MP shuffle: Luxton loses offices, Meager looking at options
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Mid Canterbury will have two MPs in Wellington, but only one with an office in Ashburton
New Rangitata MP-elect James Meager is planning to spread his time across the electorate’s two main centres when he is not in Wellington.
Former Rangitata MP Jo Luxton is set to return to Parliament on the Labour Party list but will not keep her two offices or two electorate staff.
Previously, as a list MP Luxton had put a case forward for funding for an office “because we hadn’t had any Labour representation down here for many years".
It will not be the case this time.
“The budget is quite substantially less as a list MP and being in opposition," she said.
“The funds just really aren’t there to have it.
“I would have dearly loved to have maintained the offices and my team.”
As the electorate MP, Meager will take care of constituent work, but Luxton said she will remain a strong advocate for the electorate.
“I will continue to be a part of and involved in the community, attending events and meetings.”
The Speaker’s Directions 2023 has set the amounts of funding for each member for the next three years, divided into staff, non-staff (rent/expenses), and general sub-allocations.
it shows that in year 1, Meager is eligible for a total of $363,990 while Luxton is eligible for $241,342.
Her Ashburton office was formerly occupied by National MP Andrew Falloon, and Luxton said she had reached out to Meager about the potential opportunity to take over the office.
Meager is still awaiting the official confirmation of the election, which has been delayed due to requests for recounts in three electorates. He has confirmed plans to have an office in both Ashburton and Timaru.
“It's important to have a presence in both major towns in our electorate,” Meager said.
“I will be splitting my recess/non-Wellington time as evenly between Mid and South Canterbury as I can.
“We haven't even been formally confirmed as MPs yet, so decisions on leases are still likely to be a few weeks away.”
He is looking at options for locations, and taking into consideration Parliament’s requirements around things like accessibility and security.
“There’s a Parliamentary process to go through but I’m hoping to open offices before the end of the year.
“I will have a limited Parliamentary budget to set up a new office, and will always be cautious about the use of taxpayer funds.”
New Canterbury bypass set to be a toll road
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Motorists could be paying a toll to drive a new bypass on State Highway 1, in North Canterbury, once it's complete.
Meanwhile, planned safety improvements to the area have been canned for now, as officials review the planned work as part of the Woodend Bypass design.
The Government is considering a proposal for its promised roads of national significance to be partially funded by a toll.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said the Woodend Bypass has been confirmed as one of the first five roads of national significance and that a safety review will be undertaken.
Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey said the Government has backed recommendations by NZTA to introduce tolls in its Government Policy Statement on Land Transport.
‘‘As a Government, we are open to a wide range of funding tools to ensure we are able to deliver the roads that will allow kiwis and freight to get to where they want to go quickly and safely.’’
Safety improvements for Woodend’s Main North Rd were announced in December 2022, as part of a $35 million funding package for State Highway 1 between Saltwater Creek and Cam River, with work due to begin this year.
NZTA had previously advised the safety improvements were on hold, pending the revised policy statement on Land Transport.
Doocey said it made sense to have another look at the work programme.
‘‘When you look at the Woodend safety improvement programme, it was in response to Labour cancelling the bypass, so it is right to relook at that programme in the context of the new motorway.’’
The former Government included the Woodend Bypass in its policy statement on Land Transport announced in August 2023.
Funding was also announced in December 2022 for a $6 million project, including cycleways linking Kaiapoi, Woodend and Pegasus, as part of NZTA’s Transport Choices Programme.
But the programme was axed last December by the new Government.
Doocey said the proposed cycleways and an under-pass at the Pegasus roundabout would be considered as part of the final bypass design.
‘‘When you look at the Christchurch Northern Corridor, the (Christchurch to Kaiapoi) cycleway was an important part of it, so I think it would make sense to consider the cycleways and an underpass as part of the bypass design.’’
Woodend-Sefton Community Board chairperson Shona Powell said she welcomed news about the bypass, but the safety improvements were needed now.
‘‘It will take several years to build the bypass. It is just getting frustrating.’’
Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon said he had been seeking clarity about the promised safety improvements without success.
But he welcomed Doocey’s comments that the cycleway and under-pass would be considered as part of the final design.
‘‘It makes total sense to construct this as part of the works and I know the community would be thrilled to have these included.
‘‘This is an incredibly important project for our district and I am delighted by the depth of consideration the Government is giving to it.’’
He would also like to see a cycleway clip-on added to the State Highway 1 bridge over the Ashley-Rakahuri River.
The council has been planning the Kaiapoi to Woodend and Woodend to Pegasus cycleways for several years, along with a Rangiora (Southbrook) cycleway.
Proposed safety improvements had included road widening, wider centrelines and safety barriers, and reducing the speed to 60kph at the Pegasus roundabout, which would have become one lane with raised safety platforms.
Traffic lights were also proposed at the Rangiora-Woodend Rd intersection, roundabouts at the Woodend Beach Rd and Williams St intersections and a crossing refuge for people using bus stops near Pineacres.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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