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Download AudioNew Zealand First’s Northland candidate is accusing a roopū which is stymying KiwiRail’s plans to reopen the northern rail link of attempted extortion.
Shane Jones says the group at Ōpahi, about halfway between Motatau and the line’s terminus at Ōtiria, are blocking the project.
He says the previous Labour-New Zealand First Government committed $70 million towards upgrading Northland’s transport connections, but the raruraru means the company could shift that funding to fixing infrastructure in the Hawke’s Bay.
A tiny group of Māori landowners with no moral authority have decided to put their selfish, highly-localised interests above the rest of the north. Winston (Peters) and I delivered millions for the Ngāti Hine Forest. We delivered millions for that part of the Bay of Islands and my message to this tiny, unaccountable group is don’t be greedy and don’t play stand over tactics, because the rail is needed for the 190,000 people who call Northland home. it’s needs for all the other iwi,” Mr Jones says.
He says like the barging proposal in Hicks Bay which fell over because of hapū opposition, it seems regions are being held ransom by small groups which become obstinate and obsessive.
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