"We'd be much better off investing in some of those neglected regional roads, and in urban areas some alternatives to roading as well," Ardern said. "If you ask a local mayor, they will say, 'Can you please help us with our regional roads, particularly some of the safety issues we have?' "Ardern said Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter would be meeting with local mayors to discuss which regional roads would be prioritised. National's regional MPs have been drumming up support for their online petitions, which they hope to present to the Government later this year. "Our regional communities deserve them and the National Party is committed to fighting for them," Collins said.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 15, 2018 00:22 UTC