<
https://theconversation.com/as-global-fuel-risk-rises-nz-budget-2026-puts-roads-first-again-283980>
"Three months into the war in Iran, the largest disruption to New Zealand’s oil
supply in living memory appears to have done nothing to change the government’s
approach to transport.
Budget 2026 spends more on roads, less on rail and nothing on walking or
cycling. It also raids bus decarbonisation to fund a review of pipes.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis warned ahead of budget day there would be no
extravagance this year – and the government’s now-released spending on
transport and infrastructure confirms it.
The fiscal logic underpinning its priorities assumes the Middle East conflict
and its impacts on fuel markets will ease in time for a projected operating
surplus by 2028/29.
Whether that happens remains to be seen. What is apparent, however, is that
this budget does little to reduce the reliance of New Zealand’s transport
system on fossil fuels – and instead reinforces it."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
