Central Leader

PM promises investment in Auckland

- DENISE PIPER

Prime Minister Bill English has promised funding for Auckland’s infrastruc­ture, as long as the rapidly-growing city can decide what its priorities are.

Speaking to about 250 business people at an event hosted by Business North Harbour last week, English outlined the Government’s plans to tackle big issues facing New Zealand.

New Zealand faced the ‘‘right sort of problems’’ of having to invest in infrastruc­ture to cope with growth, he said.

Central Government was working closer with Auckland Council than ever before, agreeing to share the funding for things like the City Rail Link, English said.

It was up to Auckland to decide what its priorities were for infrastruc­ture, he said.

‘‘Money is not really a constraint. The Government is in a position, as long as Auckland is doing it’s bit, we’re willing to supplement work to a greater extent than any other city.’’

English gave the example of $1 billion funding that the Government had set aside for housing infrastruc­ture in Auckland. Auckland had to decide where best to invest this money to create areas for new housing, he said.

‘‘We said to the council ‘show us the projects that could happen sooner if you had the money’.’’ Auckland Council was thinking about a response, he said.

English said New Zealand was in a uniquely positive position due to its low unemployme­nt, low government debt, rising government surplus and stable government.

But he admitted New Zealand faced some challenges, including the risks to China’s economy and whether US President Donald Trump could meet the expectatio­ns he had created in the US for tax cuts and increased infrastruc­ture spending.

English said increased tariffs in US would be bad ‘‘for everyone’’ including US consumers.

But he said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who visited New Zealand last week, had been positive about Chinese-US relations.

‘‘This is not because they love each other but, as he understand­s better than anyone else because he’s an economics expert, their economies are interdepen­dent; they need each other.’’

English also talked about using government money more efficientl­y and business-like, including investing in children’s education.

 ?? ROBYN EDIE/FAIRFAX NZ ?? Prime Minister Bill English says Auckland needs to identify its infrastruc­ture priorities.
ROBYN EDIE/FAIRFAX NZ Prime Minister Bill English says Auckland needs to identify its infrastruc­ture priorities.

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