Goff wants more funding

Go for a run, play football and spend time with the family. While Auckland mayor Phil Goff won’t say which political party he favours, he can say what he hopes the next Government will do.

The biggest concern for Auckland was funding transport infrastructure, Goff said.

In the next 10 years in Auckland $27 billion needed to be spent on transport infrastructure.

‘‘That’s a huge challenge, because there’s still a $5.9b funding deficit to meet,’’ Goff said.

‘‘Whichever party gets into Government, we have to work through how we fund our share of the cost of that infrastructure.’’

Goff said the council didn’t want to put the pressure on ratepayers, but wanted to work with the incoming Government around road pricing, whether through a regional fuel tax, tolling or congestion tax.

‘‘We have to have a way, related to use of transport, by which Aucklanders can make their contribution,’’ Goff said.

‘‘I’m really looking for that commitment in any incoming Government to work with us and to make it possible for us to find new ways of raising revenue.’’

He was excited parties recognised the need to invest in Auckland, he said.

Gridlock was costing Auckland $2b a year which affected all New Zealanders.

‘‘If this city gridlocks, it can’t deliver for New Zealand.’’