Subsequent to the closing of the Karioi pulp and paper mill, the logs that would have been processed there are now being exported through Napier Port. Despite the previous product being successfully railed to Napier Port for over 45 years the loggers were keener to have the logs trucked to port via the Taihape to Napier (“Gentle Annie”) route which is not a state highway and therefore is the responsibility of the District Councils it passes through. 

TRAINZ estimates that this would put an extra 15 to 20 more truck movements each way daily onto a very compromised and dangerous route. Remember trucks are involved in 20% of all road fatalities, but are just 4% of all journeys. The Rangitikei District Council which is responsible for half the road say that this would also be too much of a burden for rate payers.

Niall Robertson, National Coordinator of TRAINZ, says that it will also be a step backwards for road safety, road congestion and climate change commitments. Robertson says, “Although this will add these trucks to huge convoys in Napier already going to the port, congestion isn't just an urban thing”. He adds, ”Following trucks up steep hills and around endless curves is a motorists nightmare”

Guy Wellwood (Chair of TRAINZ) says, “What most people do not know is that trucks shed tonnes of micro-plastics each year which all goes into our waterways and oceans, and on these roads the level is higher due to the rubbing on curves”. Wellwood says that there are too many trucks already on New Zealand roads which is making life difficult for tourists and other motorists. 

Robertson adds that the government have made it too easy for the road transport operator. He says, “They pay just 14% of the cost of maintenance and road building (even on state highways)and the recent increases in weight and speed for trucks have caused a pot-hole epidemic which has necessitated and extra $4b from the taxpayer for resurfacing and pot-hole remediation”. Robertson adds, “The subsidy of trucks, which do 93% of the road damage, means that bulk loads like logs are going by truck rather than rail. TRAINZ was specifically set up to advocate for rail transport as Kiwirail the monopoly track owner and train operator do very little advocacy of their potential services. 

TRAINZ believes that rail gets a 72% subsidy from the government, but much of that is to run urban and a couple of regional public transport services, but the road transport industry gets an overall 86% subsidy. However, Wellwood adds, “When the wider economic, social and environmental benefits are added to the equation, rail becomes the most economical way to transport bulk freight in a country that cannot afford to have too many trucks on flimsy, dangerous roads like Gentle Annie or the Napier -Wairoa-Gisborne Road for that matter .