Northland voters tell Steven Joyce what they think of his anti-rail stance

During the by-election campaign, the Minister of Motorway Development, Steven Joyce, made a big mistake by cynically promising voters in the constituency, hitherto long held by his party, that millions more taxpayer dollars will be spent on strengthened road bridges in the region so they can carry even bigger trucks.

He clearly didn't appreciate that a great many people are tired of driving on heavily rutted and damaged roads caused by big trucks carrying freight, particularly logs, that could and should be going by rail instead.

Winston Peters, who has won the seat by a big margin, wants instead the region's railways restored.