Press release - January 27, 2016
Today’s announcement that the Government will contribute funding to a city rail link in Auckland despite Prime Minister John Key’s past resistance to it, shows that public pressure is working, says Greenpeace’s executive director Russel Norman.
During his lunchtime State of the Nation speech, Key revealed the Government would formalise its $2.5 billion funding commitment from 2020, which will allow the main construction on the City Rail Link to begin in 2018 - two years earlier than planned.
“This is a huge win for people power,” says Greenpeace’s Norman. “John Key and the National Party have been dead-set against funding a rail link for years – in fact, they’ve made very disparaging comments about it.
“The fact Key has changed his tune now, shows he’s buckled under the massive pressure applied by the public, transport campaign groups and the Auckland Council. It’s fantastic news and will make a big difference for all of us living here in Auckland, as well as have a flow-on effect to the rest of the country.
“Of course, it could have been done sooner, but it is nonetheless a huge victory for people power.”
The City Rail Link will also help reduce our oil dependency and climate pollution, says Norman.