Bay of Plenty residents deserve better Bay of Plenty residents deserve better

° e Bayfair ˝ yover ÿ nally opened lateApril after six years of construction; a project intended to separate freight from local tra˙ c and relieve congestion. Bay of Plenty residents would have assumed this would provide immediate relief from the long tra˙ c queues.

Instead, Waka Kotahi insisted on coning o˛ new lanes and slowing everyone down, so motorists could “get used to the new layout”. One motorist complained of spending 20 minutes to travel 50-100 metres.

After six years of tra˙ c hell, the last thing motorists need are more road cones from Waka Kotahi. ° e new ˝ yover should deliver safe and more reliable journeys once the road is allowed to fully open. Since the fourlane Tauranga Eastern Link opened in 2015, up to eight deaths and dozens of serious injuries have been avoided, when compared to the old SH2 between Te Puke and Pˆpˆmoa

° e Takitimu Northern Link should deliver similar beneÿ ts. However Labour has only committed to the ÿ rst section between SH29 Takitimu Drive to SH2 west of Te Puna. ° e second stage between Te Puna and ˇmokoroa is unlikely to be started within the next decade.

ACT would start by establishing a new independent stateowned enterprise, Highways New Zealand, which would own and operate NZ’s state highway network. It would construct any new state highways and conduct maintenance and improvements on existing highways.

Because Highways NZ would be expected to be operationally self-funding out of user fees, including delivering a return on invested capital to the Government, it would be incentivised to deliver projects promptly and a˛ ordably.

Make a real difference for Donner!

Hi! My name is Donner! My siblings and I siblings were called ‘° e Christmas pups’. We came into the rescue after our mum was rushed to the vets needing an emergency C-section due to a prolapse. We were surrendered to the rescue afterwards so they could ÿ nd us all amazing homes. Many of my siblings have found their families, but I’m still looking. My foster family say I’m a sweet, slightly shy but very a˛ ectionate pup, and

I love playing with toys and chilling with my favourite people.

I’ve been introduced and get along nicely with kids, cats, dogs and stock animals. I’ve mastered toilet training, crate training, commands, and on-lead walking.

I’ll need lots of love, patience, training and amazing care to help me become the best companion to a loving family. To ÿ nd out more about me, message the RRR Facebook page: www. facebook.com/RRRCanine/