Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

will recapture the momentum we started to ensure rail can play its full part in building a more
sustainable New Zealand.
We will keep New Zealand‟s rail in public hands. We believe that with our rail system in
public ownership, we can make the strategic decisions and investments necessary for rail to
succeed. Over time, we will be able to move more freight off our roads and onto rail.
Labour will invest in maintaining and modernising KiwiRail to ensure it remains a
viable and sustainable transport solution.
One of the most valuable resources that KiwiRail has is its human capital, including workers
at the Dunedin Hillside Workshops and the Hutt Railway Workshops in Gracefield. In the
future, we must ensure that KiwiRail can bid competitively and produce our own trains and
rolling stock to a high standard.
Keeping it local
The 41 jobs lost at KiwiRail‟s Hillside Workshops in June illustrate the real-life effects of
a government not having a good procurement policy. The Hillside workshop and is the
repository of significant engineering expertise for New Zealand, and one of the largest
employers in Dunedin.
Retaining our skilled tradespeople, such as those at the Hillside Workshops, is crucial for our
economic growth. We want people to stay in New Zealand and develop and use their skills.
We want industries that are productive. We should back New Zealand firms whenever we
can instead of exporting jobs offshore.
Labour is committed to implementing a modern, sustainable, WTO-compliant,
procurement regime.
Labour will review the existing components of government procurement to ensure
they are fit for purpose, accessible and practicable. We will ensure they operate
equitably with respect to access for Kiwi firms, in line with Australian Federal and
State contracts.
See Labour‟s Procurement policy for more details.
Roads of National Significance
Labour disagrees with four more projects being added to the existing list of seven “Roads of
National Significance.” These new projects are: Hamilton to Tauranga, Cambridge to Taupo,
further development of the Hawke‟s Bay Expressway and further development of State
Highway 1 north and south of the current Christchurch motorway projects.
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