Will the Minister commit to ensuring that all elected representatives receive the same level of briefing on the SH1 Wellington Improvements Project that Wellington Airport has received to date, and if not, why not?

Answer

Decisions about project engagement and who is considered a key stakeholder are operational matters for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). For the State Highway 1 Wellington Improvements Project, the investment objective endorsed by the NZTA Board includes improving access to key destinations such as Wellington Airport and Wellington Hospital to support regional economic growth. On that basis, NZTA considers Wellington Airport to be a key stakeholder. However, I expect NZTA to engage appropriately with elected representatives and to consider any requests for briefings in line with best practice engagement principles, including the suitability of sharing information at the time.