The US has the NRA as its most powerful lobby group; NZ has the Road Transport Forum. The consequence of that over the last 9 years has been little investment (although not none) in the country's rail freight infrastructure.
This article in the NZ Herald from last year announced that the North Auckland line was going to be 'mothballed' like the Stratford-Okahukura, Rotorua and Wairoa-Gisborne lines.
Winston Peters' NZ First party made a fundamental election policy plank of not only restoring, but improving rail freight to the economically depressed region, and now as a coalition partner in the new government that should happen.
Political background
and I wonder if this means the NZMT Electrics have a chance of staying plus the system?
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