Hello Friend, 

The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is delivering a long overdue funding injection for rail in Northland. The $94.8 million investment will go towards maintaining and improving the North Auckland Line between Swanson and Whangarei.

Rt Hon Winston Peters Minister for State Owned Enterprises, and Hon Shane Jones Minister for Regional Economic Development proudly made the announcement today. Without this funding this rail line to Whangarei will become unsafe, and have to close within five years. This would be devastating to the region.

This initiative will help improve freight services by making them more timely, reliable, and resilient to weather events. About 54 kilometres of the 181 kilometre track will be replaced or upgraded; tens of thousands of sleepers will be replaced, tens of thousands of cubic metres of ballast will be added; aging bridges will be replaced; overdue maintenance work on tunnels will be carried out; ditches will be cleared and embankments will be stabilized.

New Zealand First is dedicated to investing in rail projects across the country.

“We are investing more than a billion dollars to get New Zealand’s rail system back on track, so rail can play its proper role in reducing road congestion and emissions across our transport system,” New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters said.

“We’re happy that our policies are working, and with your support we can get more done. Donate now to help us put New Zealand First.”