Braid calls for balanced transport policy
August 6th, 2009
Mainfreight MD Don Braid is continuing to pile pressure on the Govt to make a better fist of developing a truly multi-modal transport policy. “We need a government that is prepared to listen and understand the need for better rail, road and port infrastructure.” Braid says NZ is a trading nation dependent on an efficient logistics strategy. “NZ ports competing with each other will never deliver the necessary competencies to provide our exporters, importers and shipping lines the opportunity to improve.” He adds ports need to be capable of handling larger vessels, and NZ needs an effective inland transport network to connect with coming larger hub ports.
Braid also took aim at the quality of the people being appointed to oversee the development of transport infrastructure claiming many of the appointees are not up to the required standard. “Attempting to achieve the right transport infrastructure with boards of directors made up of political appointees with little or no transport or infrastructure experience is just plain stupid.”
Meanwhile company founder and chairman Bruce Plested says while NZ has not been hit as hard as many other countries by the recession particularly in terms of job losses, the country’s comparative standard of living continues to slide and little action appears to be being taken. “It is our belief NZ must learn to act like the small country we are. We have to be lean, tough, generous of spirit, entrepreneurial, hard working and dedicated to seeing NZ improve its living standards and its place in the world.” Plested believes there is no better time than in a global recession to make some big changes. “Now is the time to fight poor laws, get rid of stultifying bureaucracy and the petty bureaucrats that suck us all dry.”
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