Transport

National Party demands Phil Twyford release email from NZ First

06:38 am on 12 June 2020

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The Auckland light rail project looks dead in the water with coalition partner New Zealand First refusing to back it before the election.

The National Party says the Government has broken a key promise by not delivering light rail in Auckland.

While the official line is that negotiations are ongoing, RNZ understands New Zealand First will not back the proposal and has sent a letter to the Transport Minister Phil Twyford saying just that.

RNZ has been told New Zealand First does not support the cost or scale of the plan to build light rail from the city to the airport, as well the potential involvement of the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

The opposition transport spokesperson Chris Bishop is demanding Twyford release the letter from New Zealand First - and told RNZ political reporter Katie Scotcher he's confident it contains bad news.

Twyford declined to be interviewed when contacted by RNZ.