Misleading Penlink ad on Rodney Times front page

Marja from Wellsford

Disappointing to see this kind of cynical politics on the front cover of the Rodney Times.
One of the most important things for me in this job, is being available and being genuine.
Early on as candidate in the 2017 election, I was lobbied about a project that was crucial for the people and businesses of Whangaparaoa. The Penlink project was talked about for decades most recently by a National government but without any action to deliver nor funding committed to it.
I worked hard with members of the Hibiscus Coast community over my first term to bring their voice to Wellington. Advocate on their behalf to find relief from the daily gridlock, open up opportunities for the local economy.

I managed to get Penlink mentioned several times in the House during my speeches (first time in years), and the awareness on its importance grew. There was success in 2018, when our Government firstly elevated it back on the Auckland Transport Alignment Plan (ATAP), where National had downgraded it and starved it of funding.

But I was vocal on the locals’ and my disappointment with the timeline. And so we continued. Then in January this year, it was announced that for the first time ever by a government, full funding was committed to build Penlink. $411 million was set aside to get the project done. And it was brought forward from the end of the decade, to start next year! It’s all happening already and progress is going as fast as possible considering tenders are being sought at the moment and the design has to be finalised.

Recently the National party candidate for the Whangaparaoa area has started to create an impression that somehow it is his or the National party's work that got this project finally off the starting blocks.

That's a clear lie. National when in government, downgraded Penlink. They never committed any funding to it. And as recent as last year, it didn’t even feature on their infrastructure plan.

It throws us back to Nationals' (unfunded) election time promises in 2005 and 2006 - another time National made promises to build Penlink:

“Press Release: Rodney District Council Friday, 7 April 2006, 3:36pm
National Party Commits to Penlink
The National Party has announced it is committed to building the Weiti River crossing, commonly known as Penlink, within 10 years of becoming government.
… National reiterated the party’s commitment, made during the 2005 election, that the Penlink project is to be completed within 10 years.”

You can’t drive on press releases and National’s record of unfunded election promises to build Penlink, are what gives politicians a bad rap.