Peka Peka Interchange Back On The Agenda

Peka Peka Interchange Back On The Agenda

Finance and Infrastructure Minister, Hon Steven Joyce, has signalled his support for a new interchange servicing the Peka Peka and Te Horo communities, as part of the next stage of the Kapiti Expressway.

The Minister paid his first visit to the Expressway on Wednesday, before addressing local businesses about what to expect in next month’s Budget on 25 May.

During a Q&A session, Hon Joyce said he supported an interchange north of Waikanae and said he believed it would end up happening. He then called upon the Kapiti Coast District Council to invest in the interchange, alongside Government, in order to get it underway.

Kapiti Coast Chamber of Commerce Chair, Heather Hutchings says this is an incredibly positive message for the Chamber and wider community who have long advocated for a Peka Peka interchange to service northern Kapiti communities.

“The Expressway is a crucial piece of infrastructure, with the Prime Minister recently calling it the platform for growth for the Wellington region over the coming decade. We have been lobbying since the start of the project for a Peka Peka interchange in anticipation of future growth north of Waikanae.

“We now are calling on the Kapiti Coast District Council to take up the Minister’s invitation to invest in this next stage of crucial infrastructure. Minister Joyce called the Expressway a wonderful piece of construction, and that he was confident it was absolutely the right thing to do for district. We wholeheartedly support his view and are willing to work alongside the Council and Government to ensure we deliver for our north Kapiti communities”.

Resilience and growth were also part of Minister Joyce’s message to Kapiti businesses during his pre-Budget tour. He indicated that strengthening of key public services including health and education, investing in infrastructure, reducing debt and family incomes will be part of Budget 2017.

When addressing family incomes, the Minister said that the average New Zealand income is around $55,000 per year, however the higher tax rate of 30 cents per dollar starts at $48,000, which means a number of middle-income earners are automatically placed into the higher tax bracket.

“Any movement in tax rates for this bracket will ease the burden that many local small businesses and their families face, and provide more opportunities for people to get ahead, which the Chamber firmly supports” says Heather Hutchings, Kapiti Coast Chamber of Commerce Chair.

The Kapiti Coast Chamber of Commerce exists to advance the economy by creating wealth and employment and solve local business issues by providing a collective voice for business in Kapiti. Over 300 members in Kapiti belong to the Kapiti Coast Chamber of Commerce to stay connected, network and gain knowledge and support from our local membership.

ENDS

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