Julie Anne Genter stands by decision not to release letter about Wellington transport proposals

Thursday, 1 August 2019

National MP Chris Bishop claims Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter pushed back the construction of a second Mt Victoria tunnel. (File photo)

Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter has stood by her decision not to release a letter which opposition MPs claim put Wellington roading projects on the backburner.

The letter was sent to Transport Minister Phil Twyford in the lead-up to the $6.4 billion Let's Get Wellington Moving announcement, revealed in May.

Bishop has called on Genter to release the letter, saying it is in the public interest. (File photo)

The final package revealed an extra Mt Victoria tunnel would not be built for at least 10 years, while a proposed second Terrace tunnel and reconfigured state highway under Te Aro were excluded altogether.

In Parliament on Thursday, National MP Chris Bishop asked Transport Minister Phil Twyford - who was standing in for Genter - whether the letter had influenced the final transport package.

The extra tunnel is not expected to be built for at least 10 years. (File photo)

**READ MORE:

* Second tunnel to favour buses

Genter says there is a 'strong interest' in keeping the letter private. (File photo)

* Bishop demands letter release

* Debate over Mt Vic tunnel use

National List MP Nicola Willis has also called on Genter to release the letter. (File photo)

* Cars to go from Golden Mile**

He also asked whether Genter agreed with Greater Wellington Regional councillor Daran Ponter, who said the final package did not reflect what Wellingtonians had been hoping for when the process began.

Twyford said he did not agree and that Ponter was 'suffering from election fever'.

That answer led Speaker Trevor Mallard to remind Twyford he was speaking on behalf of Genter, and to not make accusations against people who could not respond in the House.

Twyford reiterated Genter would not be releasing the letter, citing the Chief Ombudsman's opinion that it was not convention for letters between parties to be released.

'We don't intend to break that convention.'

However, confusion later ensued as to the relevance of the Ombudsman's ruling cited by Twyford.

National List MP Nicola Willis said Twyford was acting as the associate transport minister, not as a Green Party member or representative.

'I question the relevance of this ruling to answers in this House.'

Mallard agreed, and said, 'that is something that I will go back and look at'.

Willis said the letter had clearly played a part in the final make-up of the $6.4b package.

'From what we can see, it played a big role in the final package. That letter changed things for Wellingtonians.'

The letter may have also led to the proposed tunnel under Te Aro and second Terrace tunnel being excluded from the final plan, Willis said.

'Because the minister won't release the letter, I can only speculate as to what was in it.

'My speculation is that she said, 'I don't want this project going ahead unless you move the car projects into the never never'.'