Transport funding risks abound

Transport funding risks abound
Dealing with pressure on the national land transport fund may require further petrol tax hikes. (Image: Getty)
Oliver Lewis
The next government may need to hike fuel taxes or pump in more crown funds to deal with pressure on the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF).The National party has said it won’t hike fuel taxes to pay for its $24 billion transport policy, while Labour has said it will hike the excise duty by 12 cents a litre over three years, beginning next July.Officials wanted the Labour government to make bigger hikes to cover the revenue shortfall in its $20.8b government policy statement on land transport; however, the government opted to use crown f...

More Policy

$200m gas fund may not be enough as Māui closure looms
Policy

$200m gas fund may not be enough as Māui closure looms

The fund has been expanded to cover gas storage.

Seymour promotes coal, nuclear, and privatisation
Policy

Seymour promotes coal, nuclear, and privatisation

Burning some coal to enable more renewable power "not a bad deal".

Pattrick Smellie 05 Nov 2025
EPA head quits with fast-track changes
Policy

EPA head quits with fast-track changes

The latest fast-track reforms go far beyond supermarket resource consenting.

DoC admits error: no decisions yet on stewardship land
Policy

DoC admits error: no decisions yet on stewardship land

The annual report mistake says announcements were made ... they weren't.

Ian Llewellyn 05 Nov 2025