As part of a series leading up to the General Election, Sun Media is asking candidates from Tauranga, Bay of Plenty and the Coromandel electorates about issues facing Kiwis across the region.

Tauranga City Council has signalled they may consult the public on a congestion charge – which if implemented, would charge road users for driving on certain roads in peak hour traffic.

This week candidates from the Tauranga electorate give their thoughts on the matter to the question: ‘Would you support congestion charges being implemented on the Tauranga City roading network?’

Tauranga National Party candidate Sam Uffindell says Tauranga has two of the three toll roads in New Zealand, and has become “Toll-ranga”.

“If congestion charging is considered here, then TCC and NZTA need to remove the tolls and I will ensure that any discussion on this represents fair treatment for the people of Tauranga.

“We need more infrastructure built in Tauranga so we can improve safety and productivity and spend more time with our families.

“I will continue working hard within National to get us the infrastructure we need, on top of our announcements to build four-lane, grade-separated highways on SH29 and SH2 to Omokoroa.”

Independent candidate Larry Baldock says in London, the congestion charge is a price for entering the inner city zone which encourages more public transport use where “good public transport systems exist”, but in Tauranga, he adds it would be “more challenging” to work effectively.

“Our PT system is not meeting our needs, and our geography does not allow for a zone or area to be applied for the congestion charge.

“I will support finding every possible means of funding the improvements to our transport system like tolling has currently, but the congestion charging will have to be accepted by the public and shown to be beneficial.”

Meanwhile, Tauranga ACT candidate Christine Young says “we need to explore more options to get traffic moving around the Bay”.

“Ideas such as T2 lanes and looking into of emerging technologies, including GPS tracking of traffic, to effectively price roads in real time could be consulted on with the whole user community. 

“However, the community should decide on local roads, not the Commissioners. Any revenue raised from new user pays systems should be offset with a reduction in petrol tax so it's not just more taxes all the time.  Any new revenue should be used to improve the local roads.”

New Zealand First candidate Erika Harvey says the cost of living crisis is “bad enough” without “hitting residents and ratepayers again” with congestion charges.

“We have to get our costs under control and we cannot keep penalising locals. They have it hard enough as it is.  Personally, I would not support this as I don't think it will fix the problem and will only add more costs to those who may be unable to afford them right now.”

Tauranga Animal Justice Party candidate Chelsea Stockman says: “The Animal Justice Party believes environmental conservation is important however, adding to the financial struggle of people may not be the way forward”.

“We would like to have discussions with experts to discuss what alternatives there are, perhaps in the way of public transport to alleviate the environmental strain.”

Tauranga New Conservative candidate Johnathan Langridge says firstly, he would only support congestion charges if it had been majority voted in by Tauranga in a petition or referendum.

“Secondly, although it sounds complicated in terms of variable fees, I believe it has the potential to generate significant revenue; 100 per cent of road user charges, like fuel excise duty and vehicle licensing, should be spent on roading infrastructure.

“Furthermore, the benefits would only outweigh the cost if local public transport was improved to cope with less car usage – an issue that must be resolved through consultation and planning for finance. Also, the transport infrastructure must be certified as resilient.”

To hear what candidates from the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel electorates think of this issue, visit: SunLive.co.nz

The Weekend Sun has approached Tauranga Labour candidate Jan Tinetti, Tauranga Te Pāti Māori candidate Mikaere Sydney, Tauranga Vision NZ candidate Leon Samuels and Green Party candidate Justin Crooks for comment, and no response had been given at the time of print.