TRAFINZ debate open to the public

Members of the public will be able to question representatives from the country’s three largest political parties when transport and road safety issues are debated at the New Zealand Traffic Institute (TRAFINZ) conference in Hamilton today.

The national conference, co-hosted by Hamilton City Council at Claudelands, includes a debate this afternoon between National’s Hamilton East MP David Bennett (Chair of Parliament’s Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee), Labour’s Shane Jones (Transport spokesman) and The Greens’ Gareth Hughes (Transport spokesman). The debate gets underway at 3.45pm, in the Heaphy Room, and will be themed around the parties’ transport and traffic policies, and how those policies would reduce New Zealand’s road toll.

TRAFINZ Vice-President John Gottler encouraged members of the public with an interest in transport and traffic to attend the debate, and said they would be able to ask questions from the floor, or through the debate MC.

“We’re interested in how these parties think they can lower New Zealand’s road toll, save motorists’ lives and reduce injuries,” Mr Gottler said.

Mr Gottler said he believed 34 lives a year could be avoided by lowering the blood alcohol limit for drivers.

“We want to know who’s ‘got the bottle’ to reduce the blood alcohol limit.”

Hamilton City Councillor Dave Macpherson said: “Central Government needs to provide some strong leadership on transport safety issues. Here’s a chance for them to show the colour of their money.”

Entry is free, with today’s debate running through until 5pm. The conference finishes on Friday.