Jones won’t give Northland what they want

The Herald reports:

A stoush has broken out between Northland regional transport committee chairman John Bain and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones, with Jones stating Bain “has had his day”.
The war of words started yesterday at a sod turning for upgrades to the Loop Rd and State Highway 1 intersection south of Whangārei.
During his speech, Jones turned his attention to the much discussed four lane highway between Whangārei and Auckland, and said he and Bain were on “different sides of the debate”.

Everyone up north is on a different side to Jones.

Whangārei’s National MP Dr Shane Reti pointed out all of the Northland mayors and the regional council chairman travelled to Wellington last year to lobby Transport Minister Phil Twyford for the four lane highway.

Giving them some chicken feed money for some minor roads, while refusing to fund the main access road, is not popular up north. Every local Council says a proper access road between Auckland and Northland is what is needed, but Jones can’t deliver it because of the Greens.