Minister misses verbal jousts

Taranaki politicians presented a crystal-clear message to Transport Minister Steven Joyce in New Plymouth yesterday – the city desperately needs improved road access over the Waiwhakaiho River.

But whether Mr Joyce actually got the message may be debatable, because he spent most of the time either texting, or standing behind a nearby bush talking on his cellphone.

The minister was in Taranaki to officially open the new Bell Block Bypass.

As this three-year $21 million project has progressed, there has been increasing concern that it will do little to ease rapidly worsening traffic congestion along New Plymouth's eastern corridor because nothing has been done to widen or duplicate the bridge over the Waiwhakaiho River. This meant that at yesterday's opening ceremony, New Plymouth mayor Peter Tennentand the chairman of the Taranaki Regional Council's land transport committee, Roger Maxwell, both dedicated their speeches to urging the Government to commit to further improvements.

But Mr Tennent was not long into his speech when Mr Joyce's press secretary approached the minister and handed him a note.

Mr Joyce then continually texted on his cellphone while Mr Tennent, then Mr Maxwell, spoke. And then, when it was the turn of New Zealand Transport Agency regional director Jenny Chetwynd to speak, Mr Joyce left his seat and walked behind a nearby bush so he could talk on his phone.

He was still behind the bush when all the speeches had finished, which forced organisers to postpone a ribbon-cutting ceremony for several minutes. When Mr Joyce wandered back out into the open, the remainder of the official opening continued without any further delays.

After ceremonially cutting a ribbon and declaring the bypass open, he was then taken for a drive down the new section of highway in a big truck driven by New Plymouth MP Jonathan Young – and even then he was texting during most of his time in the cabin.

Asked later why he had walked away from the speeches to use his cellphone, Mr Joyce said he was due to fly to Japan last night and had to deal with some urgent matters that could not be delayed.

Earlier in the ceremony, he had given the gathering some encouragement when he said that as a former New Plymouth resident, he recognised the importance of an improved route out of the city.

"And as for the city to Vickers Rd part of the corridor (the section that includes the river crossing), the New Zealand Transport Agency is about to consider an application from you people for funding an investigation into this," he said.

Mr Joyce was also listening when Mr Tennent said he hoped the opening of the Bell Block Bypass would be "the first leg of the treble" – a reference to his hope that the second leg would be the investigation, leading to the third leg, which would be the work actually starting.

"We in Taranaki are hoping that the agency will come up with the right decision," he said.

Mr Joyce had begun texting, however, when Mr Maxwell bemoaned the fact that many urgent roading projects in Taranaki were often delayed because priority was given to other projects in regions with higher populations.

"But what we say to you is that Taranaki is a powerhouse of economic growth for New Zealand, thanks to the combined forces of our dairy and energy industries," Mr Maxwell said.

"My message is that, despite the fact Taranaki has a relatively small population, the grunt we give to the New Zealand economy is vitally important. There should be special acknowledgement of that."

- © Fairfax NZ News