Should 'We' Close Down KiwiRail ?
A Bit Of History , and some of you can probably add to this --
-- KiwiRail and whatever it has been called over the years , has been a great job creation scheme -- it has kept a lot of people employed , on quite good pay .
-- It seems to have lost money for the last 40-50 years , at least .
-- From the 1930's until the 1980's , trucks were not allowed to compete with Rail . Trucks originally were only allowed to travel 30 miles ( 50kms ) -- in the 1960's that was slightly improved to 40miles ( 70kms ) , and in the 1980's increased again to 150kms ( we had gone metric , and that was about 90 miles ) .
-- Rail has been sold a couple of times by the Government for next to nothing , run even further into the ground , then bought back and $100's of millions more put in again .
-- In 2010 , the Government put a $1billion 'investment' ( of our money ) into bailing out Rail .
-- In 2017 , the Government put a $450 million 'investment' ( of our money ) into bailing out Rail .
-- In 2019 ( this weeks budget ) , the Government put a $1 billion 'investment' ( of our money ) into bailing out Rail .
-- In 2018 , the Government put $10's of millions of 'investment' into the Kaikoura and TranzAlpine trains .
-- In 2018 , the Government put $100's of millions into rebuilding the main trunk railway through Kaikoura . They also put 100's of millions into rebuilding SH1 too , but that is covered by insurance and our fuel taxes and RUC -- rail pays none of those .
-- KiwiRail has lost in the region of $100million to $200million per year on trading ( running the trains and maintaining the tracks ) .
-- Trucking companies , bus companies , and private motorists , ( Rails main competition ) by comparison , generally make money , and pay tax and GST . Private motorists don't , but I am sure you get the point . Trucks , buses and cars do pay fuel tax and RUC ( where relevant ) and rego , even a bit of tolls .
Now imagine if 'we' took the $6 billion plus that has been pumped into KiwiRail over the last 20 years , and spent it on safer roads , more double and triple lanes , passing lanes , etc . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Poll: Are you feeling more optimistic about our local economy lately?
Waikato farmers are leading the way! 🚜🐄 With exports booming and "stellar seasons" on the books, our farmers are pumping value back into the region.
Even with a cautious approach to spending, the benefits are slowly making their way into the local economy.
We want to know: Are you feeling more optimistic about our local economy lately?
-
0% Yes, definitely!
-
0% Getting there...
-
0% Still waiting to see it.
🧩😏 Riddle me this, Neighbours…
I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?
Do you think you know the answer?
Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Loading…
