Making Rail Work between Hamilton and Tauranga

The "Making Rail Work" discussion document has been released by Tarakin Global and author Katrina Ramage and is a conversation starter on how Inter-regional Rail passenger could evolve in New Zealand - starting specifically with a community proposal for the re-introduction of an intercity passenger rail link to Tauranga.

It is not a document full of "the numbers and financials" - this will follow in due course, as it always does, but it is about the desire and ultimate need to change and do stuff. It is about identifying what we want and need for a progressive sustainable future through community engagement and partnership with various other parties including private and public entities.

The policy for inter-city and community rail networks should never have been abandoned in New Zealand without a proper inter-generational and cross-societal discussion. Networks like rail make everyone in society feel connected.

The longer we avoid the conversation, the more expensive it gets to fix the oversights of the past. It is time to start a new conversation.

This proposal presents a community’s appeal to our country’s local and central influencers. Please start including us in the discussions that will shape our futures, and the futures of those who follow us. We have a lot to offer. We are not here to attribute blame or highlight failings of the past. We just want to make our country’s infrastructure work for everyone, as opposed to just a select few. We champion co-operation in all of its forms, and hope you do too.

Our proposal, 'Making Rail Work' is available for download. Please have a glance and let us know what you think on this platform. Please also share with your followers, or forward your thoughts to your local MP or council if you have time.

Download and/or read the 'Making Rail Work' document.