What assurances can he give contractors and regional workforces that the $200m cut to KiwiRail's budget will not permanently hollow out New Zealand’s rail maintenance capability, and what concrete measures are being taken to retain skilled workers?

Answer

We make no apologies for having bothered to fix the rail system after decades of mismanagement and malaise, and the taxpayers' investment is now paying off. The assurance is not a matter of Ministerial comment but is instead demonstrated by KiwiRail's workers themselves lifting its earnings, volumes, safety and network performance by making use of its assets. As the company succeeds, so too does the fortunes of its workers and contracted labour.