No disclosure

The NZ Herald reports:

The Green Party has criticised the Government’s multi-billion dollar plans for more roads, saying Auckland can become an international city only if it focuses on clean, efficient transport. …

The Greens would redirect most of the funding earmarked for the $1.7 billion “holiday highway” between Puhoi and Wellsford and provide more options for Auckland Council to pay its 40 per cent share of the project.

University of Auckland economist Rhema Vaithianathan said the highway funding was equivalent to $1500 for every Northland household each year for the rest of their lives.   

Now in quoting Dr Vaithianathan in favour of the Green and Labour party policy, would it not be relevant to mention she sought Labour’s nomination for Mt Albert, and is or was a member of the Labour Party economic policy committee?

Incidentially Dr Vaitiananthan is reported as being in favour of more congestion:

But Rhema Vaithianathan shocked more than a few of us, pointing out that while we perceive the opposite, Auckland congestion is by world standards, actually amongst the lowest in the world, and how good it would be if we had much more of it!

So we can only assume Labour and Green policy is to increase congestion to punish people for having cars. This graph from AKT shows the impact of the CBD rail loop:

So the rail loop’s projected  impact on congestion is extremely minor. This is not to say it is a bad thing to do, but it is not the silver bullet some portray it as.