll-free Waikato Expressway, the toll-free Transmission Gully, toll-free Christchurch motorway – you get the picture. Toll free.
In recent years, workers have been carving Te Ahu a Turanga onto the Ruahine Range, a four-lane road to Tararua District, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa. Just like every other toll-free road, that work has been funded by fuel taxes.
Or that was our understanding, until we got a nasty surprise a few weeks ago. With construction on the home stretch, a road toll proposal hit the headlines. An eye-watering $8.60 for each round trip between Ashhurst and Woodville, or $17.20 in a heavy vehicle.
This despite the alternative routes, Saddle Rd and Pahiatua Track, being far more dangerous. This, despite a toll pushing over a third of state highway traffic through Ashhurst – a community that has endured much and deserves better.
This despite a toll driving up council costs for local roads damaged by toll-avoiders in three districts; despite the impact on those least able to afford it; despite there being no viable bus or train options; despite the fact our fuel taxes have helped build toll-free roads in other regions for many, many years.
Our transport systems absolutely need greater investment, and to get climate smart. Road transport is way under-priced, but retrospectively tolling this road is not the answer.
Fortunately, there’s a better way. A way that keeps this vital regional connection toll free. That sees everyone contribute in proportion to their total road use. That sees Ashhurst fully freed from state highway traffic. A way that doesn’t hit Tararua district residents the hardest. A way that rewards efficiency, and encourages the use of safer roads. That sees our region get our fair share.
That way is a simple choice to use the existing fuel tax system, and its buddy the road-user charge. They’re a proven, fair, simple and efficient way to fund the future-ready transport system we all deserve.
It’s a mean trick to artificially suppress everyone’s fuel tax on the one hand, and with the other hand, hit some of us with a toll. It’s deeply unfair.
Fuel taxes have already hauled millions out of this region, and rightly so. But now, we face paying twice for this $620 million road. Once with tolls, and once with unavoidable fuel taxes and road-user charges.
The proposal is most unfair for our friends in the Tararua district, creating a daily barrier to people accessing health, education and employment opportunities here in the city; for whom there is no commuter passenger service.
At $8.60 return and rising, that will add up fast, even with more carpools.
It doesn’t have to be this way. We can fight this, and we should. We have the opportunity to call for Te Ahu a Turanga to stay toll free. Have your say via the NZTA submission process until October 7. And take it further.
Call your local MP, mayor and councillors. Get organised. Many voices and sound reasoning can change minds and help create a fairer, safer and more efficient transport system for everyone. Brent Barrett is a Palmerston North City councillor.