National Party transport spokesperson Simeon Brown and party leader Christopher Luxon have made a pledge for a Pothole Repair Fund. Photo: RNZ / Delphine Herbert
Political parties are hitting the campaign trail in Auckland today.
National is promising to create a $500 million Pothole Repair Fund for repairs to local roads and state highways.
National's transport spokesperson Simeon Brown said Waka Kotahi would be directed to double the current rate of roading renewals so the agency would have to "undertake renewal and rehabilitation work" on at least 2 percent of the roading network each year.
The standard response rate for pothole repairs would be halved from 48 to 24 hours, Brown said.
The pothole campaign cost would be met by re-prioritising spending within the National Land Transport Programme and reducing spending on activities which slowed down traffic such as blanket speed limit reductions, he said.
But Transport Minister David Parker said the pothole campaign fund would raid other road safety funds to fix a problem "that they created themselves".
National chose to freeze road maintenance when it was in government and roads were resurfaced at less than half the rate they should have been, he said.
"This government is spending more on road maintenance, including pothole repairs, than any previous government.
"The current state highway maintenance budget is $2.8 billion for 2021/24 - that's a 65 per cent increase on the $1.7 billion that National spent during 2015/18, when it was last in office."
Labour leader Chris Hipkins speaks at the unveiling of the party's first billboard of the 2023 general election campaign. Photo: Giles Dexter
'In it for you'
Meanwhile, Labour has launched its election campaign, with billboards around the country bearing the slogan, In It For You.
Leader Chris Hipkins said the party would focus on cutting inflation, reducing the cost of living, keeping communities safe and investing in education, health and housing.
"When times are tough, Kiwis need a government that provides stability and certainty, one that's on their side and in it for them - that's what Labour and I offer," Hipkins said in a statement.
Act Leader David Seymour unveils his party list for the 2023 election. Photo: Finn Blackwell
ACT unveils its party list
The ACT Party has also released its list of candidates this afternoon.
Leader David Seymour, Brooke van Velden, Nicole McKee and Todd Stephenson top the list, with former Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard entering the list at number five.
Seymour said ACT's list of candidates was a "true representation of New Zealand society".
"There are farmers, legal experts, business executives, tradies, mothers and fathers, army lieutenants, policy experts, small business owners, teachers, engineers, licensed firearms owners and more.
"We have candidates from all walks of like. The one thing they all have in common is that they share a vision for real change."
The full list can be found online here.